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Simon Nkoli

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Simon Tseko Nkoli
Born(1957-11-26)26 November 1957
Soweto, Union of South Africa
Died30 November 1998(1998-11-30) (aged 41)
Johannesburg, South Africa
PartnerRoy Shepherd

Simon Tseko Nkoli (26 November 1957 – 30 November 1998) was an anti-apartheid, gay rights and AIDS activist in South Africa. Active in the Congress of South African Students (COSAS), the United Democratic Front, and the Gay Association of South Africa (GASA), he was arrested as part of the Delmas Treason Trial in 1984. After his release in 1988, he founded the Gay and Lesbian Organisation of the Witwatersrand (GLOW) and organized South Africa's first pride parade. His activism influenced the African National Congress (ANC) to enshrine gay rights in the South African constitution. One of the first South Africans to disclose that he was living with HIV/AIDS, Nkoli founded the Township AIDS Project. After his death from AIDS-related complications, his colleagues were inspired to establish the Treatment Action Campaign.

Early Life[edit]

On November 26, 1957, Nkoli was born in Soweto in a seSotho-speaking family with three other children during apartheid-era South Africa. Because of the apartheid government's pass laws, his family was not supposed to live together, so they periodically had to hide from law enforcement. After his parents separated, Nkoli lived with his grandparents who were tenant farmers to a white landlord in the Orange Free State.[1] When his grandparents and landlord tried to convince him to work with them full time, he ran away to Johannesburg to go to school and lived with his mother in Sebokeng.

At age 19, Nkoli met Roy Shepherd, his partner. The following year, Nkoli came out as gay to his family, who took him to traditional healers in an attempt to change his sexual orientation.[2][3][1]

Activism[edit]

Nkoli organized his fellow students in a petition against the government's proposal to mandate that classes were delivered in Afrikaans.[1] He attended secretarial college in Johannesburg where he became a youth activist against apartheid, joining the Congress of South African Students (COSAS). After Nkoli became secretary for the Transvaal division of COSAS, he came out to them. After a vote on the matter, he was allowed to keep this position.[2][1]

GASA and Delmas Treason Trial (1983-1987)[edit]

In 1983, Nkoli joined the Gay Association of South Africa (GASA) whose membership was primarily white. GASA called itself "apolitical", while others called it "accommodationist" or "apartheid-friendly."[4] They refused to support Nkoli's activism on race-related issues.[2] He also worked with the Saturday Group for Black men.[1]

Nkoli spoke at rallies in support of rent-strikes during the Vaal uprising. While attending a funeral for a friend who was killed at a protest, he was arrested along with twenty-one other political leaders in the Delmas Treason Trial, collectively known as the Delmas 22.[1] Although he could have been given the death penalty for treason, Nkoli was given a 5 year sentence.[5]

During the trial, some of his fellow defendants were "disgusted" with someone for being in a gay relationship. In the ensuing discussion, Nkoli came out as gay to his fellow defendants, some of whom feared that his sexuality would decrease their international support.[6][1] Nkoli's imprisonment and coming out have been called "a watershed in gay politics" in South Africa that "galvanised an international network of anti-apartheid activists to consider the place that gay rights would hold within an ANC-led government" and challenged notions of anti-apartheid activists as exclusively heterosexual men.[4][1] His co-defendent, Terror Lekota, later stated: "How could we say that men and women like Simon, who had put their shoulders to the wheel to end apartheid, should now be discriminated against?”[7][8] Nkoli is credited with influencing the attitude of the African National Congress towards being more supportive of gay rights. As an openly gay man and anti-apartheid activist, he assisted in linking the two movements together: "I cannot be free as a black man if I am not free as a gay man." [9][4]

In prison, Nkoli was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.[1]

In a 1985 letter sent from prison after his arrest Nkoli told his partner, Roy Shepherd, that "GASA has done nothing for me since I was arrested", though he wrote in the same letter that "some individual members of GASA are seeing me", and that "I will remain a member of Gasa always". The following year, he wrote that he was "absolutely mad to read about me being arrested on 'irrelevant' issues to gay related matters", and increasingly frustrated at a lack of support from GASA. In April 1987, he wrote: "I am not interested in Gasa at all. In fact I am no longer a member of Gasa – or I shall not be a member of Gasa again."[10] Although some sources claim that Nkoli was ejected from GASA after his arrest and trial.[2] He later formed the Saturday Group, the first black gay group in Africa.[citation needed]

GLOW and AIDS activism (1988-1998)[edit]

Following Nkoli's acquittal and release from prison in 1988, he founded the Gay and Lesbian Organisation of the Witwatersrand (GLOW), the first gay rights organization based in the townships.[11] Through his work with GLOW, he helped to ensure that gay rights were explicitly protected in the South African Constitution.[1][5]

Along with LGBT activist, Beverley Palesa Ditsie, he organised the first pride parade in South Africa in 1990. He led the march of about 800 people through Johannesburg chanting "Out of Closets— Into the Streets" and "Not the Church, Not the State— We Ourselves Decide Our Fate."[11][12][13] That year, Nkoli co-founded the Township AIDS Project which conducted HIV prevention and education programs.[11][2] Nkoli also publicly disclosed that he was living with HIV, becoming one of the first openly HIV-positive African gay men.[1]

He travelled widely and was given several human rights awards in Europe and North America. He was a member of International Lesbian and Gay Association board, representing the African region.[11]

Nkoli was one of the first gay activists to meet with President Nelson Mandela in 1994. He helped in the campaign for the inclusion of protection from discrimination in the Bill of Rights in the 1994 South African constitution and for the repeal of the sodomy law, which happened in May 1998 in his last months.

