Shade! It’s no news that Africa has an interesting way of expressing fundamental human rights and freedom, that one might even say that these rights and freedom are non-existent.
Marginalised groups like the Queer, women, and transgender, face this repression even more. In a tell-all, the International Observatory for Human Rights spoke exhaustively about the violence and discrimination faced by Queer individuals, especially in Sub Saharan Africa. Regardless of the daily undue oppression, repression and muffling, these groups continuously seek to hold on to any form of interference that’ll impede these ideologies and laws that make them feel small, insignificant and alone.
At the time, as an effeminate man in an extremely conservative and femme-phobic country, people like me were being raised to constantly question what we thought and felt, and dismiss any ideas that there were others like us. This had, in more ways than one, put an image in our heads that we were alone regarding certain things, and that we’d be alienated from all environments and rewards if we didn’t “act right.” – Anonymous for The Doe
In this world of struggle and pain, people tend to look for glimpses of hope, reassurance and strength in situations, persons, places and/or even objects they can find, or hinge unto to draw faith, comfort or courage. Whether progressive or conservative, this has been the story. And for Africa’s Queer community, the case hasn’t been so different.
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” – Oscar Wilde
Strutting into the hearts and mouths of Africa, was the New York Ballroom Classic – POSE. “Was”, because the groundbreaking series and conversation starter has ended after three remarkable seasons. From the streets to the ballroom and then to our round tables, the LGBTQ ball fixture – POSE – created an environment for empowerment. The idea for the 1980s and early 1990s drag ball culture scene was simply to project representation and inclusion, while also teaching “herstory”. It basically paved a way for better representation, in front of, and behind the camera.
The groundbreaking series has more or less, been a handbook to Africa’s Queer communities as lesbian, gay, queer and trans individuals, finds and navigate their way daily through the undue repressive laws and institutions that govern them. It taught the importance of living your truth and the power in activism, solidarity and speaking up; refusing to be silenced or shunned – which of course, the celebration of Pride commemorates.
“Disobedience, in the eyes of anyone who has read history, is man’s original virtue. It is through disobedience that progress has been made, through disobedience and through rebellion”. – Oscar Wilde
The power and strength in unity can never be overemphasized. POSE taught that coming together in courage and spirit brings about strength, power, resilience and resistance. And this will result in a camaraderie tough enough to wane off and unnerve these institutions that oppress. In the light of togetherness, the drag ball culture retro scene featured characters who supported each other in a network of chosen families known as “Houses”.
This family network was just as inclusive as inclusion could get. It was a variety of black, gay, cis, latinx, afro-latinx, trans and even biological women. A house mother/father accepts and embraces individuals kicked out of their homes for being different, and literally becomes accountable and responsible for them. Feed them, clothe them, defend them, respond to them, help them pick career paths and make out something for themselves, while being there to guide and reassure them that they are enough, gonna be okay, and can do it.
In the world of drag, many aspiring queens are taken under the wing of a “mother” for makeup lessons, guidance, and support. The harsh reality for a lot of young LGBTQ people includes being exiled from their homes; in chosen families like these, they can find the support their blood-related families and society deny them. – Andrew Nguyen for The Cut
This is an incredible subculture that cannot be bought, and it is valued forever. Oh! And yes, this has taught empathy to queer audiences. Realising utmost peculiarity in the subject matter, these audiences are more aware that they only have each other, and it’s just as important to show love, protection and acceptance as desiring it for oneself.
Even until recently, Queer folks in Africa remain vulnerable to being evicted from their homes, kicked out of public businesses, denied health care, denied government services, arrested or even killed simply because of who they are. Some of the legendary houses that were just incredible at expressing these dynamics are;
The House of Abundance, The House of Evangelista, The House Of Wintour, The House Of Ferocity, The House Of Khan, The House Of Mugler, The House Of Pendavis and; The House of LaBeija.
It would be interesting to note that some of the names of houses used are actual names of existing house families. This was done to reflect and represent everything they stood for.
The stories of Avis Pendarvis, Dorian Corey, Pepper LaBeija – the queen of Harlem drag and Crystal LaBeija, the legendary queen who founded the House of LaBeija in 1977, in a bid to foster an environment where her black and brown sisters lived their truth and didn’t have to fit into a discriminatory standard of beauty by lightning their faces and eyes, were told.
These networks celebrated a family type and inclusive relationship where they had to be there for the struggles and joy-filled experiences of their sisters (Other members of the house).
Experiencing a sad, dark and gloomy situation? The house is there to help.
Going through a trying/testing period and yearning for the company of a beloved just for reassurance that everything’s gonna be okay? Members of the house are there to hold your hand.
Have some really good news or celebrating a joy-filled moment? Trust that the house mother has already helped put up a couture piece for you to work a category in the next ball!!
Other Herstory pointers were;
- The 1989 Voguing – the art of pantomime dissing, inspired by the immortal beauties of Hollywood: Greta Garbo, Judy Garland and Marilyn Monroe. Taken into Mainstream by Willi Ninja through Madonna’s hit song – Vogue.
- The 1999 documentary film; Paris is Burning – accommodating both views and being non-judgemental and;
- The timeless art of Shade!
POSE more than highlighted and addressed the HIV/AIDS challenges faced by trans women, MSM, lesbians and black communities. In a recent study by the CDC, it was discovered that almost twice the percentage of blacks, as compared to white individuals, are HIV+.
Poverty, intra-African migration and the reckless nonchalance or ignorance of queer people have been huge reasons for this. The percentage of gay males who are HIV+ is higher when compared to that of the general male population. According to recent research, government anti-AIDS programmes target heterosexuals, thus leaving the responsibility of educating gay and lesbian individuals about safer sex and HIV/AIDS to gay and lesbian organisations. Queer people have been left to protect and cater for their own. HIV+ prevalence rates for lesbian and trans women is high, contradicting beliefs that lesbian women are relatively risk-free for HIV transmission. This HIV+ prevalence rate is due to several factors some of which are lesbian women maintaining bisexual partners, women experiencing rape, among others.
Now, the awareness of HIV/AIDS as an important socio-economic factor in the LGBTQ community has been greatly raised and members of the community are now wiser, even all the more as regards the various health challenges and restrictions they’re bound to encounter by living their truth.
POSE was a total serve, and it’s so incredible that a series could do all of these and even more!
