Channel O closes Pride Month with ‘Young, Gifted and Queer’ documentary

by Nomonde Simelane

Although International Pride Month is celebrated in June, South Africa, a nation known for not conforming to societal norms also recognises October as Pride Month due to the historical significance of the month for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Unlike many countries across the world, Pride Month is significantly celebrated in October in Mzansi. This month is specifically celebrated to commemorate the first pride march in Africa, which took place in none other than the City of Gold, Johannesburg. This is unsurprising as Mzansi often leads conversations and demonstrations on a global scale, as far as progressiveness is concerned.

Closing out the greatly celebrated month in style, popular music channel, Channel O premiered their highly anticipated documentary titled ‘Young, Gifted and Queer’, which garnered some traction and the #YGQChannelO for those interested to easily follow and stay updated.

 

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As the name ‘Young, Gifted and Queer’ suggests, the documentary follows AN.D, Umlilo and S’bo, three prominent public figures who form part of the LGBTQIA+ community. The documentary puts into action what many LGBTQIA activists have been fighting for, which is allowing queer folk to form their narratives and tell stories from their lens.

“Young, Gifted & Queer—a powerful new documentary shining a light on the vibrant and impactful stories of Black queer artists in South Africa. From resilience to cultural influence, this film is a bold tribute to the trailblazers shaping the culture,” explains the Channel O website.

The 48-minute long documentary is directed by award-winning filmmaker Renaldo Schwarp and focuses specifically on black bodies in the community, shining a light on their experiences, which play an integral part in the art and music they produce.

The LGBTQIA+ community has expressed how impressed they are with what the documentary has achieved, from the quality of the product to the intangibles, which includes ensuring that the community feels accurately represented and heard.

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