Entertainment veteran Baby Joe Correira received the Simon Nkoli Award at the 18th Feather Awards in Johannesburg. It was the top honour of the night at the LGBTQIA+ awards, according to InBound SA.
The award is named after Simon Nkoli, the anti-apartheid and gay rights activist. It honoured Correira for decades of opening doors for queer and diverse talent in the creative industry.
“The Feather Awards is the catalyst. The Fellowship is the work,” founder Thami Willis said, looking back on 18 years of the event.
Willis, known as Thami Dish, announced on the night that he is stepping back from the day-to-day running of the awards. He said he will focus on the charity work of the Foundation.
He also plans to start a new chapter in his personal life after his marriage, InBound SA reported.
This year’s event was called The Signature Edition. It was held as a small gala that brought together activists, community elders, artists and supporters.
The organisers said the theme of the night was legacy and youth taking part. The event honoured people who defend safe spaces and push for equal rights across Africa.
Two new permanent awards were added this year. The Designer of the Year award was renamed the Maria McCloy Award.
McCloy was a journalist, fashion stylist and media figure who recorded South Africa’s street culture and African style. She was named the first winner of the award after her death.
The second new prize is the Thami Dish Award, which honours grassroots culture makers. Content creator Lelo Whats Good won it for sharing queer voices and real community stories.
Supporters in business and the public sector were also honoured. ABSA won Best LGBTQIA+ Private Sector Initiative, while Professor Zozo Nene received Best LGBTQIA+ Public Sector Initiative.
The grassroots group Other Village People won Best LGBTQIA+ Youth Initiative.
Zizo Beda, Khaya Dladla and Lula Odiba hosted the main stage. The night opened with a Pink Carpet hosted by Tyrone Gordon Willard.
The carpet was run in partnership with Proudly South African. It served as a runway for local, queer and experimental South African designers.
“Supporting locally made fashion strengthens the creative economy, sustains small businesses, and creates sustainable jobs right across our textile and design value chain,” said Proudly South African CEO Eustace Mashimbye.
The event also showcased the Thami Dish Fellowship. It is a 12-month leadership programme for emerging LGBTQIA+ community leaders.
The fellowship is training nine young leaders, one from each of South Africa’s nine provinces, according to InBound SA.
Source: this article is based on reporting by InBound SA. Image: InBound SA. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Entertainment desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Rirhandzu Baloyi writes about entertainment for Tzaneen Voice. Rirhandzu covers South African music, film, TV, streaming, awards and celebrity news, from amapiano and local soapies to Showmax and Netflix releases. Stories stick to what happened, who was involved and when fans can watch or listen.