Johannesburg Pride 2025 brought colour, culture, and courage to Sandton under the theme “Purely, Queerly, African.”
Johannesburg Pride returned to Sandton this past weekend with a clear message: you can be queer and African at the same time.
The 36th edition of the annual march took place on Saturday, 25 October, under the theme “Purely, Queerly, African.” The parade began at the Pride of Africa Village and moved through Katherine Street, filling the city with rainbow flags, drums, and traditional attire.
Thousands joined to celebrate and demand visibility, from drag artists in beaded regalia to young people wearing Zulu and Xhosa garments alongside the Pride flag.
Reclaiming African Queerness
This year’s theme spoke directly to ongoing debates about culture and queerness in South Africa. Just weeks before the event, public figure Ngizwe Mchunu made headlines for saying that queer people should not wear traditional Zulu attire.
In response, Pride attendees did the opposite. Many showed up in full cultural dress, umvunulo included, turning it into a statement of ownership.
“They tell us we can’t wear this,” said one marcher. “But this is who I am: Zulu, queer, and proud.”
According to Kaye Ally, founder of the Pride of Africa Foundation, the theme was about reclaiming history.
“Our identities have always existed here. We’re not borrowing queerness from anywhere. It’s part of who we are as Africans.”
Culture, Protest, and Joy
Johannesburg Pride is known for blurring the line between party and protest. This year was no different. The event included performances from Pabi Cooper, local drag queens, and community DJs.
One standout moment came from DJ Kagiso Magola, known as MaBoys, who DJed while cycling through the parade, turning the streets into a moving dance floor.
Beyond the celebration, there were also calls for solidarity and justice, including activism around Palestine and LGBTQIA+ rights across Africa.
More Than a Parade
For many, Johannesburg Pride remains both a safe space and a statement. It is a day to be visible, to find community, and to celebrate survival in a country where equality on paper does not always mean safety in reality.
This year’s event reminded everyone that queerness is not foreign to Africa. It is Africa.
