by Danny Mdluli -

FEATHER AWARDS XV: CELEBRATING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY IN 2023

Johannesburg, South Africa – The glitz, the glamour, and glittering night of celebration is back! The Feather Awards XV is thrilled to announce the fabulous and fierce nominees for 2023. As we gear up for a spectacular night of recognition and revelry, get ready to unleash your inner unicorn and let your true colors shine. It’s time to celebrate the unique tapestry of the LGBTQIA+ community and honor those who have made a significant impact in the realms of entertainment, advocacy, and more!

As always the Feather Awards XV promises to be a night like no other, where we come together to honor our community’s outstanding achievements and contributions. In this spirit of celebration and unity, we are excited to announce our nominees this year. The list includes dazzling stars, inspiring activists, and community leaders who have not only risen but also shone brightly.

The Feather Awards XV is an event that symbolizes unity, diversity, and empowerment. We are proud to celebrate all the nominees who have touched our hearts, minds, and lives in so many unique and extraordinary ways. Taking place on Thursday, 9th November 2023 at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg, media, partners and other key stakeholders will gather to recognize and applaud these fantastic individuals for their incredible contributions to the LGBTIQ+ community.

For a third consecutive season, the beloved Modiselle sisters, Refilwe, Bontle and Candice will return as the 2023 hosts.

And the 2023 Nominees for the Feather Awards XV are:

 
Best Styled Individual 

  • Musa Keys
  • PonaHalo
  • Yaya Mavundla

Hunk of the Year 

  • Thembinkosi Mthembu
  • Mondli Makhoba
  • Toss

Diva Extraordinaire of the Year

  • Mrs Mops
  • Sorisha Naidoo
  • Swanky Jerry

Sports Personality of the Year

  • Andile Dlamini
  • Akani Simbine 
  • SA Netball 


Role model of the Year

  • The Fruit Basket
  • Tony Kruger
  • Patsy P. Alley 


Cutest Couple

  • Mandisa Mfeka & Kenay
  • Buhlebendalo & Botshelo
  • Xihla & Busi

Hot Chick of the Year

  • Uncle Waffles
  • Homba Mazaleni
  • Mordecai


Media Award of the Year. 

  • The Lunch League
  • Sowetan / S Mag
  • Kasi 2 Kasi Queer Cinema 


Fag hag of the Year 

  • Nhlanhla Mafu
  • Tamara Dey
  • Musa Mthombeni


Designer of the Year (new category)

  • Gert-Johan Coetzee
  • Otiz Seflo
  • Lulama Wolf


Musician

  • Tyler ICU
  • Bongezizwe Mabandla
  • Lloyiso


Socialite (Seen at every opening of an envelope or an erection of a stop sign)

  • Lethabo Lejoy Mathatho
  • Tshiamo
  • Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa


Drama Queen

  • Joku
  • Lebo M
  • Ayanda Ncwane


Social Media Personality of the Year  

  • Sethu Nkosi
  • Barbie Jackson
  • Sabelo The Creator 


Best LGBTIQ+ Initiative: Private Sector 

  • Miss SA
  • Woolworths
  • Nike


Best LGBTIQ+ Initiative: Public Sector 

  • Do Better


Best LGBTIQ+ Youth Movement 

  • Sacred Heart School
  • Phuti Lekoloane Foundation
  • WAQE


Best Rainbow Parenting 

  • Zodwa Rannyadi
  • Nandipha Jovuka
  • Abraham Sebidi 

 
This year, the Simon Nkoli Award will be awarded to the multi talented, award winning South African sweetheart Thandiswa Mazwai.

The 15th annual Feathers Awards, is produced in partnership with the Thami Dish Foundation.

              “This year we are here to celebrate the diversity, creativity, and resilience of all communities, during these challenging times” commented Thami Kotlolo, co-founder of the Feather Awards and added, “Finding support for our initiatives continues to be a struggle, but we are forever inspired by the boldness and braveness of the Queer community in continuing to push boundaries, claim spaces and create greater freedom for all. Thanks to them, we can continue our work in the community at large to educate and sensitize, culminating into this fabulous annual gathering of all things queer and beyond. Congratulations to all our wonderful nominees for the Feather Awards XV!  We celebrate you! “


Stay tuned for more updates, surprises, and, of course, the grand reveal of the winners at the Feather Awards XV. Let’s paint the town with all the colors of the rainbow!

 
Instagram  @FeathersSA
Twitter        @FeathersSA
Facebook  The Feathers Awards SA

#FeatherAwardsXV  #SolveForX

by Danny Mdluli -

Relebogile Mabotja receives two Radio Award nods, testament to the power of radio and community

