Mapezu Kunene
Mbabane
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eSwatini
"If I were to be in charge, I would ensure that every LGBTI Person, regardless of their gender and sexuality, is protected under the law."
"I draw a red line against Hate and Discrimination targeted towards the LGBTI Community because of who they are and who they love."
"I draw a red line against Hate and Discrimination targeted towards the LGBTI Community because of who they are and who they love."
I became an activist the day I realised how silenced and how invisible we were as the LGBTQIA+ Community.
My activism focuses on creating a safer, more inclusive society where the LGBTQIA+ community are able to live freely without fear of discrimination.
Our biggest challenges are stigma and discrimination.
The strength and the resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community inspire me to keep going.
Mapezu Kunene is a Project Officer at Eswatini Sexual and Gender Minorities (ESGM), working to advance the human rights, inclusion, and wellbeing of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people in eSwatini.
Mapezu’s role includes coordinating projects that strengthen community resilience, promote economic empowerment, and advocate for equality and non-discrimination. ESGM partners with local and regional human rights organisations, health service providers, and grassroots community groups to protect LGBTQIA+ individuals from stigma, violence, and exclusion.
Through advocacy, education, and community engagement, Mapezu helps to build a safer and more inclusive Eswatini where everyone can live freely and with dignity.
Meet The Photographer
Will Brown
I am a photographer based in Eswatini, working across documentary, portraiture, lifestyle, editorial, and cultural storytelling. My practice is grounded in the belief that photography is not just a record — it’s a way of witnessing, of honoring the complexity and beauty of everyday life.
Over the past two decades, I’ve developed a broad visual language that moves fluidly between styles. I document traditional ceremonies and street scenes with the same care I bring to wedding and lifestyle photography, dynamic commercial shoots, or editorial commissions. Whether I’m working with natural light in rural landscapes or crafting studio setups for commercial clients, my approach is always rooted in authenticity, emotion, and respect.
I’m drawn to stories that are often overlooked, the quiet ones, the layered ones. My images aim to preserve presence rather than perfection, inviting viewers into moments that feel lived-in and emotionally honest.
My work has appeared in exhibitions, publications, and collaborative projects that explore identity, heritage, and the evolving visual culture of Southern Africa."
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