Goethe-Institut Johannesburg to host International Day Against Homophobia event

Across the globe, stigma and discrimination against LGBTQIA+ individuals remain a pressing issue. Observed annually on 17 May, the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) aims to raise awareness about ongoing rights violations and promote equality for all.

In Johannesburg, efforts to uphold human dignity and inclusion continue to evolve. To commemorate the day, the Goethe-Institut Johannesburg will host a special event on 21 May 2026. The event places art and storytelling at the forefront of advocacy.

The exhibition will feature creatives from across several African countries, highlighting a rich and diverse range of perspectives. In a statement released by the event organisers, the initiative received over 250 submissions, reflecting a strong desire among artists to share their experiences and narratives.

Selected participants from countries including Namibia, South Africa, Mauritius and Zimbabwe will present works that explore identity, visibility and belonging.

The event is curated by queer filmmaker, author and creative strategist Renaldo Schwarp, who emphasised the deeper significance of the project.

"The response to this project has been mind-blowing and it raises a more complex reality: visibility is expanding, but so is risk. This exhibition is about creating a space where queer creatives across the continent can define themselves on their own terms, and in conversation with each other - in spite of what is happening across the continent to erase us,” he said.

In addition to the exhibition, Schwarp will premiere a short film that anchors the broader showcase. The film interrogates how language has historically been used to exclude, define and silence queer identities, while advocating for a world where individuals can coexist freely and without discrimination.

The event is free to attend and promises to be a thought-provoking celebration of art, identity and the ongoing fight for equality.

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