Celebrating queerness and uniqueness is our satisfaction. We recognize our struggle for liberation as LGBTQ+ persons in Africa as a continent, and Nigeria as a nation. With much pride and happiness that we celebrate GLOWUP pride 2021, with the theme “Festival of Nigerian Queerness“. A festival of our resilience and taking up enough space for us to all to breathe. No One is Free, Until We All Are.
Pride is both a jubilant communal celebration of visibility and a personal celebration of self-worth and dignity. Our aim as a community media organization is to empower, sustain and document through our voices and strengths, the culture and lifestyle of West African LGBTQ+ persons back into our society to implement social change.
GLOWUP PRIDE 2021, is celebration queerness in our realities, survival, and resistance, putting it out there for the world to see. We would love you to join us as one, to tell stories of our success, be witness of others celebrating life as a queer person in queer light. We also hope to create a system of connection by getting to relate with each other.
We assure you fun filled time well spent with us and every of our guest. Due to the pandemic outbreak, covid-19 still very much out there and also considering the safety of the community , the celebration will be held on other virtual platform such as Instagram, Club houses and Zoom. The celebration was held responsible consecutively on Saturday 26 of June and Sunday 27 June, 2021.
Pride required almost an all year-round planning cycle, working closely with our partners to achieve every feat through this event. We love that they stood in solidarity with what we do at Queercity Media and Productions, most especially with GLOW UP PRIDE.
Red means life, Orange means healing, yellow wants you to shine, green means nature, blue means serenity and purple mean spirit. The first Pride was a protest outside the Stonewall Inn in New York in 1969, led by Black transgender women in likes Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera and others in good memories. 1st of June of every year marks the celebration of PRIDE month, a celebration of colours, style, reality and struggles of the LGBTQ+…..all over the world, we hit the street to protest for the rights and freedom of ourselves and for others across the globe, we seek justice for people who lost their lives to homophobia, transphobia and injustice of any kind resulting from their sexuality.
Sadly, in the case of Africa when it comes to sexuality discussions, privileges are respected over rights, the societal values and norms are strongly held and a little smell of deviance to the societal norms is instantly terminated.
This made LGBTQ+ people in Africa most especially in Nigeria and other West African countries live in fear. Pride month is a month to protest for rights in loud colours and styles in societies that already scaled through the depth of homophobia. While, For the Nigerian LGBTQ+ persons, it’s a way to celebrate our survival through life.
Pride month in Africa, most especially Nigeria is celebrated to agitate for the rights to live freely and love as a queer persons in these African countries.
We agitate for the right to hit the street as queer persons with no fear of paying with their lives or being queer is punished by law and made to look like criminal through laws like the Same-Sex Prohibition Act (SSMPA) of 2014.
However, due to the development of technology and virtual spaces of communication, queer people have been able to unite, connect to each other around the world, share their struggles and reality and also be able to proffer solutions to the problems affecting the LGBTQ+ global community.
We at Queercity Media Productions, we are here to celebrate with each and everyone through this month. We celebrate your struggles and reality. We implore everyone out there to be stronger and never to give up, it only takes time. In this space, we celebrate you for being true to yourself despite the challenges, we appreciate every shade and colour of your queerness and we are assuring you that you are not alone, you are loved and you’ll always be loved. So shake your body, put your flag up, your colours high and let it fly. Heal, love, support and find peace.
HAPPY PRIDE MONTH
Timeless Queer Defiance and it's consequences in Nigeria With Chude –
QueerCity
"Defiance comes with consequences and I am comfortable with it". He speaks about gay rights in the Nigerian churches, at conferences and anywhere. On this episode of the Queercity podcast, we would be experiencing what the reality of speaking for LGBT+ rights in Nigeria is for Nigeria's own Chude Jideonwo. Chude is known for his active amplification of minorities issues with his big show #WithChude, where he has also created space to help bring Queer persons' narratives safely to the mainstream media.
