Thandiswa Mazwai was honoured with the Simon Nkoli Award. Picture: thandiswamazwai/Instagram
Thandiswa Mazwai was honoured by the Feather Awards last night with the prestigious Simon Nkoli Award, recognising her advocacy for the queer community, as veteran muso Lebo M receives Drama Queen of the Year.
“I am so thankful for the generosity and love from the Gay community last night. Thank you for being such special humans,” averred Mazwai in a tweet the morning after the awards.
Last night, the 15th edition of the annual Feather Awards, which are produced in partnership with the Thami Dish Foundation, were held at The Market Theatre in Joburg.
The awards are co-founded by Thami Kotlolo, popularly known as Thami Dish.
The awards were hosted by sisters Refilwe and Bontle Modiselle alongside Sign Language activist Andiswa P Gebashe.
The purpose of the awards is to honour outstanding individuals and organisations that have made significant contributions to promoting tolerance, inclusivity, and diversity in the LGBTIA+ community over the past year.
“The focus this year was to celebrate the diversity, creativity, and resilience of all communities, during these challenging times,” said Thami Dish in a statement.
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The award Mazwai received is named after South African anti-apartheid gay rights and Aids activist Simon Nkoli, who was born and bred in Soweto. Before there was a semblance of acceptance of the gay community in Mzansi, Nkoli found and established the Gay and Lesbian Organisation of the Witwatersrand (GLOW) in 1988.
Together with Beverley Palesa Ditsie, he organised the first pride parade in South Africa held in 1990 and was a member of International Lesbian and Gay Association board, representing the African region.
The seasoned Bongo Maffin singer was honoured further when pianist and vocalist Thandi Ntuli, crooner Langa Mavuso, former The Soil member Buhlebendalo Mda and Zoe Modiga paid tribute to her by performing some of her songs.
“Last night, thank you Feathers for the stunning tribute. What a treat to see Thandi Ntuli, Zoe Modiga Langa Mavuso and Buhlebendalo sing my songs so beautifully. I was brought to tears. Thank you Thami Dish and your team for showing such love. I will never forget,” wrote Mazwai.
Mazwai also took to the stage to grace the audience.
Such is the drama in South Africa that The Drama Queen Award could’ve gone to Nandipha Magudumana or even fake TikTok doctor Matthew Lani, but the Feathers saw Lebo M as a fitting custodian for the gong.
“You know we live for the drama, and this particular person has made sure we get plenty of it. Your Drama Queen of The Year is Lebo M,” an Instagram post from the Feather Awards said.
Lion King producer Lebohang “Lebo M” Morake’s divorce battle with his estranged wife, Pretty Samuels, has hogged headlines throughout the year and for this he received the award.
Other winners on the night included Tamara Dey, who scooped the Fag Hag of the Year Award, Best Couple went to Buhlebendalo and her partner, Botshelo, while Shaka iLembe actor Thembinkosi Mthembu was named Hunk of the Year.
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