Queer & Queen: The Life and Pride of Dope Saint Jude
Going against the norm is the inspiration behind the story arc of South African rapper and songwriter Catherine “Dope Saint Jude” Pretorius. Born and bred in Cape Town, the evolution of Saint Jude saw the cusp of her teenagehood flower with the ability to play the guitar and the knack for penning poetry. All of this she taught herself.
True to Pride Month, the globe-touring musician continues to defy the heteronormative status quo of society, interrogating why the “alpha” status is reserved only for males in her latest single, “Alphas”
“The song celebrates an alternative idea of what an “Alpha” can be. In today’s language, “alpha” is synonymous with “Alpha male” rhetoric on the internet. I wanted to make something that subverts that narrative and celebrates strength of character, courage and boldness. These are all qualities I associate with the Queer community, so it is fitting to kick Pride Month off with this track,” she said about the meaning of her latest single.
Watch “Alphas”:
Drawing upon the strength, courage, and fearlessness of the LGBTQIA+ community, the single is an audacious replication of such qualities. And much like a mirror, for Saint Jude, every little thing she sees in her music is a mere reflection of what she has come to admire and aspire towards as a member of the Queer community.
“My music journey has helped me in the expression of my queerness. But, I wouldn’t be making music if I didn’t have that seed of bravery planted inside of me by the Queer community,” she said.
Before venturing as a solo artist with her debut extended play (EP) Reimagine (2016), she founded the country’s very first drag king troupe, which she eventually departed from in 2013. The maverick went on to drop two more EPs dubbed Resilient (2018) and Higher Self (2022). With her iconoclastic style culled from influences such as singer-cum-rapper M.I.A. and West Coast icon Tupac, Saint Jude has fashioned her Queer-centric music to not only be a weapon of protest but of pride and progressivism.
The life and pride of Dope Saint Jude as a musician has been a consistent theme, constant even in her life as a Queer woman and a spouse.
Married to her best friend Roxanne Botman, Pretorius finds the same fulfilment, rejuvenation, and belonging in her marital union as she does in the atmospheres of her music exploits and her place within the LGBTQIA+ community. And in her matrimony, she soars on the wings of love and on sharing her life with somebody she trusts as much as she does herself.“
As a Queer couple, we are not expected to subscribe to any relationship model or heteronormative relationship dynamics. So, I enjoy being in an equal partnership. I have learnt that my wife’s strengths are a source of celebration because they add to our collective strength as a couple. I admire her competency, intelligence, and independence and find it to be a very attractive quality. It is refreshing to be in a relationship where we both root for each other and want the other to succeed. I believe everyone can access this if we let go of societal expectations,” she said about her marriage.
The positivity that ripples from within and from her marriage shines in her worldview, with her choosing to see the good in people and the progress society has made in the way it regards the LGBTQIA+ community. She admits that while there are Queer people who continue to have unpleasant experiences, there’s also a silver lining that comes in the shape of compassionate Mzansi folks.
“To be very honest, for the most part, I have had a fairly pleasant experience as a Queer woman lately. Granted, this is because I live in the city centre, which tends to have more Queer-friendly spaces. However, even when I am outside of the city centre, people are mostly kind and accepting. I am deeply aware that my experience is not that of others, and I am in a position of privilege with this. But there are lots of kind, accepting, and open-minded South Africans, and they deserve to be celebrated too,” she said.
With that said, however, the “Grrrl Like” songwriter admitted shortcomings in the system the world would do better if were changed.
“I think it is unfair that one has to essentially “buy” oneself out of discrimination and danger. And even then, you can’t escape it completely. It is sad that safe spaces are often only accessible to those with more privilege. I would like to see that change,” she said, expanding on her greatest frustration as a Queer woman in society and reiterating that she’d like to see more safer spaces for those outside the city centre.
With Pride Month coinciding with Youth Month, Dope Saint Jude hasn’t forgotten those straggling behind, particularly the Queer youth who are trying to navigate the treacherous terrain of how to live.
“I encourage Queer youth to seek out older Queer role models, as I did. Listen to their stories, appreciate where we are now, and aim to do for the next generation what your elders have done for you,” she said.
Whether she walks as Dope Saint Jude or as Catherine Pretorius, she continues to live out her highest truth as a musician and as a conscious member of society. In the colours of the rainbow is where she draws her strength, and with her music, she shares it with multitudes willing to listen and understand.
Connect with Dope Saint Jude:
Website: dopesaintjude.com
Instagram: @dopesaintjude
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dopesaintjude