The South African Pride Month officially kicked off, with the Feather Awards leading the charge. On Wednesday, October 2, the prestigious Feather Awards held an event at Constitution Hill to announce the nominees for this year’s ceremony, celebrating not only the LGBTQIA+ community but also marginalized groups, including the hearing and vision-impaired.
Reported by IOL, Thami Dish, the founder of the Feather Awards, reflected on 16 years of this vibrant movement, sharing that this year’s theme is “Borderless Existence.” He explained that the organization has partnered with Blind SA, which promotes independence for blind and visually impaired South Africans, and with the hearing-impaired community in recognition of sign language as the country’s 12th official language.
“Three years ago, we decided to take a bold move and have our first deaf activist as a host for the Feather Awards. That brought about change but also invited me to a world of wanting to learn more,” Dish said. He added, “For a long time, it was always easier for me to talk about Feathers because I’m a queer man, but we had to take it to the next level where there’s inclusion and we’re moving from our old borders, hence the theme ‘Borderless Existence.’”
Among this year’s nominees are the Mbombo sisters, Blue and Brown, who are up for the “Cutest Couple” award. They expressed how meaningful this recognition is, especially after the loss of their mother. “This means a lot to us because this year has been so tough… and being nominated and recognised as a pair means a lot to us,” said Blue. Brown echoed her sentiments, sharing, “I couldn’t ask for a better partner. She’s my lifetime partner.”
The nominations also highlight trailblazers in the fashion industry. Model coach Kgomotso Seboko, nominated for Socialite honours, felt that his hard work was being recognised. “Getting a nomination validates all the hard work and reminds you that you’re on the right track,” he said. Meanwhile, fashion stylist Filipe Mazibuko, nominated for the Simon Nkoli award, shared, “This is a summoning glory award… it means fighting, resilience, kindness, and being queer.”
Hosting this year’s main event are the award-winning actor Khaya Dladla, actress and fashion curator Dineo Langa, and Andiswa Gebashe, who has been ensuring that the hearing-impaired community stays engaged as the Feather Awards’ host for the past three years.
Dladla, in particular, is excited about the freedom that comes with the Feathers: “We attend so many awards, the level of stiffness that is there is so exhausting. If I don’t feel like wearing a suit, I will wear a dress. So there is a lot of freedom at the Feathers. We’re looking forward to having fun with you guys and also just learning as much as we can.”
With its continued commitment to inclusion and celebration, this year’s Feather Awards promises to be more impactful than ever.
