A South African transgender trailblazer is stepping onto one of the world’s most significant platforms for Black LGBTQI+ visibility, with Yaya Mavundla set to host the Global Black Pride Opening Ceremony in Paris and co-host the Black Excellence Awards Gala alongside ballroom icon Vinni Revlon.
A moment of global visibility
From South Africa to Paris, Yaya Mavundla continues to carve out space for Black transgender voices on international stages.
The activist, media personality, artist and cultural advocate has been announced as the host of the Global Black Pride Opening Ceremony in Paris, where she will also join internationally recognised ballroom and LGBTQI+ figure Vinni Revlon as co-host of the Black Excellence Awards Gala.
Taking place from 9 to 13 September 2026, Global Black Pride Paris will bring together Black LGBTQI+ communities, artists, activists, cultural leaders, creatives and allies from Africa and the global diaspora.
The week-long gathering will celebrate Black queer culture, visibility, excellence, resistance and liberation.
For Mavundla, being given the role represents more than another milestone in an already significant career.
“Hosting Global Black Pride in Paris is deeply personal for me,” says Mavundla. “I come from a continent where Black LGBTQI+ people have had to fight to be seen, heard and recognised. To stand on that stage in Paris as a South African Black trans woman is not just a career moment. It is a moment of visibility for the women and communities who came before me, for those standing beside me and for the generations coming after us.”
From South Africa to the world
Mavundla’s appointment comes as Global Black Pride continues to build an international platform for Black LGBTQI+ communities and their stories.
The movement has previously attracted some of the biggest names in global entertainment and culture. At its landmark 2024 Atlanta edition, the programme featured international stars including Billy Porter, Yemi Alade and Omawumi, with Porter headlining the festival.
Now, Paris becomes the next chapter in that growing global legacy, with Mavundla bringing her own experience of advocacy, media, fashion and culture to the programme.
Her role also places a South African voice at the heart of an international celebration of Black queer identity.
Celebrating Black excellence
Beyond the opening ceremony, Mavundla will share the stage with Vinni Revlon at the Black Excellence Awards Gala.
The event will recognise Black LGBTQI+ artists, innovators, performers and cultural leaders whose work continues to shape contemporary culture across the diaspora.
The 2026 nominations span music, film, fashion, literature, sport, drag and the arts, with names including Billy Porter, Zanele Muholi, Kiddy Smile, Law Roach, Rich Mnisi, Doechii, Kehlani, Amaarae, Ludmilla and Shygirl.
For Mavundla, the gala is particularly important because it creates an opportunity to challenge the way Black LGBTQI+ communities are often represented.
“Black queer excellence is not a niche story. It is part of the cultural story of the world,” says Mavundla. “We are creating music, shaping fashion, building movements, changing conversations and influencing culture. This gala allows us to say: look at what our people have created, what we have survived and what we are building.”
A week of culture, activism and liberation
Global Black Pride Paris is set to extend beyond the awards and opening ceremony, creating a broader programme that connects celebration with activism, culture and community.
The programme will feature the Global Black Queer Assembly: Power. Culture. Innovation, the Black Excellence Awards Gala, the Global Black Pride March, a Music Festival and additional cultural and community events.
The gathering reflects Global Black Pride’s wider mission of creating spaces where Black LGBTQ+ communities can connect, celebrate their achievements and advocate for their rights and dignity.
“We are honoured to welcome Yaya Mavundla to Global Black Pride Paris as host of our Opening Ceremony and co-host of the Black Excellence Awards Gala,” says Michael Ighodaro, President of Global Black Pride Paris.
“Yaya’s artistry, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the dignity and visibility of trans and gender-diverse communities make her an extraordinary voice for this historic gathering.”
A continuing chapter in Mavundla’s advocacy
Mavundla has established herself as a prominent South African voice in conversations around LGBTQI+ visibility, equality, representation and social transformation.
Her work has crossed media, advocacy, fashion and culture, with her public profile allowing her to bring conversations about Black transgender visibility and LGBTQI+ rights into wider cultural spaces.
Her appearance in Paris therefore carries significance beyond the glamour of an international event. It represents the growing presence of African Black queer voices in global conversations about culture, identity and representation.
As she takes the stage in Paris, Mavundla will not only be representing herself, but also carrying a broader story about visibility, resilience and the contributions of Black LGBTQI+ communities.
Global Black Pride Paris runs from 9 to 13 September 2026.
