MambaOnline marked 25 years of documenting LGBTQ+ lives and history with the launch of its Write the Next 25 exhibition at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg on 8 October, celebrating the publication’s legacy while looking towards the future of independent queer journalism.
The exhibition, running during Africa Pride Month, features 25 landmark articles and iconic photographs drawn from MambaOnline’s extensive archive, capturing pivotal moments in LGBTQ+ history, the fight for equality, community celebrations and the ongoing struggles against discrimination and violence.
More than a celebration of the publication’s history, the exhibition forms part of the Write the Next 25 campaign, which aims to raise funds to sustain MambaOnline and ensure that independent queer journalism continues to exist and thrive.
Welcoming guests, diplomats, partners and supporters, Managing Editor Nompilo Gwala reflected on the milestone’s significance and the opportunities leading MambaOnline had created for her as a journalist.
Gwala announced that she had been named a 30 Under 30 honouree by the International News Association, recognising her editorial leadership at MambaOnline. “I am grateful to [founder] Luiz De Barros for giving this Black queer girl a chance to be part of MambaOnline,” she said.
Gwala also paid tribute to the partners whose support helped bring the exhibition to life, acknowledging the Embassy of Ireland, the Delegation of Flanders, the Royal Norwegian Embassy, Constitution Hill and the Thami Dish Foundation.
“I am truly grateful for the support you have given to MambaOnline, and I am excited to grow our partnership further,” Gwala said.
Queer history is not a side story
The exhibition launch received strong international support, with representatives from diplomatic missions attending to celebrate MambaOnline’s 25-year legacy.
Maeve McLynn, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Ireland, congratulated MambaOnline on reaching the milestone of 25 years, describing it as a “big feat and a big celebration”. Reflecting on Ireland’s own history of advancing LGBTQ+ rights, she recognised the important work done by organisations such as MambaOnline.
Hilde Dahl, Counsellor and Head of Development Cooperation at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Pretoria, said the exhibition “reminds us that queer history is not a side story. It’s an integral part of South Africa’s history and journey towards an equal society for all”.
Thomas Castrel, General Representative of the Flanders Delegation, highlighted the vital role that MambaOnline had played in “documenting stories that might have otherwise been ignored, distorted or forgotten”. He said Constitution Hill was a particularly fitting venue for the exhibition, as it embodies South Africa’s journey from exclusion to freedom and democracy.
From a passion project to 25 years of queer history
MambaOnline Founder and Editor-in-Chief Luiz De Barros opened his address by celebrating the Equality Court victory against a Gqeberha shopkeeper who banned LGBTQ+ people from his store, announced earlier that day.
The landmark ruling found the shopkeeper guilty of hate speech and unfair discrimination, specifically citing MambaOnline’s original reporting on the incident. For De Barros, the outcome underscored the vital role of journalism in documenting injustice and holding those responsible to account.
He noted that MambaOnline’s anniversary comes at a time when LGBTQ+ communities face growing hostility, an international anti-rights backlash and funding cuts affecting organisations and movements.
De Barros warned that these challenges make independent queer media more necessary than ever.
“We need independent platforms that will tell our stories honestly, challenge misinformation and hatred, and ensure that our communities are neither silenced nor erased,” he said.
“Because if we don’t tell our own stories, others will tell them for us. And too often, they’ll get them wrong.”
Leading community figures discuss queer media
The event included a panel discussion moderated by Kally Mabe, Executive Director of the LGBT+ Management Forum, which also highlighted the importance of documenting queer lives.
The panellists included Sibonelo Ncanana Trower, Civil Society Co-Chair of the National Task Team on SOGIESC Matters; Dr Bev Ditsie, award-winning filmmaker, director and gender nonconforming activist; Mandy Jovial, a transgender refugee from Uganda and human rights activist; and Jamilla Jade Madingwane, Executive Director of FEW.
They spoke about the impact of MambaOnline’s work, with Ncanana Trower revealing that the National Task Team often referred to MambaOnline’s reporting. “MambaOnline had added meat to [the Task Team’s work], and the stories that are being told are not sensationalised,” he said.
Jovial spoke about the visibility that the platform had brought to her experience and those of other asylum seekers, while Ditsie praised the platform for “the level of dignity and the level of professionalism, and ethics.”
Our stories matter
The Write the Next 25 exhibition offers a visual record of why queer storytelling matters. Its collection of articles and photographs preserves stories of resistance, loss, resilience and progress, ensuring that the experiences of LGBTQ+ people remain part of the historical record.
“This exhibition is a reminder that our stories matter. Our lives matter. And our history deserves to be remembered,” De Barros said.
He also acknowledged the many people who have contributed to MambaOnline’s journey, including writers, photographers, activists, creatives, web developers, partners and supporters.
He paid particular tribute to Gwala for her contribution to the publication’s recent growth and reimagining, crediting her dedication and leadership with helping position MambaOnline for its next chapter.
Building the next 25 years
Looking ahead, De Barros said that sustaining MambaOnline’s work requires more than editorial commitment. He urged those attending the exhibition not to view the anniversary as simply a moment to celebrate the past, but as an opportunity to invest in what comes next.
De Barros encouraged audiences to read and share MambaOnline’s stories, alert the newsroom to issues that deserve attention, hold the publication accountable when it gets things wrong and support its work financially where possible.
“Because independent queer journalism cannot survive on passion and determination alone. It needs a community that believes in it and is willing to stand behind it,” he said.
As MambaOnline celebrates its silver anniversary, the exhibition serves as both a tribute to the people and stories that shaped its first quarter-century and a reminder of the work still ahead.
The MambaOnline 25 Years Exhibition runs until the end of October at the Number 4 section of Constitution Hill. Entry is free.
