NOT ALONE IN THE WORLD: NAKHANE TOURÉ
Nakhane Touré, the openly gay South African singer and songwriter, is a stunning new talent who’s been breaking musical and social boundaries over the last year. The 26-year-old recently took home the Best Alternative Album honour at the South African Music Awards (Samas) for his acclaimed début album Brave Confusion. His music, introspective lyrics and […]
HEALTH: COMING OUT OF THE DRUG CLOSET
Life in the closet can be suffocating, but there are many reasons that force people to remain secretive: prejudice, discrimination, internalised homophobia, fear of rejection. Yet coming out of the closet is generally a liberating experience for most people once the first step is taken. But it is a process and often it is one […]
GROOMING: DEALING WITH SPIDER & VARICOSE VEINS
We all have our little obsessions about certain areas of our anatomy that don’t quite conform to perfection. For some of us it’s a wobbly tummy, or the wrinkles that appeared when no one was watching. And for some of us it’s those little red spider veins that appear around the nose area or even […]
SA-BORN ACTIVIST HONOURED BY SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE
Controversial and fiery, Melanie Nathan, a South African-born attorney and LGBT rights activist, has been selected as a Community Grand Marshal for this Sunday’s San Francisco Pride Parade. Grand Marshals are public emissaries who have made significant contributions to the LGBT community. They are selected annually by San Francisco Pride’s Board of Directors. Nathan says that […]
MOTORING: KIA’S CLASSY KOUP
It’s little wonder that, to the younger set, the Kia brand has become as aspirational as its (traditionally) more stylish European rivals. Arriving on the South African motoring scene in the 90s as a budget unknown from Korea, it was the sort of brand not many gave a second look – certainly not with names […]
MAMBA SPINS: KYLIE, GEORGE MICHAEL, KELIS & MORE
KYLIE MINOGUE – KISS ME ONCE There’s two kinds of Kylie: the pop princess who had us all doing the Locomotion. And then there’s the mod Kylie who, ever since Can’t Get You Out Of My Head, has been churning out successful dance-pop hit after hit. On Kylie’s 12th album Kiss Me Once, it’s definitely […]
GALLERY: LESOTHO GAYS MARCH FOR EQUALITY
Lesotho’s LGBT community marked the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) on May 17 by holding a colourful march through Maseru. Around 200 people took part in the procession, which concluded with speeches and performances at the Maseru Club. Organised by LGBT rights organisation, the Matrix Support Group, the gathering follows on last year’s […]
GAY CABINET MINISTERS: SO WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL?
Several media outlets recently reported that Lynne Brown became the first openly lesbian cabinet Minister in South Africa after President Jacob Zuma appointed her as Public Enterprises Minister. In an ideal world the sexual orientation of a Cabinet Minister – like that of any other person – would be irrelevant. But we do not live […]
MAKING GAY LONG TERM MAGIC
For me, there is nothing sexy about romance. Romance is beautiful, exciting, and important – but it’s important because of my emotional needs. Romance is wonderful. It makes me feel appreciated, it makes me feel close to my partner, and it makes me happy. But it sure as hell doesn’t make me horny. If my […]
EXCLUSIVE: MEET AFRICA’S FIRST OPENLY-GAY BLACK MP
Wednesday’s swearing in of MPs for South Africa’s fifth democratic Parliament was an especially historic occasion; it featured the induction of the first openly-gay black Member of Parliament on the continent, Zakhele Mbhele. South Africa has boasted a handful of proudly gay MPs before, notably Ian Ollis, who game out to voters here on Mambaonline […]