He initiated the Positive African Men group based in central Johannesburg.

Nkoli vocally criticized the South African government for its response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.[8] In an interview, he advocated writing letters to the Department of Health, saying "people are dying anyway without action. Why not die with action?"[1]

Death[edit]

For 12 years, Nkoli lived with HIV and dealt with periodic illness during the last 4 years of his life.[8] Unable to access effective HIV treatment,[14] Nkoli went into a coma on 30 November 1998 and died.[1]

His memorial service was held on 4 December at St. Mary's Cathedral in Johannesburg, and his funeral was held on 10 December at the Mphatlalatsane Community Hall in Sebokeng. His coffin was draped in a rainbow flag and flowers, and many people spoke in tribute of him, including Prudence Mabele, Terror Lekota, Popo Molefe, and Gcina Malinde.[15][16]

Zackie Achmat eulogized Nkoli as a "gay martyr" and soon after co-founded Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), in part because of Nkoli's death. TAC successfully lobbied the government to provide the HIV/AIDS treatment that Nkoli was unable to access.[1][17][7][18][19]

In September 1999, he was honored by the gay pride parade that he had founded in Johannesburg: a street corner in Hillbrow was named after him.[20][21]

Personal life[edit]

Nkoli's surname is pronounced "Nkodi" and was often spelled this way, including by Nkoli himself.[10]

Nkoli met his partner, Roy Shepherd, at the age of 19. He later recalled meeting him at the GCC, or Gay Christian Community.[10] A collection of their letters, written during Nkoli's trial and imprisonment, was published as part of the GALA Queer Archive under the title Till the Time of Trial: The Prison Letters of Simon Nkoli.[10][22] Excerpts from these letters were also published in the book Yes, I Am!: Writing by South African Gay Men. [23]

Honours[edit]

  • There is a Simon Nkoli Day in San Francisco.
  • He opened the first Gay Games in New York and was made a freeman of that city by mayor David Dinkins.
  • In 1996 Nkoli was given the Stonewall Award in the Royal Albert Hall in London.
  • In 1999, a street corner in Johannesburg was named after him in a ceremony at the annual pride parade[21]
  • There is an annual Simon Nkoli Memorial Lecture[6]

Representation in Media[edit]

