The greatest voices of our generation: Part 1 — Nkosi Johnson
On its own, the power of the human voice is an extraordinary thing. It is enticing, personal and somewhat divine in that it conveys a range of emotions and small nuances in a way that almost no other thing in the world can.
On its own, the power of the human voice is an extraordinary thing. It is enticing, personal and somewhat divine in that it conveys a range of emotions and small nuances in a way that almost no other thing in the world can. So what happens when we take this powerful tool, given to us by nature, and combine it with a beautiful mind, a passionate heart and a strong sense of conviction? Quite simply, this combination, and others like it, tends to create conflict and debate, leading to movements of change.These movements are lead by the people who possess the passion and perseverance that motivates revolution. In this series, we meet some of these people and explore the impact of their voices.
The greatest voices of our generation: Part 1 — Nkosi Johnson
“Do all you can with what you have, in the time you have, in the place you are” — Nkosi Johnson
As the history books repeatedly show us, revolution often comes at a great cost. In some instances one voice can change the world but many voices are lost to war, or civil conflict, in the process. However, some voices remain revolutionary in their persevering peacefulness and innocence, as was the case with HIV/AIDS activist, Nkosi Johnson who remained positive and driven to changing perceptions about its victims, despite never having known a life without the virus. In fact, in some ways, he is part of the reason why HIV/AIDS patients starting talking about living positively — spurring on a number of similar campaigns that helped support a new approach to life with HIV/AIDS.
Fighting for equality & the voices of others
In 1997, Gail Johnson (Nkosi’s foster mother of 8 years at the time) tried to enroll him into a local school in Mellville, Johannesburg — but because of his HIV status, she faced opposition from both school employees and parents alike. Not only did Gail go and fight for Nkosi’s right to an education, she also encouraged him to be open about his status and supported him through it all. In many ways, her voice is also an important part of his story. Thanks to her bravery and perseverance, as well as Nkosi’s open-ness and determination, he was accepted into school where workshops were also held to educate locals on the subject and to de-stigmatize children with HIV/AIDS.
A legacy of love
“I’m not going to give up…” — Nkosi Johnson
At only 12 years old, Nkosi came to the end of his short, but far-from-mediocre life as a young boy who was loved and taken care of by a devoted foster mother and who was the longest surviving child born with HIV at the time. It was his voice that told us “we are all the same”, repeatedly drumming into our heads that sickness is not a defining factor in determining our character or our purpose. He referred to himself as “a normal boy”, showing the world that segregating children with HIV/AIDS was a ridiculous and unfounded notion, helping to make great strides in terms of changing people’s perceptions and battling the various stigma attached to it.
However, you could argue that he was far from normal in that his views of equality. His dedication to supporting mothers and children learning to live with HIV/AIDS showed character and emotional intelligence far beyond his years.
Today, we remember Nkosi as a brave revolutionary with a small but powerful voice that helped to change the world.
Video: ABC News, Johannesburg.