Chude speaks of how empathy could be an approach to fighting for the rights of sexual minorities, and to furtherly engaging violently oppressive systems. Behind the scenes packing and Bisi Alimi's appearance on “The Dawn” in 2004, and the interview with Faraphina magazine
Timeless Queer Defiance and its consequences in Nigeria with @chude Jideonwo
Join the community by conversation via #Queercitypodcast #7yearsLaterSSMPA #LGBTNigerianLivesMatter #LGBTpodcast #Queerlivesmatter
Credit Executive Producer: Queercity Media and Productions @Queercitymediaandproductions
Hosted and Produced by: Olaide Kayode Timileyin(QueerNerd) @OKTIMILEYIN
Guest: Chude Jideonwo
Website: Queercitypodcast.com
Upcoming event: bit.ly/PrideInLagos
—
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercity/message
Queerness is still very illegal across many African countries, and this means that queer folks in these part of the world are constantly exposed to all forms of violations which includes targeted hate. During the First quarter of 2021, while the world is still busy battling with the covid-19 pandemic , arrest and violations of queer persons and organizations have been recorded in at least three West African countries, these includes, Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon.
Across the globe, Queer folks acknowledge every May the 17th as the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia, where we educate, advocate and communicate unapologetically against hate against queer bodies. Between February 2021 and May 2021, about four transwomen have faced from eviction and harassments to the most recent one of imprisonment as in the case of Shakiro and Patricia in Cameroon.
This year, we at Queercity Media and production say we recognize how much battles we as a community of queer folks in Africa had fought, we have survived and still fight, that words from our head can’t describe. From the stories we have chosen to tell, we constantly see how far we still have to go as a community in fighting against hate and violations of queer folks, most especially in the creation of healing spaces for ourselves as a community. Everyday queer person is faced with compulsory resistance against the society as our very existence is still criminalized, and this year we are choosing to say as a community we would be Resisting, Supporting and Healing together.
As LGBT persons in Sub Saharan Africa, we recognize we still have a long way to go with community supports, as often time we forget we are all we have as a community of criminalized person, and this year’s international day against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia is indeed a clarion call that we all should answer to. While we all as individuals do our best in advocating for our existence, we should never ignore the fact that haven to fight for our existence is mentally and emotionally draining, and we need more healing spaces for ourselves as a community, paying attention to things like this promotes the quality of our activism and is prone to yield more effective results with the work with all do.
With Resistance, healing and supports we are moving a step at a time towards equality. Happy IDAHOBIT 2021 queer folks.
Timeless Queer Defiance and it's consequences in Nigeria With Chude –
QueerCity
"Defiance comes with consequences and I am comfortable with it". He speaks about gay rights in the Nigerian churches, at conferences and anywhere. On this episode of the Queercity podcast, we would be experiencing what the reality of speaking for LGBT+ rights in Nigeria is for Nigeria's own Chude Jideonwo. Chude is known for his active amplification of minorities issues with his big show #WithChude, where he has also created space to help bring Queer persons' narratives safely to the mainstream media.
Chude speaks of how empathy could be an approach to fighting for the rights of sexual minorities, and to furtherly engaging violently oppressive systems. Behind the scenes packing and Bisi Alimi's appearance on “The Dawn” in 2004, and the interview with Faraphina magazine
Timeless Queer Defiance and its consequences in Nigeria with @chude Jideonwo
Join the community by conversation via #Queercitypodcast #7yearsLaterSSMPA #LGBTNigerianLivesMatter #LGBTpodcast #Queerlivesmatter
Credit Executive Producer: Queercity Media and Productions @Queercitymediaandproductions
Hosted and Produced by: Olaide Kayode Timileyin(QueerNerd) @OKTIMILEYIN
Guest: Chude Jideonwo
Website: Queercitypodcast.com
Upcoming event: bit.ly/PrideInLagos
—
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercity/message
Dear Listeners, For the past one week, i have caught myself in between thoughts of who you are.
