Tyfane / Mozambique
“My name is Esténio Jeremias Bila. Social name Tyfane Mendonça.
I am twenty-four years old. I’m a transvestite from Maputo Mozambique. I lived my entire childhood listening to offensive words from my parents, friends, classmates, neighbours, etc. But I never got carried away by those words, because I did not ask to be born like this. Those words have made me until today being what I am, a mirror to other sisters who have not yet had the courage to admit to it to their family and friends. I’m an open, happy, funny person. And I make the words and the stones my castle of success. Because my routine now is not easy to bear offensive names until today. Since I live in the urban area, where they interpret homosexuality their own way… They call me names like sissy, gay, effeminate, dear and others and also live a dilemma of being a mirror to people who admire it in silence.
There was not a transformation because I already showed this feminine side to everyone around me.”
