Pillow Talk

Photography by Olivia Mortimer and Samora Chapman 

When Netflix-and-chill becomes the date of choice and we’re more concerned with making it official on social than who drops the L-word first, you can be sure that we’re doing things differently to how our parents did it. While we’re now free to shack up with a person of the same sex or a different race to us, there are some new challenges that we're sure you're overly aware of. 

But we’re a resilient bunch and love finds a way, and to celebrate the month of love TWoU commissioned intimate portraits of couples in their bedrooms, photographic proof how love's the best filter.  

Andile Biyana (25) and Nhlanhla Nhlapo (28)

So where's this thing going?

We still exploring life as individuals but we hoping to try build a family together

What do you love about your partner?

Nhlanhla: Her playfulness and positive outlook on life.

Andile: How he’s so patient with me and affectionate towards me.

What's their worst habit?

Nhlanhla: Waiting to do things at the last minute.

Andile: Him nagging me to do things on time.

What's been your most memorable experience together so far? 

We have so many. But definitely it has to be our first trip out of the country. We took a taxi to Swaziland without planning much and came back with memories to last a lifetime.

What's your song?

Shekhinah ‘Suited’ from the Rose Gold album.

Nkuli Masemola (18) and Kgotlelelo Bradley Sekiti (17)

So where's this thing going?

Nkuli: I don’t know yet, but it’s definitely going and it’s going to go on for a really long time. 

How did you meet?

We met on Instagram officially, we were both part of a teenage movement group and we had the hectic hots for each other. 

What do you love about your partner?

Bradley: His smile, his humour, how he can be challenging and we're able to hold a solid conversation. He is generous and caring.

Nkuli: His beautiful eyes, his really bad jokes and how I know he’ll never leave me to suffer alone. Sifa sonke (we die together).

Describe your ultimate date?

We both like chilling on the rooftop of buildings, or going on adventures around town, either to discover new restaurants or thrift stores. 

Fhatuwani Mukheli (32) and Sarah El Kalawy (28)

So where's this thing going?

Fhatuwani: We want to have kids and it's still early stages of our relationship, so we put a pause on that. We were like, ‘Nah, lets have fun first and travel’ but when we met, we said 'Let's have a brown baby!'

What do you love about your partner?

Sarah: I love that he’s always happy and he has a good energy. He always makes sure that I am okay and that I am happy. He’s just an amazing person.

What's their worst habit?

Sarah: He has OCD when it comes to food. If I don't make the sandwiches perfectly, they have to be layered in a specific order, cheese, lettuce and then tomato, he won't eat it. 

Fhatuwani: It changes the taste for me. I think its petty things, truly speaking.

Sarah: He never does the dishes. 

What's your song?

Sarah: Bonobo ‘Break Apart’ and ‘Kerala’

Fhatuwani: She likes Gqom music, so everytime I hear Gqom I think of her. 

Billy Pineapples (34) and Taz Bedevilled (28)

So where's this thing going? 

Billy: We don’t want to breed or marry. When you’re not looking you find someone who means more to you than anything else. Someone you never thought you’d find. 

How did you meet?

Taz: That dirty part of the night when you should really go home…  He recommended a book and the next time I saw him I said: ‘Hey, I actually read that book.’ And he was like, 'Huh?!'

What do you love about your partner? And what's their worst habit?

Taz: I love being able to be creative with him, like we sit and work and never get tired of each other. Our careers are very important to us, so it’s great to find someone on the same vibe as me. I think his worst habit is he never wipes down the counters.

What's been your most memorable experience together so far? 

Billy: Taz had been hired to re-paint some murals at a restaurant and I suspect at the outset I had certain designs and ideas, like ‘I'm gonna flirt with her and maybe paint a little bit’. It was a crazy romance. A whirlwind courtship. After two weeks of drunken stumbling around Davenport, splattered in paint and each other’s kisses there was no looking back. 

Describe your ultimate date?

Ordering junk food and fizzy drinks and sitting at home watching old action sci-fi movie like Predator or Alien. 

Unati Matshatshe (26) and Moshine Magnif (28)

So where's this thing going? 

Moshine: We gonna make 50 mil. 

How did you meet?

Unati: We saw each other across the room. Later he was like ‘I’m Moshine, do you know who I am?’ I was like ‘NO!’ I think he was impressed by how sassy I am. We understood each other’s vibe, we connected and later I thought to myself ‘I could actually kiss this person because he’s smart and I respect him.’

What do you love about your partner?

Unati: I respect his talent and he inspires me. I have an artistic side that I ignored for a really long time and meeting him has put me back in touch with that. I really like how relaxed he is – he makes me feel calm and safe. 

 What's been your most memorable experience together so far? 

Unati: I really enjoyed New Year’s. It was my first ever New Year’s kiss, which is so essential as a Disney Princess. We were at a wonderful party in town and the countdown happened and we made out. 

What's your song?

Travis Scott's ‘Butterfly Effect’

Tami Jacobs (25) and Woogy Woogs (29)

So where's this thing going?

We're getting married in September! Then honeymoon. Then we gonna try to buy a house. Try go full adult. 

How did you meet?

Tami:  I first saw Woogs when he was playing in the band Low Profile. I think I was 15 or 16, and I saw him on stage. We spoke after the show and after that we became friends for a long time.

How ‘bout your first kiss?

Woogy: We were at The Winnie and I said: ‘Hey Tam, do you wanna go make out in the corner’.  She said no, and then later on we made out in the corner. 

What's been your most memorable experience together so far? 

Woogy: Picking Tam up and going to the Outland Music Festival, where she asked me to marry her on stage. I said no, then quickly proposed back. Because you know, the girl’s not supposed to propose. 

What's your song?

The National ‘Fake Empire’