Growing up, it was rare to find a Nollywood movie that accurately depicted queer people or their experience. The queer characters always got supporting roles and were presented as evil or the villain. Nollywood’s cheap attempts to portray same-sex relationship merely reinforced society’s perception of the marginalized group and further endangered their lives. While these erroneous movies exist, there are a few movies that projects the LGBTQ community accurately irrespective of Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act or the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB). We put together 6 Nigerian movies that accurately promoted and projected the LGBTQ community and their experience.
Ife
Year: 2020
LGBTQ rights advocates and filmmakers, Pamela Adie and Uyaiedu Ikpe-Etim released Ife in 2020. Ife follows the story of two lesbian lovers, Ife and Adaora, and highlights the troubles they experienced while indulging in a homosexual relationship in Nigeria. The movie tackles the misrepresentation of a homosexual relationship in Nollywood. The film has also been screened at festivals in Australia and Canada.
Walking With Shadows
Year: 2019
Former Television personality, Funmi Iyanda’s movie is an adaptation of Jude Dibia’s 2005 novel centred around a gay protagonist Ebele ‘Adrian’ Njoko. Adrian perfectly describes what society considers successful – he has a lucrative job, a wife, a kid and a hidden secret. The front falls apart when his wife discovers he is gay, which leads to the dissolution of his marriage and his family members turning against him. Every backlash towards Adrian’s homosexuality uncovers the risks of being boldly gay in Nigeria.
We Don’t Live Here Anymore
Year: 2018
The short film was directed by Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award (AMVCA) winner, Asurf Oluseyi. The film focuses on dealing with homophobia and follows the story of two young male lovers; Tolu Bajulaiye and Chidi Egwuonwu struggling to defy society. The partners are involved in a crime that could transform their future. With a looming expulsion at a distance, Tolu’s influential mother, Nike is determined and creates what developed into class rivalry and society prepared to chastise anything that is not the existing state of affairs.
Everything In Between
Year: 2017
The drama series documents the tales of three young men – Emma Okoye, Dayna Elliot and Demola Ogunjimi and the challenges they face trying to adhere to what is deemed the standard in Nigerian society. In an episode, Dayna’s spouse tried to blackmail his wife by extorting money from her in exchange for keeping her lesbianism affair private.
Hell Or High Water
Year: 2016
The movie stirs an urgent discussion on homophobia, sexual orientation and religion in Nigeria. In the movie, a young married pastor, who is widely admired by his congregation is forced to come to terms with his sexuality; a realization that ruined him spiritually, mentally and emotionally. Some of the characters in the film mirror a lot of queer Nigerians who marry a wife as a façade because they are worried about being discriminated against or banished from the church.
Veil Of Silence
Year: 2014
The mini doccie was released in the same year former President Goodluck Jonathan signed the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act. It sheds light on the experiences of gay people in Nigeria and the consequences of legislation that encourage discrimination against the group. The doccie also includes interviews with attorneys and activists.
