Survive < Together
GINA GUMEDE
Photography
Originally Published: 10 July 2026
These photographs are from a personal project I started when I began practicing my photography skills, capturing my township, the people who live there, and the spaces and places that hold memories for me from when I was younger. I have combined these photographs with work that I have done with the Qulo sisters (Nonstikelelo and Nokukhanya), called ABAHLALI, as well as with Ayabonga Jili (Hypersommia), for whom I shot UNISON.
This combination is a depiction of abahlali in the township, the environment, and how all of these elements need to be in unison in order to coexist in a stable flow, away from the life led in the city and suburban areas.
This series is called Survive < Together, as the images tell a story of where we are from, who we are, and what we need to do and be in order to stay together as residents not only of the country, but specifically of township areas. The aim of this series is to tell the story of who we are as the new generation, how we view where we come from, and how we view ourselves and the township as young, gifted, and Black individuals.
The Creative
GINA GUMEDE
Nto-enhle Siphesihle Gumede, based in Durban, KwaMashu, has been passionate about art and began her journey in photography in 2025. She developed her skills through editorial and conceptual work centred on culture, the beauty and essence of Black women, pro-Black discourse, and the emotions and boldness embodied by a person or an environment. As a photographer and all-round creative, most of her conceptual and editorial work is fuelled by music and art she has seen, heard, and studied over time as a visual arts student, and her ability to capture candid moments and specific emotions and moods in real time has been her most powerful skill as a beginner in this field. Her creative focus is on making work that carries soul, colour, emotion, boldness, and pride in Black, female, and queer/homosexual identity. She aims to create images that not only move viewers emotionally but also instil a sense of pride and representation, especially for Black communities within her country and environment.