At 21 i found my lonely queer self under the bridge of campus with the queers, the famous campus open bar for the “TBs” had been one of the spaces i had always gone to enjoy human interactions. Growing up a Dyslexic Queer nerd in Nigeria and Lagos Mainland to be precise means a lot of “alone” time, they roll in like god’s time whether i chose them or not, like skipping social gatherings because i could have my anxiety peaking up there till i probably burn the herb, or me choosing to sneak in between pages of books i love to read and hide because i don’t want to explain why i’m still reading gay books rather than go to the movies with family. Little did i know that that cold breezy April night at campus open bar was going to be the beginning of a journey for myself and you, dear listener.
For once i thought it was never going to end, like a journey where i would just wear a veil and clamour the ways of the lord, i mean ; the gay agenda. An event happened that night at campus and that answers the question of “why” for me, Queercity podcast was birthed from a random conversations i had with random boys, some i had known from the Old Alabama nights of the lagos underground scenes. This night i sat on a fence hidden in the darkness of the car park, i was the only one there, and i could enjoy the view of the gathering, the loud music coming from the lengthy bar mixed with the faint smell of Lagos road side foods and a whiff of exhaust coming fromt the traffic. I met with two acquittances who made interaction that birthed the podcast. i wished i could speak out my heart to them right there in their faces, but i never did, rather i went home, spoke with friends who did the “we-got-you’ part, and the first episode was recorded that night.
Reaching 50 episodes, i laughed, not at the figure but in how much of myself had gone into the podcast, and how much the podcast has given back to me. Dear listener, I’m sure by now, you would have known i started the podcast in one of the bathrooms of my mother’s three bedroom apartment in Lagos, Nigeria, having zero clue and knowledge about the few techie techie things I now know “a lot” about. Due to the loud noise of Lagos streets, I was forced to always record at night on my Tecno Y3, so i could have less noise from human daytime activities. You remember when I did the No one is born gay or lesbian in Nigeria episode, that was an era in Nigeria, when we laughed off the bread seller turned model’s homophobic slurs, or when our first episode went up.
At the end of season one, i just could not wait for the production of season two , which kept me on the roads of Nigeria for 10 days speaking with Queer folx. Dear listener, you can tell i enjoy what i’m doing, sometimes all i do all night is put off the light, put on the herbs, plug in the headphone and edit the podcast or reply to emails. after a long day. I enjoyed recording in these Nigerian cities that have their own unique Queer narratives, with every community came the stories of strength, resilience, and bravery. I never thought that podcast i started from the bathroom would be what you’ll like to listen to, never knew you’ll tell me how much the stories i tell inspire you. The days when i wake up to your short emails or instagram messages, i smiled. I never foresaw the financial responsibilities that comes with the podcast, but you, you , dear listener, have used the donation button few times to keep me going.
By the end of season III, i thought to take a bow out, i waved podcast hosting good bye, with intents of production for other hosts. You again, dear listener asked “Hey Queernerd, i haven’t heard the podcast in a while, i smiled like smacking my lips knowing i don’t intend to sit before this microphone. Dear listener, you have heard me, you have heard me change, i have grown, i have progressed. i have evolved over the years. it’s now three years today since you first found my shy, geeky, and naive self. I remember when i would cry then send my thoughts over a topic to you, you will listen and send to your contact, till i now pride in ten thousand downloads. During the height of Covid 19, when i had lost my phone to the police raid of my apartment, you asked that i speak to you when i was feeling the lowest, dear listener you listened to all six episodes of the covid-19 bonus series, and if only you listened well you could hear my depression.
If i wont lie to myself dear listener, your listenership, reviews and messages, have not just built our relationship, you have helped me grow, if you don’t believe try out the podcast’s first 12 episodes, and be glad you did it, friend, you did it. Finally, We are 3 years together and this is cheers to your support and to myself for allowing myself grow through this. Thank you Dear Listener, Volunteers, Friends, and supporters.
