18.02.25, 19:30, Olave Nduwanje, Fuck my Black Tranny-ness

The term sexual racism refers to the farce of racial stereotypes, fantasies, fears and lusts projected onto non-white bodies. Sexual racism is deeply rooted in the perceived superiority of the white (male) psyche. A psyche that, through reason, has acquired control and discipline over the white (male) body. As a Black trans woman with an active sexual practice in the diaspora, sexual racism is a daily occurrence.

Is it possible to truly love a Black trans woman? Is it possible to lust after me without fetishising me? What roles do desire and shame play in the emergence of fetishism? Does my Black transwoman body fulfil the role of psycho-sexual terrorist? Can you covet and love a body if that body also evokes fear? How do I neutralise the transmisoginoire violence of those who covet me? How do I escape from this?

Olave: ‘Tonight, we will hold any fig leaves over our pubes. That is, I'm going to talk about sexual violence in my talk, and I won't shun or gloss over erotic and pornographic language. I invite attendees to an exploration of intimacy and sexuality from my perspective — coarseness and violence are the norm and the mechanisms by which my sexual complexity threatens to be flattened.’

• Olave Nduwanje was born in Burundi and raised in the diaspora and is a Black trans woman writer. She was a literary contributor to ‘Zwart- Afro-europese literatuur uit de Lage Landen’ (2018), ‘De Goede Immigrant' (2020) and 'Being Imposed upon' (2020). She has also published several times in De Standaard, OneWold Magazine and also the NRC Handelsblad. Her track record as a writer so far has been marked by short-term projects (columns, articles, literary contributions to anthologies, readings, etc.). Her ambition is to break away from this, in the next few years, and move towards two major projects: a play (working title ‘A Bubble of Five’) and a novel about dying.

This lecture will take place at MIRY Concert Hall. The hall is wheelchair accessible via a lift to the first floor. A sign language interpreter is provided for this lecture. Anyone with further questions about accessibility facilities should contact the organisation: anais.vanertvelde@hogent.be. On site, questions can be put to the job student at the desk.