As Pride Month 2025 draws to a close, culminating in the Johannesburg Pride March on Saturday, Kaye Ally, founder and director of the Pride of Africa Foundation, hopes Pride will send a clear message that queer Africans are visible, proud, and their identities are not up for debate. 

The “Purely, Queerly, African” theme was inspired by a desire to reclaim and reframe queerness on the African continent, said Ally.

Too often, African queer identities are treated as imported or unnatural, when in truth, queerness has always existed here long before colonisation and the erasure that followed.

She said that the theme is about taking ownership of their narrative, asserting that being queer and being African are not opposites; they’re intertwined, powerful, and valid.

It’s also a call to celebrate the diversity and richness of our stories, languages, traditions, and creativity, and to express queerness through uniquely African lenses, she added. 

Ally said: “Purely, Queerly, African” is a love letter to authenticity. It challenges stereotypes and invites the community and allies to see Pride not as a borrowed concept, but as a deeply African act of visibility, resistance, and pride.

Having Johannesburg’s Executive Mayor, Dada Morero, join the Pride of Africa Day and March is a powerful moment of visibility and validation for the LGBTQ+ community. 

For only the second time in its 36-year history, the march will be joined by the City of Johannesburg’s executive mayor. 

Ally stated that this signals queer people as integral to the city’s identity, rather than being on its margins.

“This official support lends legitimacy to the movement, showing that Pride is not just a celebration but a civic event rooted in inclusion, safety, and equality. It also challenges long-held stigmas by setting an example of leadership that embraces diversity publicly, not just in policy.”

More than symbolism, it calls for accountability, ensuring that this recognition translates into continued support, protection, and representation for LGBTQ+ people in city life. 

Ally said the National Dialogue Stand Survey is one of the most important activations at Pride this year because it gives the community a real voice beyond the celebration. 

She said decisions about queer lives are often made without listening to queer people.

Through this survey, they are collecting honest insights about lived experiences from safety and mental health to workplace inclusion and access to healthcare.

“We hope to translate that feedback into data informing advocacy, policy engagement, and future programming within Pride of Africa and beyond. It’s about moving from visibility to impact using what we learn to shape year-round initiatives, strengthen partnerships with government and civil society, and keep the movement rooted in the actual needs of our people.”

Over the last 14 years, Ally has seen Pride evolve from a single day of visibility into a year-round movement carrying the voices of queer Africans across borders.

 A major milestone has been transforming Pride into a Pan-African platform that speaks for not just South Africa, but the realities of queer people across the continent. 

“We’ve built partnerships, created safe spaces, and driven dialogues far beyond the march route.”

 Another key shift has been anchoring Pride in purpose: linking celebration with advocacy, sustainability, and economic inclusion. 

Ally is proud that the movement has remained independent, authentic, and community-led, even without substantial funding. 

“What began as a march of resilience has become a continental statement of pride, visibility, and African identity, proving that queerness here is homegrown, deeply rooted, and unstoppable.”

Ally highlighted the significance of the Pride of Africa flag as an official global LGBTQ+ symbol, showcasing the continent’s collective strength and resilience. 

She noted the immense impact, shifting global perceptions of Africa’s role in the queer conversation from participation to instrumental shaping. 

“The flag has become a unifying symbol for queer Africans, reminding us that our stories, struggles, and triumphs belong on the world stage. It inspired local communities to take ownership of their narratives and celebrate queerness in culturally authentic and proudly African ways.”

Ally highlighted that the foundation’s efforts extend beyond Pride Month. She admitted that operating without funding and relying on unpaid volunteers presents significant challenges. 

“One major challenge is funding — or rather, the lack of it. Operating as an unfunded volunteer-led organisation means every initiative relies on commitment, creativity, and donations rather than large budgets.”

This complicates scaling impact, sustaining year-round programmes, and influencing policy across the continent.

 “We operate on commitment, creativity, and community support, yet we aim to push for real change. It’s critical to look to organisations that receive significant funding to ensure our community’s needs are evaluated and represented.”

This week, a campaign called NoGoJoburg Pride urged attendees to boycott the event over corporate sponsorship by Amazon. 

Reasons cited include Amazon’s inclusion on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) list due to its tech investments in Israel and legal disputes over developments on ancestral Khoi and San lands. 

Ally clarified that Johannesburg Pride did not officially onboard Amazon as a partner, stating that preliminary discussions were prematurely released externally before formal agreement.

Another challenge she said is navigating social and political resistance; queer visibility in many African contexts can attract backlash, stigma, or hostility, requiring careful planning, diplomacy, and resilience.

Additionally, Ally noted the challenge of ensuring that the foundation’s work reflects the diversity of African queer experiences from urban centres to remote communities, creating meaningful opportunities for empowerment, safety, and advocacy. 

Despite these hurdles, our commitment remains unwavering, and we continue to seek ways to collaborate, innovate, and expand impact, she said.

Looking ahead, Ally’s long-term goal for Pride of Africa is to continue using Johannesburg as a powerhouse platform for African queer visibility and advocacy. 

She stated that the city is not just the host; it’s a symbol of resilience, diversity, and progress.

“It’s a space where the continent’s queer stories can be celebrated openly and safely. I want Africa’s first Pride movement to set the standard for other African cities, demonstrating that it’s possible to combine celebration, activism, and social impact with limited resources.”

Beyond the march and events, the aim is to leverage Johannesburg’s influence to drive policy change, support community-led initiatives, and create sustainable programmes that empower queer Africans.

“Ultimately, I want Johannesburg to remain a homegrown, unapologetically African stage where queer identities are not just visible but celebrated, respected, and amplified.”

Ahead of the march on Saturday, Ally wants everyone walking through Pride, including attendees, allies, and critics, to leave with a clear message: queer Africans are here, visible, and proud, and our identities are not up for debate. 

“Pride of Africa Day 2025 isn’t just a party; it’s a statement of resilience, authenticity, and community. For allies, it’s a call to stand beside us, not just during Pride but in everyday advocacy. 

“For critics, it’s a challenge to rethink assumptions and recognise that queerness is part of Africa’s story — past, present, and future. Most importantly, for our community, it’s a reminder that we belong, our voices matter, and even with limited resources, our pride, creativity, and impact are unstoppable.”

Have thoughts on this topic or other subjects you’d like us to explore? Want to share your experiences? Reach out to me at karen.singh@inl.co.za – I’d love to hear from you!

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