Season IV premiered yesterday, starting with the narratives of police violations across West Africa. Just in the first three months of 2021, Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon have recorded cases of Violation of Queer folks. On the soil of west Africa, this isn’t new again to media, with various socio-cultural and governmental institution militating against the decriminalization of LGBTIQ+ rights in Ghana and Nigeria in recent times. I noted the pattern of arrest across these countries, where all these violation of queer folks had happened in the the first months of 2021, comparing them to those of the past. Also, acknowledging the possibilities of the a new form of activism against the police, and the illegal arrest of LGBT folx in West Africa.
Timeless Queer Defiance and it's consequences in Nigeria With Chude –
QueerCity
"Defiance comes with consequences and I am comfortable with it". He speaks about gay rights in the Nigerian churches, at conferences and anywhere. On this episode of the Queercity podcast, we would be experiencing what the reality of speaking for LGBT+ rights in Nigeria is for Nigeria's own Chude Jideonwo. Chude is known for his active amplification of minorities issues with his big show #WithChude, where he has also created space to help bring Queer persons' narratives safely to the mainstream media.
Chude speaks of how empathy could be an approach to fighting for the rights of sexual minorities, and to furtherly engaging violently oppressive systems. Behind the scenes packing and Bisi Alimi's appearance on “The Dawn” in 2004, and the interview with Faraphina magazine
Timeless Queer Defiance and its consequences in Nigeria with @chude Jideonwo
Join the community by conversation via #Queercitypodcast #7yearsLaterSSMPA #LGBTNigerianLivesMatter #LGBTpodcast #Queerlivesmatter
Credit Executive Producer: Queercity Media and Productions @Queercitymediaandproductions
Hosted and Produced by: Olaide Kayode Timileyin(QueerNerd) @OKTIMILEYIN
Guest: Chude Jideonwo
Website: Queercitypodcast.com
Upcoming event: bit.ly/PrideInLagos
—
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercity/message
During the early days of March 2020, no one could have dreamt that Queer Nigerians would hold the Nigerian Digital space, most especially Jack owned birdie app Twitter, to a ransom of over twenty four hours of trending the #EndHomophobiaInNigeria campaign. The violation of Queer Nigerians isn’t new to this digital space, and the discussions of Queer matters never seem to go off the lips of these Nigerians. Even with the continuous clamor for the address of these societal injustice towards queer people on social media and in real life, the Nigerian digital sphere had in particular, either made mockery of the Nigerian LGBT struggles or gaslight the community as seeking too much attention and playing “the victim” in a society where most things are not functioning.
No doubt in how expressive the visible and anonymous queer Nigerian folx in Nigeria have been on digital spaces, considering the level of homophobia in Nigeria, It is quite safer to say things from the comfort of your safe space knowing no one is coming to douse you with homophobia for your queerness, or your visibility enabling discussion. Before the advent of ClubHouse, Twitter had been the only safe outlet for discussing Queerness, and till date has the largest amount of queer crowd from and in Nigeria. Weighing on the strength in this number, By the 10th of March 2020, Nigerian Queer power creators and trend makers like Kayode_Ani, Matthew Blaise, Vic W0nder, and Fizzy Wezy started the #EndHomophobiaInNigeria. A digital campaign after the murder of a gay man in Anambra state, Nigeria. According to the official statement from these creators, they didn’t want the death of this gay man to be treated like “another isolated incident perpetrated by “animals””.
Vicwonder (He/Him) image from Twitter
A youtuber and Queer Activist, who had started to make threads and videos on twitter and other social media platforms talking about queer issues, speaking both to those within and outside the LGBTQ+ community [before the #EndSars movement] which went global in October last year. Victor, speaking about how the #EndHomophobiaInNigeria campaign had helped enacted his activism said “after this campaign, I came to fully grasp the power of the internet as regards activism generally, because not only did more queer people come out to share their stories of having to face homophobic violence, but more straight people became allies as they saw the need to protect the queer community. After that campaign, I threw myself vehemently into queer activism. I posted more on my Twitter, educated those we could, dragged those we couldn’t. I started a YouTube channel to share my experiences as an openly Gay man living in Nigeria and also highlight those of others.
