Burundi: 'A Doctor Told Me to Buy My Coffin' - How Eric Turned an HIV Diagnosis Into Activism

What the report says

AllAfrica reports that Eric, a Burundian-Dutch performer living with HIV, has turned a diagnosis he received at age 26 into public advocacy through drag performance. The report, by Melody Chironda, says a doctor initially told him to prepare for death and abandon hopes of having children. Years later, Eric is married, has two HIV-negative sons, and performs publicly as Eric the Dragking, describing his work as “Dragtivism.”

According to AllAfrica, Eric uses dance, storytelling and stage symbolism to challenge HIV stigma and promote prevention tools such as PrEP, testing and the message known as Undetectable = Untransmittable. He says his experience with treatment, family life and disclosure is meant to counter myths that people living with HIV cannot have children or live healthy lives. The article also highlights added stigma faced by queer people and gender-nonconforming performers in HIV-related spaces.

The report places Eric’s activism in a broader public health context, noting that sub-Saharan Africa carries the largest share of the global HIV burden, while new infections have declined since 2010. AllAfrica says Eric performed at a 2022 International AIDS Conference side event in Montreal and that his show, “Dance HIV Stigma Away,” was selected for the International AIDS Conference in Rio de Janeiro this year.

Eric argues that medical advances alone are not enough if testing, treatment and prevention remain unequal or if stigma keeps people silent. The story underscores how peer support and culturally visible advocacy can help people newly diagnosed with HIV seek care, ask practical questions and resist isolation.