World Aids Day 2015: the making of the #lifebeyondHIV mural

In celebration of World Aids Day 2015 (1 December), a group of HIV positive people and advocates living in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, in collaboration with local artists and musicians, bring a powerful message of living active, creative lives, and proving that HIV is in no way a death sentence. Their voice has been expressed through giant mural paintings in Khayelitsha and a specially-composed hip-hop track under the hashtag #lifebeyondHIV, which will be showcased in the lead up to World Aids Day 2015. About the #lifebeyondHIV mural and ‘making of’ video: Local Khayelitsha artists Velile Soha and Patrick Holo, in collaboration with technical coordinator Ricky Lee Gordon worked closely with the group to capture their vision and bring it to life through two giant mural paintings on the side of OR Tambo Hall, the largest, most well-known building in Khayelitsha and highly visible from the N1 highway out of Cape Town. HIV+ activists Tembisa Mbhobho and Welcome Makele were chosen to have their images incorporated into the design of the mural. The making of the mural – from consultation to conception to completion – was filmed and edited by South African filmmaker Rowan Pybus into a 3-minute broadcast-quality video, which also includes interviews with Welcome and Tembisa. To find out more about the #lifebeyondHIV campaign: www.msf.org.za/lifebeyondhiv Video & production: Rowan Pybus(@makhulu Music Pzho @mrpzho Photos @sydellewillowsmith