Philip Miller and Tshegofatso Moeng, Nkoli: A Fierce and Fabulous Life at UCLA Nimoy Theater

Philip Miller’s Nkoli: A Fierce and Fabulous Life is a groundbreaking production honoring the life and legacy of Simon Nkoli, a gay anti-apartheid freedom fighter who was charged with treason during the Delmas Treason Trial and later organized Johannesburg’s first Pride march.

This film of the operatic work features a dynamic cast of young performers and creatives whose artistry carries Simon Nkoli’s legacy into the present. Drawing from the history of the ballroom and vogue scene as a sanctuary for LGBTQI+ self-expression, the production blends opera, voguing, protest songs, video and dance into a thrilling theatrical experience. Nkoli is an urgent reminder that the fight for freedom, dignity and visibility continues through the voices and bodies of young people today. Both a celebration and a call to action, it is a testament to art as a tool for resistance, healing, joy and imagining freer futures.