Cynthia Mavuso’s practice was fiercely communal and driven by mentorship. In this edited discussion transcript, Salebo Mlangeni and Thule Mavuso remember ‘CS’ through her photos.
: WaseSabelweni.: So that was my first, I think ever, job with a camera, like a serious job and then … I was given a camera. I think now I was photographing both at school mengabe ngibuya eskoleni, then I’d just drop the bags or I’d go with the camera to school and take photographs.
So Thule, we spoke about this earlier, but I just want [you] to give us a sense, for sure, I mean you’re also involved in photography … you know, growing up in that environment at home, growing up with a camera surrounded by photographers and yourself also later becoming one or studying photography, I just want to understand how all this has inspired you over the years in your everyday life, ’cos there was a time when you went to corporate...
Umshado ka Sana Mkhatshwa, early 1990s, as she joined Mavuso family at Ntumbane in KZN. This was the day of the matrimonial ceremony at Driefontein, Qalani Hall. .[laughs] You know, okay … firstly remember ukuthi. Uhm, okay, ekhaya sikhule it was me noSithembile, but isikhathi esiningi bekuzoba nabo Nhlanhla naboNkulu, you know, so I think, mina … I was the only one who had an interest in cameras ekhaya. ’Cos even until this day I don’t think uSithembile uyakwazi ukushutha [laughs].
So eMathunjwa, I was like … I remember the one time, uthisha waze wa complainer wathi ya angithi wena ubhizi ushutha izithombe [Laughs]. Then moving on to eVaal I think the first thing that I got there was an interview ’cos as much as I had I background ye … ’cos I got to eVaal, I was 15, turning 16, that year.
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