By: Lonwabo Mtyeku | Photo Credit: Supplied
Seen Here: Prof. Zanele Muholi proudly receives the prestigious Queer Impact Award at the 2026 eThekwini Pride Recognition Awards, honouring decades of groundbreaking visual activism, LGBTQI+ advocacy, and a lifelong commitment to documenting and preserving Black queer and transgender narratives in South Africa and beyond. Photo Credit: Supplied
Durban, South Africa – Internationally acclaimed visual activist, photographer and educator Zanele Muholi has been awarded the prestigious Queer Impact Award at the 2026 eThekwini Pride Recognition Awards, in recognition of a groundbreaking career dedicated to advancing LGBTQI+ visibility, representation and empowerment.
The award celebrates Muholi’s decades-long commitment to documenting the lived experiences of Black queer and transgender communities in South Africa and beyond, creating a powerful visual archive that has become both a cultural treasure and a catalyst for social change.
Widely regarded as one of the most influential visual storytellers of their generation, Muholi has used photography not merely as an artistic medium, but as a powerful instrument for advocacy, education and activism. Through internationally acclaimed bodies of work such as Faces and Phases, Muholi has chronicled stories of identity, resilience, love and resistance, ensuring that communities historically pushed to the margins remain visible and celebrated.
A Global Voice for Visibility and Justice
The recognition comes at a remarkable moment in Muholi’s career. Fresh from receiving the prestigious Hasselblad Award, one of the highest honours in global photography, Muholi continues to use their international platform to champion creative education and social inclusion.
Organisers of the eThekwini Pride Recognition Awards praised Muholi’s enduring contribution to preserving LGBTQI+ histories while helping shape a more inclusive future.
Their work has been exhibited in some of the world’s leading galleries, museums and cultural institutions, earning widespread acclaim while simultaneously challenging societal prejudice and discrimination.
Accepting the award, Muholi reflected on the significance of being recognised 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.”
Transforming Lives Through Photography
Beyond the gallery walls, Muholi’s impact continues to expand through the work of the Muholi Art Institute (MAI), an initiative focused on democratising creative education and creating opportunities for historically marginalised communities.
The institute provides practical photography training, mentorship and creative development programmes designed to empower young people with skills that can lead to economic independence and self-representation.
Currently working in Salvador, Brazil, through the Photo XP Legacy Project, Muholi is collaborating with local learners and communities, helping aspiring photographers develop the technical and creative skills needed to tell their own stories.
For Muholi, photography represents far more than artistic expression.
“Teaching photography to disadvantaged communities is the only language I know. 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.”
Pride Month Message Resonates Globally
As Pride Month is observed around the world, Muholi’s message carries renewed urgency in a time when issues of visibility, equality and representation remain central to ongoing social justice movements.
Their philosophy is rooted in the belief that visibility itself is an act of resistance and that empowering people to document their own realities is one of the most effective ways to challenge exclusion and historical erasure.
Through MAI, young photographers are being equipped not only with technical skills but also with the confidence to challenge stereotypes, amplify overlooked voices and contribute meaningfully to cultural discourse.
Building a Legacy for Future Generations
The eThekwini Pride Recognition Award highlights not only Muholi’s extraordinary artistic achievements but also the lasting social impact of their work.
As South Africa commemorates Youth Month and reflects on the power of young people to shape the future, Muholi’s investment in nurturing emerging creative talent continues to create opportunities for a new generation of storytellers.
The results are already evident: lives transformed, communities empowered and new narratives emerging from voices that might otherwise have remained unheard.
Reflecting on the journey ahead, Muholi emphasised that the true success of their work lies in what future generations will achieve.
“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 the eThekwini Pride Recognition Awards continue to celebrate individuals driving progress, equality and visibility, Zanele Muholi’s recognition serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative role art, education and storytelling can play in creating a more inclusive and compassionate society.
