MambaOnline is inviting the LGBTQ+ community, its allies and supporters to join its 25th anniversary celebration and fundraiser, Sundowners for the Next 25, on Sunday, 29 November 2026, at Poppy’s in Cresta, Johannesburg.
Taking place from 3pm until late, the event promises an afternoon and evening of music, queer entertainment, good company and exciting prizes. Leading the entertainment is the one and only Tamara Dey, who will headline the event as its featured DJ.
And that’s not all! MambaOnline has a fantastic entertainment line-up in store, which will be announced on its social media platforms in the coming days. Guests are encouraged to follow MambaOnline and keep an eye on its posts for announcements and updates.
There will also be plenty of exciting giveaways, including a two-night hotel stay in Cape Town, alongside other fun prizes. So expect a few surprises throughout the celebration.
But behind the music and festivities is a serious purpose: raising funds to sustain MambaOnline and protect the future of independent LGBTQ+ journalism.
Every ticket purchased will contribute directly to the platform’s fundraising campaign, helping ensure that MambaOnline can continue reporting on the issues affecting queer communities, amplifying LGBTQ+ voices and documenting the stories that might otherwise go untold.
The campaign has received a significant boost from The Other Foundation, which has committed to matching funds raised, up to R200,000. This means support from the community can go even further in helping secure the platform’s future.
“For 25 years, MambaOnline has been there to document our lives, our struggles, our victories and our joy. These stories matter because they become part of our collective history. If we lose platforms that tell our stories, we risk losing an important record of who we are and what we have fought for,” says Nompilo Gwala, Managing Editor of MambaOnline.
Gwala says the fundraiser is an opportunity for the community to play an active role in ensuring that LGBTQ+ journalism remains visible and independent.
“We don’t want to spend this anniversary only looking back at what MambaOnline has achieved. We want to use it to build what comes next. Every ticket bought is a contribution towards keeping this platform going. It is a way for our readers, supporters and partners to say that queer stories deserve to be told, and that independent queer media is worth protecting.”
Luiz De Barros, MambaOnline’s Editor-in-Chief, says the platform’s 25-year history represents more than just a publication’s longevity.
“MambaOnline has witnessed and documented some of the most important moments in South Africa’s LGBTQ+ history. We have recorded the progress, the setbacks, the people who shaped our movement and the everyday lives of queer people. That record is invaluable. Our work is not only about reporting what is happening today; it is also about ensuring that future generations can look back and understand where we came from.”
He adds: “Independent queer media needs support to survive. We cannot take the existence of platforms like MambaOnline for granted. This fundraiser is about recognising the value of our journalism and making a collective investment in its future.”
Guests are encouraged to purchase tickets, bring friends and be part of an afternoon that celebrates 25 years of queer storytelling while helping write the next chapter.
Event details
- Event: Sundowners for the Next 25 – MambaOnline Celebration & Fundraiser
- Date: Sunday, 29 November 2026
- Time: 3pm until late
- Venue: Poppy’s, Cresta, Johannesburg
- Headliner: Tamara Dey
- Tickets: R200 available via Quicket
Every ticket counts. Celebrate 25 years of MambaOnline and help sustain the next 25.
