Tseliso Monaheng is a freelance writer, photographer and filmmaker born and raised in Maseru. He currently lives and works in Johannesburg. He has been published in Chimurenga Chronic, Rolling Stone (SA), City Press, the Sunday Times, The Fader (USA). He has also filmed documentaries for NGOs and directed a feature-length documentary called Gentle Magic, which looks at the history of skin lightening among black and brown women in South Africa.

His $2000 funding will produce a short film, podcast and a written series about emerging jazz musicians in South Africa. “I believe that every nation whose history has been interrupted by colonialism owes it to itself to discover itself new by looking back and learning about what has been erased. This is a crucial step because we can't tell new tales/shift narratives without learning about the parts of us that are missing,” he said.

"I just want to tell cool stories about the jazz people; stories about how musicians are making magic in the midst of tremendous odds. The grant frees me up from the anxieties associated with having to balance between producing work that generates income and work that contributes towards community- and archive-building. It enables me to do the work that matters to not only myself but a greater community of live music supporters.