Before the House of Vlam, Cape Town’s Queer History Made Space for Ballroom
Editor’s note: Michael van Niekerk is the Mother and founder of the House of Vlam and founder of Keep The Energy. This essay draws on his experience within Cape Town’s ballroom community alongside interviews and historical sources. Cape Town’s ballroom scene is young, but viciously resilient and viciously talented. It is a scene of houses, […]
In Lagos & Accra, an Underground Queer Ballroom Scene Thrives Again
When Timileyin Olaide Kayode started Pride in Lagos in 2021, he didn’t anticipate how big it would become. He only knew there was a need for queer Nigerians to have a visible, collective space to exist and celebrate themselves. Five years later, it has grown into a major Owambe ball and the very reason a […]