  • Canadian filmmaker John Greyson made a short film about Nkoli titled A Moffie Called Simon in 1987.[24]
  • Nkoli's account of coming out as a black gay activist in South Africa is included as a chapter in Mark Gevisser's and Edwin Cameron's Defiant Desire: Gay and Lesbian Lives in South Africa (1994) pages 249–257.
  • Nkoli was the subject of Robert Colman's 2003 play, "Your Loving Simon" and Beverley Ditsie's 2002 film "Simon & I".[25]
  • John Greyson's 2009 film Fig Trees, a hybrid documentary/opera includes reference to Nkoli's activism.[26]
  • South African musician Majola has a song called "Nkoli" on his album Boet/Sissy (2017)[6]
  • Athi-Patra Ruga created a sculpture called Proposed Model for Tseko Simon Nkoli Memorial (2017)[6][27]
  • In November 2023, a stage production honouring Nkoli's life and activism called Nkoli: The Vogue Opera premiered at Johannesburg's Market Theatre.[28] Developed as GLOW: The Life and Trials of Simon Nkoli, the production began in 2020 as a workshopped collaboration between South African composer Phillip Miller, the cast members, and various consultants who had known Nkoli (these included his mother Elizabeth, fellow activist Beverly Ditsie, and defence lawyer Caroline Heaton-Nicholls).[29] The final product incorporated Opera, Voguing and other aspects of Ballroom culture, hip hop, rap, anti-Apartheid protest songs, and other elements. It was written by Miller and South African musician Gyre, and directed by British actor Rikki Beadle-Blair.[30]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Martin, Yasmina (2020). ""Now I Am Not Afraid": Simon Nkoli, Queer Utopias and Transnational Solidarity". Journal of Southern African Studies: 1–14. doi:10.1080/03057070.2020.1780022.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Simon Nkoli". South African History Online. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  3. ^ Mlambo, Dumile; Landman, JC (22 November 2017). "SU to honour equal rights activist, Simon Nkoli". Stellenbosch University. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  4. ^ a b c Cock, Jacklyn (2002). "Engendering gay and lesbian rights: the equality clause in the south african constitution". Women’s Studies International Forum. 26 (1): 35–45. doi:10.1016/s0277-5395(02)00353-9.
  5. ^ a b McCormick, Tracey Lee (2013). "Queering discourses of coming out in South Africa". Stellenbosch Papers in Linguistics Plus. 42: 127–148.
  6. ^ a b c d Ncube, Gibson (24 November 2022). "Simon Nkoli's fight for queer rights in South Africa is finally being celebrated – 24 years after he died". The Conversation. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  7. ^ a b McCaskell, Tim (22 June 2010). "Queers against apartheid: From South Africa to Israel". Canadian Dimension. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  8. ^ a b c Gevisser, Mark (1 July 1999). "Simon Nkoli". POZ. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  9. ^ Barnard-Naudé, Jaco; de Vos, Pierre (2022). "War by Other means: The law and politics of sexual minority freedom in post-apartheid South Africa". Queer Lawfare in Africa (PDF). Pretoria, South Africa: Pretoria University Law Press. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-7764116-8-9.
  10. ^ a b c d De Waal, Shaun; Martin, Karen (eds.), Till the Time of Trial: The Prison Letters of Simon Nkoli (PDF)
  11. ^ a b c d Hoad, Neville Wallace; Martin, Karen; Reid, Graeme, eds. (2005). Sex and Politics in South Africa. Cape Town: Double Storey. pp. 30–31, 169, 191, 239. ISBN 9781770130159.
  12. ^ Mohlamme, Charity (2006). "It Was Part of Our Coming Out...". In de Waal, Shaun; Manion, Anthony (eds.). Pride: Protest and Celebration. Fanele. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-77009-261-7.
  13. ^ Malatji, Collen (24 October 2023). "Simon Nkoli: Remembering A true hero of equality". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  14. ^ Grebe, Eduard (2012). "Civil society leadership in the struggle for AIDS treatment in South Africa and Uganda".
  15. ^ Cohen, Steven (17 December 1998). "Queer State funeral in Sebokeng". q online. Archived from the original on 22 March 2005. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Tribute to Simon Nkoli". UCT | Community Media Trust AIDS Archive. 12 December 1998. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  17. ^ MANDISA, MBALI (2005). "THE TREATMENT ACTION CAMPAIGN AND THE HISTORY OF RIGHTS-BASED, PATIENT-DRIVEN HIV/AIDS ACTIVISM IN SOUTH AFRICA" (pdf). UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL CENTRE FOR CIVIL SOCIETY. ISBN 1-86840-575-3.
  18. ^ Powers, Theodore (2016). "Knowledge practices, waves and verticality: Tracing HIV/AIDS activism from late apartheid to the present in South Africa". Critique of Anthropology. doi:10.1177/0308275X16671788.
  19. ^ "Ten black HIV activists and influencers making an impact". Terrence Higgins Trust. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  20. ^ "PRIDE's 10th BIRTHDAY". The Mail & Guardian. 27 September 1999. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  21. ^ a b De Waal, Shaun; Manion, Anthony, eds. (2005). Pride: Protest and Celebration. Gay and Lesbian Archives of South Africa. Johannesburg, South Africa: Jacana Media. p. 122. ISBN 9781770092617.
  22. ^ Batra, Kanika (7 June 2021). "Love Letters and Legacies of Black Queer Self-Fashioning in South Africa | Kanika Batra | Essay". Brittle Paper. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  23. ^ Yes, I am! : writing by South African gay men. Robin Malan, Ashraf Johaardien. Mowbray, South Africa: Junkets Publisher. 2010. ISBN 978-0-620-45828-3. OCLC 645942318.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  24. ^ Botha, Martin (2002), "Homosexuality and South African Cinema", Kinema (Spring 2002), archived from the original on 29 August 2006
  25. ^ "Bev and Simon: a South African 'love story'", Radio Netherlands Archives, January 23, 2004
  26. ^ "Canadian filmmaker John Greyson Turns Down Offer to Appear at Israeli Film Festival", Imoovizine, 11 April 2009, archived from the original on 12 July 2009
  27. ^ O’Toole, Sean (1 March 2018). "Athi-Patra Ruga". Artforum. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  28. ^ Lishivha, Welcome. "Nkoli: The Vogue-Opera - Market Theatre". Market Theatre. Archived from the original on 19 November 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  29. ^ Nene, S'Bonakaliso (23 October 2022). "New show 'Glow' celebrates SA's queer freedom fighter, Simon Nkoli". Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 19 November 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  30. ^ Ansell, Gwen (16 November 2023). "Nkoli: The Vogue Opera – the making of a musical about a queer liberation activist in South Africa". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 19 November 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  • Sunday Times, South Africa - Sunday, 6 December 1998
  • Excerpts from: Aldrich R. & Wotherspoon G., Who's Who in Contemporary Gay and Lesbian History, from WWII to Present Day, Routledge, London, 2001

External links[edit]

See also[edit]

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