If it were by choice, I would go without a first name. From an early age, a mention of my name came with a horror-filled reception. That ended after my then occasionally outbursts to “Unarene, Urine, Narene…” My parents sat me down and explained what my name, Unarine, a TshiVenda name, truly meant. Had I known from a tender age that it meant “God is with us,” I believe I would’ve worn a name badge all the time.
From then onwards, I’ve learned to embrace the name and allow its meaning to dictate every aspect of my life.
I have claimed a number of hats over the years: social commentator, publisher, small business owner, award-nominated recording poet, hip-hop scholar, and activist for Hip-Hop Lekgotla.
Seven years ago, I founded an e-publication magazine called Y-Not Culture under my company, Magnific Media House. When I started, 50% of the time I kept telling myself how crazy an idea it was for a young boy to see this through on his own. Not knowing three years down the line, I will be able to say that I have featured Grammy, SAMA, European Music Award winners, and internationally celebrated youth culture leaders.
I am a media studies and journalism graduate from the University of the Free State. I am currently studying for a marketing management qualification at the University of South Africa. In my high school days, I took part in a host of social activities that taught me a lot of lessons, which I believe, in the near future, I will share through a book twined with an autobiography, detailing how great a son and brother I am. Also, I hate coming out of conversations without learning anything.
My fascination with media, news, photography, and hip-hop culture pretty much describes my social media presence.
Talking about photography, my CV lists
- Covered the #FeesMustFall protests in Bloemfontein and Pretoria
- Covered the Freedom Movement marches in Johannesburg and Pretoria
- Still Photography for THINK A BIT. An educational musical programme in partnership with the Ditsong Museum.
- I worked with other freelance artists and writers to create meaningful, visually compelling content.
These are but a few of the many projects on which I’ve worked as a freelancer, collaborator, and commissioned photographer.
The journey has just started; it might take a different course from here, but as long as I don’t identify myself with a negative environment, coffee will animate my days, and God will continue to be with me.