Pride events were created to celebrate the lives of LGBTQI+ people, and to promote their social acceptance and self-affirmation. Through increased visibility and the continuing fight for legal and human rights, Pride events promote hope and break the shackles of shame many people feel due to the prejudice of the wider community. Pride Afrique (14 – 16 August 2020) will provide a great opportunity for queer Africans on the continent and overseas to showcase who they are, what they do and the opportunities available to them. There will be total respect for privacy, since being outed can lead to dire consequences in Africa. Below is a conversation we had with Mr Kehinde Bademosi, Project Lead – Pride Afrique.
Interview by Emmanuel Munyarukumbuzi
What is the whole event about, and why do queer Africans need it? It’s about the three-dimensional stories of LGBTQI+ Africans at home and abroad. We hope to center our voices on significant issues to the continent. By showcasing our history and our journeys, we can inspire the generations coming after us to reach for the sky, irrespective of their identities. We believe a young person is listening or watching, and we are hoping to let them know that they are worthy.
How did the virtual pride idea come about – COVID related innovation or avoiding persecution? COVID came with an opportunity to democratize access to resources and events that were previously only possible for those who could afford to travel. With the advent of post-COVID virtual space, Pride Afrique gives the LGBTQI+ Africa a virtual space to tell our own stories as a tool of advocacy and self-preservation. As someone who had never seen Pride before relocating to the United States, I had always thought no one should be denied the joy of Pride because of where they live. Pride Afrique is only a start.
Who is putting things together, where are they located, and how did they all come together? It was a call that started on Facebook Messenger. Once I saw the opportunity of what we could do, I reached out to David and Udoye in Nigeria, Kevin in Kenya, Gabriel from Brazil, Segun in South African, Miss Sahhara, and John in the UK; and Dolapo in the US. We immediately created a Google document for open-source collaboration. Within four weeks, the open document had received over 54 contributions from across the continent and from abroad. We then conducted a Google survey for areas of interest. We now have over 75 partners working on various committees and tasks to make this happen.
How can individuals and companies lend a helping hand? Pride Afrique is 100% volunteer-driven. Join us —pitch in your talent and gift. Write. Edit. Design. Help with IT. Promote. Translate. And there is so much we can do together. We want organizations to send us support videos that LGBTQI lives matter in Africa.
How can people stay up to date with the preparation and events? People can use @prideafrique handle or #prideafrique2020, our hashtag for social media conversations. We are on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. We will keep updating our website with relevant information in various languages.
The website says you are not receiving monetary sponsorship. Why? And how do you run such an event with no funds? Because we need to change the narrative that when Africa steps on the scene, we are looking for money. This is a self-advocacy event. Run and fully funded by the communities. Pride Afrique is 100% volunteer-driven. All items have been contributed in kind by all volunteers.
What have you learned in this process? That one week is not enough to tell our African queer stories, and that our people are truly resilient and beautiful. Follow the journey and listen to people. It’s an honor to have people contribute their voices, and they must be heard.
What is the future of the event? More diverse voices. Government agencies and corporate organizations in partnership to address institutional homophobia in Africa.
To whom it may concern,
I am a Barbadian residing in New York. I would like information on how I can observe your gay pride celebrations.