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Nkoli: The Vogue-Opera is a groundbreaking new work created by Philip Miller, with co-lyricist S’bo Gyre . It’s about the life and trials of Simon Nkoli, a gay anti-apartheid freedom fighter and AIDS activist who was imprisoned for four years on charges of treason in the famous Delmas Treason trial (1985-1988). He went on to organize the first gay pride march in Africa, and ensure gay rights were enshrined in our democratic constitution. Part opera, part vogueing-ball, Nkoli: The Vogue-Opera, is as fierce and fabulous as Simon was. “Think if Hamilton and RuPaul’s Drag Race had a baby in South Africa. That’s Nkoli: The Vogue-Opera!” says S’bo Gyre. With a cast of more than 26 top singers, dancers, voguers and musicians the production is highly contemporary in feel with a mix of rap, opera, protest songs and archival audio clips. Nkoli: The Vogue-Opera premiered in Johannesburg in November 2023 at the Market Theatre where it played to full houses every night.
Nkoli is also a bigger artivism project, with a wide reaching social media campaign, funded by The Bertha Artivism Award. The campaign has been running since March 2023 on twitter/X, Instagram and tik-tok. This vibrant campaign, draws on elements of the live vogue -opera, using video clips, song and story to celebrate Simon’s life and spark debate and action around queer rights and justice today.
Check it out here:
Bertha Artivism Awards 2023 Cohort - Bertha Foundatation
press
Reuturs: South Africa's 'vogue opera' honours life of gay queer anti-apartheid activist Nkoli
The Conversation: Nkoli: The Vogue Opera – the making of a musical about a queer liberation activist in South Africa
