Storytellers documenting queer stories in Nigerian mainstream media can foster queer acceptance.
For far too long, the Nigerian queer community has been relegated to the fringes of society, with many people shunning them for their sexuality. This marginalisation has been fueled by deep-seated, nasty cultural attitudes, which have been reinforced by religious and political leaders.
As a result, many Nigerians see queer people as immoral, ungodly, and even dangerous. This has led to a culture of fear and mistrust, which has made it difficult for the queer community to fully integrate into society.
However, through more documentation and representation of queer stories, film, and cinema in Nigerian mainstream media, the conversation can change.
When Nigerians see their queer family members on their screens (because they do exist), telling their stories and sharing their experiences, it humanises queerness in a way that is hard to ignore. It forces viewers to confront their own biases and prejudices and to recognise the humanity of queer people.
Representation and visibility are powerful tools in changing societal attitudes towards marginalised communities, and a growing movement of queer filmmakers and storytellers (and allies) are working to challenge these attitudes through their work.
In 2020, we saw LGBTQ rights advocates and filmmakers, Pamela Adie and Uyaiedu Ikpe-Etim release Ìfé, telling the story of two Nigerian women who fall in love over a three-day date. When a critical secret is revealed, the two women have to decide how much they are willing to give up to sustain their new love. The film starred Uzoamaka Aniunoh who played Adaora, and Cindy Amadi who played Ìfé.
Ìfé has been praised for its authentic portrayal of queer love and its ability to challenge the dominant narrative of hate and intolerance. The film tackles the misrepresentation of a homosexual relationship in Nollywood and has also been screened at festivals in Australia and Canada.
Just last year, Non-binary writer and filmmaker, Wapah Ezeigwe released Country Love, a tale of romance, queerness, memory, and redefining the idea of home. Shot in Enugu State, Nigeria, it follows a young man, Kambili, who returns home after fifteen years and finds out that it is no longer a haven.
The main cast includes the lead Kelechi Michaels, who plays Kambili; Divine Ahiwe, who plays Kambili’s lover Ifediora; and Uzoamaka Onuoha, who plays Kambili’s sister Nneka. Country Love was screened at the Vancouver and Atlanta Queer Film Festivals in 2022.
Now, another film is set to take up the mantle of representing queer stories on the big screen.
14 Years and a Day is an important addition to the growing collection of queer stories in the Nigerian media. The movie promises to challenge the stereotype of queer people as deviant and immoral and instead presents them as human beings who experience the same struggles and triumphs as everyone else. It follows the story of a discontented young lesbian who has a big fight with her partner of 14 years. She ends up going to dinner alone, where she meets someone who makes her question the course of her relationship.
14 Years and a Day is co-directed by Ayo Lawson & Uyaiedu Ikpe-Etim and produced by Sonia Nwosu.
Documenting and representing queer stories in Nigerian mainstream media is a crucial step towards fostering acceptance of the queer community. The success of Ìfé, Country Love, and the upcoming release of 14 Years and a Day signal a growing trend towards a more positive representation of queerness in Nigeria.
Telling more of these stories equals a sense of validation and belonging for queer youth, and the challenge of dominant narratives of hate and intolerance.
This story was originally published in Modaculture Digital March | April 2023 issue. Get a copy HERE to read the digital version.
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