Ani Kayode Somtochukwu (He/Him) image from Twitter
Otherwise known as the “Rainbow Marxist” is the Founder of Queer Union For Economic and Social Transformation ( Quest9ja ), a coalition of radical queer Nigerians fighting to end the economic & social oppression of all marginalized people in Nigeria. Kayode who said “#EndHomophobiaInNigeria was really a bellwether moment on social media. It was an avenue for community action. It provided a platform for queer people to express and voice their pain in the safety of a community, within the surety of being seen and knowing they weren’t alone. It did not matter where in Nigeria you were, you could see you weren’t alone and you knew that your expression of your trauma would not be shamed. The hashtag really served as some sort of protective gear because queer people could always find your tweet and if you had homophobes pile on you, at least you knew your community would know and come to your defense. It was a really important avenue for community building. And its particular achievement, queer people seizing back their own narrative was very important. It gave the community a way to rehumanize itself even in the midst of a country as violently homophobic as Nigeria. And humanizing queer identities is really a central step in dismantling queerphobia. The more of our narrative to take back from bigots in mainstream society the closer we are to a society that is safe for us. Because the truth is that so much of homophobia is based on moral panic and misinformation. So the more we counter that, the closer we are to dismantling heteronormativity.”
If he could build a world, Kayode would build ” a world without homophobic laws. A world without discrimination. A world where this community is guaranteed gender affirming healthcare, which is a human right. As well as other things we have been denied. Housing, educational and economic opportunity, and other rights such as the right to free assembly. These rights have all been denied queer people in Nigeria. There are so many statutes that are stacked against queer people, and these laws only reinforce society’s queerphobia and embolden their violence against us. And this sort of extremely queerphobic environment is what causes kitos, police extorting, murders, etc. And, it can be very overwhelming but the hope of queer liberation keeps me going.”
Feezy Wezy ( He/Him ) image from Twitter
The co-creator of Nigeria’s largest queer resource contact on whatsapp ( Pride TV ) who also worked tirelessly for the campaign while remaining anonymous said that the campaign [#EndHomophobiaInNigeria] “actually changed a lot on the Queer twitter space, people started owning up to their sexuality. People now talk freely about homosexuality without the fear of homophobes even though they still later find a way to creep into the conversation and stain it. [The campaign] Made me realize I was never alone, I just need to speak up or reach out. There are thousand of other people like me out there, also we should never blame ourselves for being queer. And the more we start owning up to our sexuality the better. Also, together we stand strong”
MATTHEW BLAISE ( They/them )
With the viral #QueerLivesMatter video during the #EndSars protest, Matthew’s comment on the source of refueling activism is ” #EndhomophobiaInNigeria actually supplied my activism with more rage that fuels and drives what I do currently”. Matthew whose current work can now be seen via the Oasis Project, and they are working tirelessly with other activists in Nigeria and from across the world, to promote and create safe spaces for queer folx in Nigeria.
While the Nigerian Queer community continues to fight homophobia vehemently, maximizing every opportunity to accelerate the decriminalization of Queerness and the promotion of social acceptance, it is important to amplify how much diversity our approach towards activism can yield. 2020, indeed was a good year for Queer Nigerians, and the effect of digital activism on Queer activism in general can never be denied, and, i hope the community harness this further, and create magics with the possibilities of the internet.
Timeless Queer Defiance and it's consequences in Nigeria With Chude –
QueerCity
"Defiance comes with consequences and I am comfortable with it". He speaks about gay rights in the Nigerian churches, at conferences and anywhere. On this episode of the Queercity podcast, we would be experiencing what the reality of speaking for LGBT+ rights in Nigeria is for Nigeria's own Chude Jideonwo. Chude is known for his active amplification of minorities issues with his big show #WithChude, where he has also created space to help bring Queer persons' narratives safely to the mainstream media.