Johannesburg, Friday, 6 October 2023 – Multi-hyphenated, multi-award-winning media personality and businesswoman, Relebogile Mabotja receives two Radio Award nominations off the back of winning a South African Film & Television Award (SAFTA) this past weekend.  Revealed yesterday, Relebogile Mabotja’s Radio Award nods were received in two categories, namely: Promotions Stunt / event (Combined) and Community Project both for the story“David Sejobe cycling to Venda”.  The story of “David Sejobe cycling to Venda” that came alive on 702 Afternoons with Relebogile Mabotja is testament to the true power of radio and community. 
 Sejobe cycles from Orange Farm to Randburg daily when going to work in honour of his father, who inspired him to cycle when he was diagnosed with diabetes and asthma.Sharing his intention to cycle from Randburg to Venda for his father’s tombstone unveiling, the 702 community and relevant brand stakeholders came together to make this possible. Read the full story here: https://ewn.co.za/2022/06/13/smile-and-wave-david-sejobe-spreads-hope-on-randburg-streets
“This is honestly one of my favourite moments in radio to date. Being able to do this!!! David Sejobe is a phenomenal man who is so inspirational,” expresses Relebogile Mabotja.  “This story speaks to all my core values of wanting to do purposeful work in all avenues that I’m involved in, and shows that the power of radio is still very much alive. What started off as a call from a listener turned into a life changing event for someone who brings so much joy to his community. This is why I get up every day and do what I do. It’s for moments like this. To get two Radio Award nominations for it is just the cherry on top,” adds Relebogile Mabotja.  A previous Radio Award winner (2020) in the category Commercial News Bulletin Reader for station Metro FM,make sure to follow Relebogile Mabotja on social media for more on this year’s awards and tune into 702 Afternoons with Relebogile Mabotja every week day from 1pm to 3pm for inspirational stories and award-winning radio moments.
Connect with Relebogile Mabotja:
Facebook: Relebogile Mabotja
Twitter: @RelebogileM
Instagram: @relebogile
TikTok: @relebogilemabotja
by Danny Mdluli -

TRACE AWARDS GOES INTERSTELLAR AS HOT NEW ARTISTS JOIN THE LINEUP

Johannesburg, South Africa – Tickets for the Trace Awards & Festival went on sale this past weekend  as they announced more stellar additions to the dazzling lineup for the. 

Presented by Visit Rwanda and Martell, the Trace Awards will take place at the BK Arena, Kigali, Rwanda on Saturday 21st of October 2023.

The new additions to the already star-studded line-up include South Africa’s finest Musa Keys, KO and Pabi Cooper alongside Nigerian headliners Fireboy DML, Yemi Alade, Olamide, BNXN, Moses Bliss, Show dem Camp and Mr Eazi.

Other artists include:

  • Azawi, Levixone and Uganda Ghetto Kid (Uganda)
  • Camidoh and Juls (Ghana)
  • Chriss Eazy (Rwanda)
  • Danni Gatto (Cape Verde)
  • DJ Illans (Reunion)
  • Donovan BTS (Mauritius)
  • Emma’a (Gabon)
  • GAEI (Madagascar)
  • Gerilson Insrael (Angola)
  • Goulam (The Comores)
  • Kader Japonais (Algeria)
  • Kalash (Martinique)
  • Krys M (Cameroon)
  • KS Bloom (Ivory Coast)
  • MIKL and Segael (Réunion)
  • Nadia Mukami (Kenya)

They will join previously announced performers and nominees Davido (Nigeria), Asake (Nigeria), Bamby (French Guiana), Benjamin Dube (South Africa), Black Sherif (Ghana), Blxckie (South Africa), Bruce Melodie (Rwanda), Bwiza (Rwanda), Didi B (Ivory Coast), Dystinct (Morocco), Janet Otieno (Kenya), Josey (Ivory Coast), Kizz Daniel (Nigeria), Lisandro Cuxi (Cape Verde), Locko (Cameroon), Mikl (Reunion), Perola (Angola), Plutonio (Mozambique), Princess Lover (Martinique), Ronisia (France), Rutshelle Guillaume (Haïti), Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde), Tayc (France), Terrell Elymoor (Mayotte), The Compozers (Ghana) and Viviane Chidid (Senegal).

Additional performers will be announced prior to the event.

To mark its 20th anniversary, global music powerhouse and Afro-music tastemaker Trace is staging the Trace Awards at the BK Arena, Kigali, to celebrate the creativity, talent and influence of African and Afro-inspired music and artists.

For a full list of nominations, please click here.

The Trace Awards, showcases the excellence and diversity of Afro-centric music in genres such as Afrobeat, Dancehall, Hip Hop, Afro-pop, Mbalax, Amapiano, Zouk, Kizomba, Genge, Coupé Décalé, Bongo Flava, Soukous, Gospel, Rap, Rai, Kompa, R&B, and Rumba. Competing in 25 award categories are platinum-selling artists from more than thirty countries in Africa, South America, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean and Europe. 

Targeted at lovers of African and Afro-inspired music and culture, the Trace Awards will broadcast live on 21 October 2023 on Trace TV channels, radio and digital channels and on global streaming platforms, national terrestrial TV and satellite channels. The viewership and social interaction is expected to exceed 500 million fans in 190 countries.

Rwandan creativity and excellence are represented by the involvement of BK Arena, RwandAir and RBA as partners to the Trace Awards & Festival. Visitors to the Trace Awards and Festival in Rwanda are eligible for a 15 percent discount on their flight prices to Kigali using the code TRACE23.  

For more information about the Awards, follow Trace on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter YouTube or TikTok. To join the conversation about the awards please use the hashtags #TraceAwardsRwanda2023, #TraceAwardsandFestival and #TraceAwardsTour