Landa Mabenge's guest appearances

Landa Mabenge

The Cheeky Natives

Interiority

Lebo Mashile

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Morgan Parker

Kimberlé Crenshaw

Sarah Ladipo Manyika

Mona Eltahawy

Brandon Taylor

Zinzi Clemmons

Abi Daré

Sisonke Msimang

Zukiswa Wanner

Winnie Mandela

Shailja Patel

Nelson Makamo

Rosie Motene

OwlTail

In his book Becoming him: A Trans Memoir of Triumph, Landa Mabengeshares his life story of being born in the wrong body. He is takenfrom his grandparent’s loving home to be raised by parents who subjecthim to horrific physical, emotional and psychological abuse.After years of emotional turmoil Landa finds the courage to livetruthfully and undertakes a four year long journey of gender alignmentto becoming him.He makes history by becoming the first known transgender man in SouthAfrica to successfully motivate a medical aid to pay for his surgeriesthrough the Groote Schuur Transgender Clinic. He now lives in histruth, free, with a full command over his identity and life.Landa takes us into his journey of Becoming Him. He generously shareswith us his road to forgiveness and acceptance after a tumultuouschildhood.

In his book Becoming him: A Trans Memoir of Triumph, Landa Mabenge shares his life story of being born in the wrong body. He is taken from his grandparent’s loving home to be raised by parents who subject him to horrific physical, emotional and psychological abuse. After years of emotional turmoil Landa finds the courage to live truthfully and undertakes a four year long journey of gender alignment to becoming him. He makes history by becoming the first known transgender man in South Africa to successfully motivate a medical aid to pay for his surgeries through the Groote Schuur Transgender Clinic. He now lives in his truth, free, with a full command over his identity and life. Landa takes us into his journey of Becoming Him. He generously shares with us his road to forgiveness and acceptance after a tumultuous childhood.

Interiority - Landa Mabenge

‘But humility is a work of progress and there are times when I need to work on practising tolerance. Whenever individuals question my ‘genitals’ I am reminded of how blinkered and obsessed with labels we humans are. Whatever lies between my legs, whether I sit or stand when I pee, my genitals are what they are and they serve their purpose. Whatever the shape, size or name of them, and whether I have chosen to surgically align my body to my identity or not, I remain the man I have always been.’  - Landa Mabenge In his memoir, ‘Becoming Him’, Landa Mabenge details his journey as the first transgender man to have his surgical transition paid for by his medical aid. From childhood, Landa knew that how he looked on the outside was not aligned with how he felt on the inside.  These feelings were particularly exacerbated in puberty. He recalls the confusion and trauma that came with all these changes and the inability to vocalise how he felt. His childhood was not an easy one either. A childhood characterised by abandonment, separation, and constant, unending abuse meant that these changes were only exacerbated. In a deeply personal account, Landa also takes us through his time at UCT, highlighting the toll on his mental health that the journey of self-discovery took. There is a powerful commentary on themes of abuse, self-discovery and uncomfortable change, both inside and outside.  This dynamic of change is highlighted in Landa’s relationship with his loved ones, in those who choose to support and those who do not. The question of what it means to have to reckon with toxicity from those closest to us is a painful topic that Landa explores with poise. Landa’s story represents so many of the facets of what is good about the human experience. Tenacity, resilience and the courage it takes to become.Groundbreaking. Poignant and inspirational.

‘But humility is a work of progress and there are times when I need to work on practising tolerance. Whenever individuals question my ‘genitals’ I am reminded of how blinkered and obsessed with labels we humans are. Whatever lies between my legs, whether I sit or stand when I pee, my genitals are what they are and they serve their purpose. Whatever the shape, size or name of them, and whether I have chosen to surgically align my body to my identity or not, I remain the man I have always been.’ - Landa Mabenge In his memoir, ‘Becoming Him’, Landa Mabenge details his journey as the first transgender man to have his surgical transition paid for by his medical aid. From childhood, Landa knew that how he looked on the outside was not aligned with how he felt on the inside. These feelings were particularly exacerbated in puberty. He recalls the confusion and trauma that came with all these changes and the inability to vocalise how he felt. His childhood was not an easy one either. A childhood characterised by abandonment, separation, and constant, unending abuse meant that these changes were only exacerbated. In a deeply personal account, Landa also takes us through his time at UCT, highlighting the toll on his mental health that the journey of self-discovery took. There is a powerful commentary on themes of abuse, self-discovery and uncomfortable change, both inside and outside. This dynamic of change is highlighted in Landa’s relationship with his loved ones, in those who choose to support and those who do not. The question of what it means to have to reckon with toxicity from those closest to us is a painful topic that Landa explores with poise. Landa’s story represents so many of the facets of what is good about the human experience. Tenacity, resilience and the courage it takes to become. Groundbreaking. Poignant and inspirational.

Landa Mabenge: Becoming Him: a Trans memoir of Triumph