Chude speaks of how empathy could be an approach to fighting for the rights of sexual minorities, and to furtherly engaging violently oppressive systems. Behind the scenes packing and Bisi Alimi's appearance on “The Dawn” in 2004, and the interview with Faraphina magazine
Timeless Queer Defiance and its consequences in Nigeria with @chude Jideonwo
Join the community by conversation via #Queercitypodcast #7yearsLaterSSMPA #LGBTNigerianLivesMatter #LGBTpodcast #Queerlivesmatter
Credit Executive Producer: Queercity Media and Productions @Queercitymediaandproductions
Hosted and Produced by: Olaide Kayode Timileyin(QueerNerd) @OKTIMILEYIN
Guest: Chude Jideonwo
Website: Queercitypodcast.com
Upcoming event: bit.ly/PrideInLagos
—
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercity/message
Religion, or i say spirituality isn’t new to the people of West Africa pre-colonial era. A known fact is that the indigenous tribes like the Yorubas have oral traditions traceable to the “creation of man”, a well coordinated and systematic way of spirituality, established mainly in ancestral and Orisa worship.
Colonialism and Slavery, didn’t just cart away the people, it introduced us to a new faith, that which we could believe in while on a ship to the lord’s land. “Impacts of slavery and colonialism as ventured on modern societies include: unequal social relations [like homophobia, Patriarchy, etc] and racial inferiority; neo-colonial dependency; distorted economies as well as massive poverty, particularly of the colonies, especially in Africa.”
On this episode, deeper into the south west of Nigeria, To Meet Niyi, who would takes us through a journey that sees through the community of Isiwo, the Catholic Church and homosexuality, and leaves us with questions including “is homosexuality a no see, no hear, no say in the Catholic Church ? “
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercity/message
In most Africa countries like Nigeria and as recently shown in Ghana, the faith of the people can determine the fate of some people, most especially if the fate of these people would favour the powers that be politically. In 2014, one of the excuses for the enactment of the Same Sex marriage prohibition Act in Nigeria is that our culture and faiths do not give space for homosexuality. In 2021, Ghanaian former procurement minister, Hon. Adwoa Safo said “ The issue of LGBT is an issue that when mentioned, it creates some controversy but [On the issue of our cultural acceptance and norms, these practices are also frowned upon. So, for me, these are two distinct clarities on the matter and that is what I strongly stand for]”.
While there are indigenous and cultural traces of Queerness in West Africa, the faith of it’s modern people seem to either seek to furtherly erase or truncate the fabric of the existence of this “accepting” and not “tolerating” history. With continuous demonization of all that seem to affiliate itself with indigenous faith, which could be blamed on the exact demonization of black sexuality during slavery by colonial masters, West African post-colonial majorly practiced religions have continued to use their faiths to police the existence of people and the sanctity of these region.
In Northern Nigeria, the ‘Yan Daudu’ community is a group of persons belonging to the Hausa subculture, whose men act like women and engage in sexual relationships with other men. Sadly, the same Northern Nigeria is currently a home to Punishment by Death in states that operate under the laws of the Muslim faith called Sharia. Mauritania has the harshest anti-homosexuality laws and the subject remains hush hush or taboo, as it similarly does in Niger and Guinea, all of which is credited to the same Sharia law.
Christian Bishops across this regions actively activate and crusade the weaponization of their own faith against sexual minorities in this region, even when most countries in this region are bound by constitutions enacted by unending number of treaties signed by this same region. The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) in an official statement in 2021 said “We, the Catholic Bishops of Ghana, write to condemn all those who support the practice of homosexuality in Ghana,”.
