The Feather Awards 4th anniversary turned up the heat on Jo’burg ‘likers-of-things’ who gathered at The Venue at Melrose Arch to see who was going to take the trophy’s for individuals who the gay community have dubbed most fabulous, most scandalous, most amusing and most inspirational.
Held in their classic over-the-top style, complete with Mzansi’s very first pink carpet, the Feather Awards featured an evening of hot entertainment, heartfelt acceptance speeches, cheeky, irreverent humour, and the obligatory bling and glamour.
Hosted by the dramatic trio of Lerato ‘Leratolicios’ Sengadi, Bujy and Madame Gigi, the ceremony delivered it’s usual drama – with a sobering message about the danger that sexual minorities live with in in South Africa.
DJ Zinhle’s club banger ‘My Name Is’ was reworked as a females-only performance that paid tribute to South African lesbians who’ve been subjected to the horrifying scourge of ‘corrective rape.’
The evening featured an uber-camp touch with a medley of ‘gay anthems’ performed by five divas and diva’s-in-training namely– “I Will Survive” – by cabaret queen and ‘Fag Hag of the Year’ co-winner Lucia Mthiyane, ‘I’m Coming Out’ by Caroline Borole, Doesn’t Really Matter’ performed by Wanda Baloyi, Queen of the Night delivered by Kelly Khumalo and as a twist on Lady Gaga’s self-acceptance anthem, ‘Born this Gay’ performed by Afro-jazz supremo Nokukhanya Dlamini.
Bujy and Lection stepped up to show that the time-honoured tradition of voguing is still alive and kicking.
Vocal about body-acceptance and issues around low-self-esteem, Bujy’s performance was a demonstration that as a large man, he is fully capable of delivering a sizzling performance that electrified the evening.
Not to be outdone, the drag queens were out in full effect to deliver a rousing closing performance, celebrating the incredible strides that the South African gay community has made – all topped off by Somizi Mhlongo’s alter ego, Madame Gigi – who performed her final public appearance at the event.
Not one to go out without a hint of controversy, she performed a musical version of the on the highly anticipated category-that-wasn’t ‘We Think Your Gay & It’s Ok’ – playfully referencing DJ’s Cleo, Dj Miza and DJ Zinhle.
