In coloured communities, the word gham can feel like a slap in the face. It’s a term that’s often used to put people down, especially those who speak Mengels, a blend of languages that doesn’t conform to so-called “proper” English. The label comes with a whole set of assumptions and stereotypes.
It’s the guy with his front teeth missing or with a gold tooth in his dentures. It’s the auntie in her nightgown arguing with the spaza shop owner about his prices. It’s the unemployed men hanging on the street corner, sharing a single cigarette. These images have become shorthand for what people think gham looks like.
But not everyone sees gham as a bad thing. In fact, some people have embraced the term, giving it new meaning. For them, it’s about being real—living authentically, speaking in a voice that’s theirs, not someone else’s idea of what’s “proper.” It’s a way of reclaiming what others use to shame and turning it into a source of pride and identity.
Author: Editorial Team
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