Winnie gets a Feather Award nomination
AT A YOUNG 80 years, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has been nominated in one of the most glamorous and irreverent award ceremonies in African.
The Mother of the Nation is up for a Feather Award under the category diva extraordinaire.
She is among 35 newsmakers, sports people, artists and musicians who have made the nominations list of the eighth annual Chevrolet Feather Awards.
The Feathers pay homage to people who have inspired and entertained the LGBTI community.
However, the award ceremony’s reach is far broader and has South Africans everywhere interested and amused by the event.
Also nominated in the diva extraordinaire category are media personality Redi Tlhabi and eNCA anchor Iman Rappetti.
A previous winner is Water Affairs Minister Nomvula Mokhonyane.
In cutest couple of the year, Somizi Mhlongo and TV producer and socialite TT Mbha go up against newly-weds, Reverend Mpho Tutu and Marceline van Furth, as well as Queen Mathosa and Refilwe Nkosi.
Despite her controversial decision to attend a function in Uganda (whose president is among the African leaders who have gained notoriety for their LGBTI stance) earlier this year, Bonang Matheba proves she is still a darling with the LGBTI community after she was nominated in the best styled female category. She is competing against actresses Mbali Mlotshwa and Dineo Moeketsi.
Popular Espresso breakfast show host Katlego Maboe is nominated in best styled male along with Clash of the Choirs host Lawrence Maleka and Top Billing’s Jonathan Boynton-Lee.
His co-host Roxy Burger is nominated for hot chick of the year, as is Rhythm City’s Duma Ntando and TV personality Ayanda Thabethe. Top Billing scores a third nomination with Chris Jaftha vying for hunk of the year along with Selimathunzi’s Siphesihle Vazi and SK, who stars in The Queen.
Ntando cracks a second nomination the the socialite of the year category. Comedian Moshe Ndiki and radio host Leroy Marc are the other two nominees.
Jozi Cats (a gay rugby club) face stiff competition for sports personality of the year as they face off against Wayde van Niekerk and Caster Semenya.
Bonang dominates in drama queen of the year, where she features in two of the three nominations.
She is nominated in the AKA, DJ Zinhle and Bonang drama category. She is also nominated in the Euphonik, Bonang, DJ Zinhle and AKA debacle. The other nominee is the Mdodas and the Kanis with the much-publicised divorce between Atandwa Kani and his wife.
On a more serious note, role model of the year has highlighted three impressive women: Virginia Magwaza, founder of Parents, Families and Friends of South African Queers; Phindi Malaza from the Forum for the Empowerment of Women; as well as Semenya.
The Chevrolet Feather Awards take place in November.