Award-winning visual activist celebrates Pride Month and Youth Month by empowering the next generation of storytellers across the globe
South Africa’s cultural landscape continues to shine on the world stage as internationally acclaimed visual activist and photographer Zanele Muholi has been named the recipient of the Ethekwini Pride Impact Award 2026, a recognition that honours their extraordinary contribution to LGBTQ+ visibility, representation, and empowerment.
The accolade arrives during the powerful convergence of Pride Month and Youth Month in South Africa, highlighting a career dedicated not only to documenting communities that have historically been overlooked but also to ensuring future generations have the tools to tell their own stories.
The recognition follows another major milestone in Muholi’s remarkable journey, the recent receipt of the prestigious Hasselblad Award, widely regarded as one of the highest honours in global photography. Yet despite international acclaim, Muholi remains firmly committed to grassroots impact, using photography as a vehicle for education, empowerment, and social transformation.
While celebrations continue around the world, Muholi is already extending their influence beyond South Africa’s borders. Through the groundbreaking Photo XP legacy project, they are currently working in Salvador, providing practical photography training to institutional learners and emerging creatives. The initiative reflects a philosophy that has become central to Muholi’s life’s work: that creative education should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their social or economic background.
At the heart of this mission lies the Muholi Art Institute (MAI), an institution dedicated to democratizing creative education and empowering marginalized communities through visual storytelling. The institute continues to create opportunities for individuals who have often been excluded from traditional creative spaces, equipping them with skills that can unlock both personal expression and economic opportunity.
Speaking on receiving the Ethekwini Pride Impact Award, Muholi reflected on the significance of being recognized at home.
“Winning this award at home is such a humble gesture that simply means I see you, we see you. It is a powerful reminder that our lives, our stories, and our love deserve to be seen, documented, and celebrated without apology.”
For Muholi, photography has never been confined to artistic practice alone. It is a tool of resistance, visibility, and liberation. Through years of documenting Black queer lives and challenging dominant narratives, they have helped create a visual archive that affirms identities, preserves histories, and inspires communities around the world.
Their commitment to education has become equally transformative. By placing cameras in the hands of young people, queer communities, and historically marginalized voices, Muholi is helping individuals reclaim ownership of their narratives while developing practical skills that can lead to sustainable careers.
“Teaching photography to disadvantaged communities is the only language I know,” Muholi explains. “When given the right tools and support, this skill becomes more than an art form. It becomes an economic breakthrough, a means of self-representation, and a pathway to sustainable independence.”
As South Africa commemorates Youth Month, the impact of the Muholi Art Institute continues to resonate deeply among emerging creatives. Young photographers are being mentored to engage with global audiences while remaining rooted in the realities of their own communities. The results are already evident: new voices are emerging, outdated stereotypes are being challenged, and stories once left untold are finding audiences across continents.
Muholi’s work stands as a powerful reminder that visibility remains a form of resistance in a world where many communities continue to face exclusion and erasure. Through photography education, mentorship, and advocacy, they are not simply documenting change—they are actively creating it.
The Ethekwini Pride Impact Award therefore represents more than recognition of an individual career. It acknowledges a movement built on empowerment, representation, and the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to tell their own story.
Looking ahead, Muholi shows no signs of slowing down. Their journey continues through classrooms, communities, exhibitions, and workshops across the globe, carrying forward a mission that places creativity at the centre of social and economic transformation.
Reflecting on the broader significance of the award, Muholi offered a message that speaks directly to future generations:
“This award honours the path we have walked together, but the real measure of our progress lies in the hands of young people across the globe. Through photography education we are not only protecting visibility. We are building a living legacy so that every generation that follows can document their own truths, claim their own power, and ensure that no story like ours is ever erased again.”
As Pride Month and Youth Month unfold, Zanele Muholi’s story serves as a compelling testament to the power of art, education, and representation—proving that when people are given the tools to tell their own stories, entire communities can be transformed.
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