The Emergence of a Grassroots African Trans Archive

Abstract This paper demonstrates the enthusiasm of the young trans movement in sub-Saharan Africa. The rich history of the struggles and successes of various trans-related events and work in the African continent has not been documented. With this first publication, which forms part of the larger collection of an African trans archive, the authors provide a credible reference source to those doing research on, working with, or interested in knowing some of the history of African trans and gender-nonconforming persons, communities, and movements. A brief reflection into apartheid South Africa and the lives of trans people before democracy leads to a short description how Gender DynamiX, while only in its emerging stage, embarked in archiving and documenting material and history of trans people throughout the country. This placed Gender DynamiX as the key witness of the emergence of the first trans movement in sub-Saharan Africa.