1995 was a landmark year in the history of Zimbabwe's gay community. It was the year we found out that our president was a tired old homophobic bigot. It was also the year that The Lemming Sisters burst out on to the scene with pride and gusto not seen since the post-Independence euphoria of the early Eighties. From humble beginnings in the conservative rural backwaters of Zimbabwe's northern farming community of Mvurwi in 1994, to international stardom stardom at the end of the Gay Nineties, The Lemming Sisters have thrilled, delighted and excited audiences, gay and straight alike, with their glamorous, sexy, sometime sleazy, and always entertaining performances.

The idea of The Lemming Sisters began, as great ideas often do, as a joke amongst three friends, all with a penchant for drag, but no opportunity to express it. Their first chance came along at a kitchen tea party in Mvurwi, where they went down a storm with the farmers' wives. The next opportunity was to perform at the by then regular Thursday gay nights at the Tube Night-club in Harare in early 1995. There was an ABBA Evening, and the trio appeared as ABBArish, and performed a hilarious rendition of "Money, Money, Money", dressed in frumpish house coats and huge bosoms. By the end of their set, they were stars on the rise, thanks to a magnificent performance of the Pointer Sisters "I'm So Excited", which had since become their theme song.

The success of their first public performance at The Tube encouraged the girls, and they changed their name to The Lemming Sisters, comprising Tara "Tight-Ass" Lemming, Linda "Love-Less" Lemming, and Lara "Du-May Puss" Lemming. And they have never looked back. Their fate was sealed when they brought the house down at the Jacaranda Queen Drag Pageant in 1995, with their glamorous, in-your-face performance, before their largest audience yet. The event was also covered by the international press, thanks to the free publicity from our president. What followed was more dates at The Tube. Meanwhile, the shows were getting more daring and outrageous. "Gold Finger" springs to mind. Their reputation was growing, and they began doing more and more engagements outside the gay community, mainly for corporate functions, bachelor parties, product launches, and so on. In 1996, The Lemming Sisters supported The Three Degrees during their tour of Zimbabwe, and somewhat eclipsed the visiting stars, judging from the audience response.

Later on in 1996, The Lemming Sisters received the Chelsea Award at the Jacaranda Queen Pageant. This annual award goes to any group or individual who has increased gay visibility in Zimbabwe in a positive manner. In April 1997, The Lemmings were invited by the doyenne of South African drag, the evergreen Evita Bezuidenhout to perform at her theatre in Darling, near Cape Town, where they received rave reviews. The value of drag is that it can be subversive, something that was clearly illustrated when the Lemmings were seen at a function by a minister of state who described The Flemming (sic) Sisters as an excellent example of Zimbabwean womanhood, who should be emulated. It must be remembered that this happened just after the head of state's anti-homosexual tirades!

The Lemming Sisters disbanded in 2000 and only one sister remains in Zimbabwe. However the legend of the Lemming Sisters lives on as they have entered the annals of Zimbabwe's gay history. And although there have been several rumours of a reunion, sadly they are only rumours. But Lara "Du May Puss" Lemming, now resident in Johannesburg, could not stay out of the limelight for too long. She has reinvented herself and is now known as Madonna Lemming, in honour of her idol. In November 2004 she visited her home town Bulawayo for her Reinvention Tour. In June 2005, she wowed audiences with a spectacular rendition of "Like A Virgin" at the Peninsula Hotel in Manila, the Philippines. After critical acclaim there, it seems as if Madonna Lemming is on the verge of a second debut on the international stage. Not bad for a girl from sleepy, dusty Bulawayo. So the spirit of the Lemmings live. Watch this space for further updates