Queer religious activists in the past have physically sought to create safe spaces for the discuss of queerness and faith, but they have been met with the waterloo of violence that comes with the weaponization of the same faith. Rev. Jide Macaulay of House of Rainbow in this article title “Towards Full acceptance” narrated “As a person of faith, my focus was always reconciliation, first with God and then with the people who mattered most to me. It took me several years to come out to my close family members, friends and colleagues. Each step bears its own mark of pain and anguish. I was psychotic at one point. It was difficult for me to trust anyone. I was ill-treated from one African Christian community to another whenever it was discovered that I was gay.
The back and forth on the subject of sexuality in West Africa continues to suffer the cringes of faith, and it leaves one lost if one questions the subject of “if certain humans are morally viable to debate the validity of the existence of others, by nothing else but by the yardstick of faith which the constitution recognizes as a choice.
Timeless Queer Defiance and it's consequences in Nigeria With Chude –
QueerCity
"Defiance comes with consequences and I am comfortable with it". He speaks about gay rights in the Nigerian churches, at conferences and anywhere. On this episode of the Queercity podcast, we would be experiencing what the reality of speaking for LGBT+ rights in Nigeria is for Nigeria's own Chude Jideonwo. Chude is known for his active amplification of minorities issues with his big show #WithChude, where he has also created space to help bring Queer persons' narratives safely to the mainstream media.
Chude speaks of how empathy could be an approach to fighting for the rights of sexual minorities, and to furtherly engaging violently oppressive systems. Behind the scenes packing and Bisi Alimi's appearance on “The Dawn” in 2004, and the interview with Faraphina magazine
Timeless Queer Defiance and its consequences in Nigeria with @chude Jideonwo
Join the community by conversation via #Queercitypodcast #7yearsLaterSSMPA #LGBTNigerianLivesMatter #LGBTpodcast #Queerlivesmatter
Credit Executive Producer: Queercity Media and Productions @Queercitymediaandproductions
Hosted and Produced by: Olaide Kayode Timileyin(QueerNerd) @OKTIMILEYIN
Guest: Chude Jideonwo
Website: Queercitypodcast.com
Upcoming event: bit.ly/PrideInLagos
—
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercity/message
Since the inception of the Queercity podcast in 2018, we have steadily grown, from a bathroom midnight recorded one, to that over 50 episodes published on all major podcasting platforms across the universe. The podcast which has not just been an output of audio contents, but a place of community healing and resource. As a 2020 recipient of OUT IN TECH‘s five years website hosting program, we have sought to use that opportunity to create a free resource center which is our E-library, where we published books, comics, and an anthology by PRIDE TV.
In the last one year, we have partnered with quite a number of Queer and Ally led organizations on projects that fosters social acceptance and visibility of queer persons in Nigeria, and West Africa at large. Few of which includes Abuja Literary and Arts Festival 2020, IDAHOBIT (Breaking The Silence) with Bisi Alimi Foundation and The Future Africa Award’s 2020 Prize For Difference & Diversity.
In 2020, we ranked Number 18 in Naija Podhubs Top 50 Nigerian Podcasts with listeners from a total of 72 countries across the 7 continents of the world. In june 2020, we were able to provide queer people who were at the frontline of activities in the pandemic with bottles of Hand sanitizers, and we trained a total of 100 persons digital illustration, Graphics designing, and Podcasting.
As we rolling into 2021, We look forward to having Hotel Alabama the audio documentary being available freely on our website. The five episodes audio documentary is currently available for pay-for-play on EHTV network since July last year. Do check out our instagram and twitter for more info. Our magazine Qube is also undergoing rebranding and should also be available on prints for free if we are able to get enough financial support.
During the Pandemic, we envisaged The Shelle list , A list inspired by the indigenous Nigerian Street Queer Culture, “The Word “shelle” finds it root in one of the country’s spoken languages, Yoruba. Where the word “shelle” is coined out of the phrase “se eleya”, which means “to be mocked”. Over years, the Nigerian Queer community and the Africa Queer community have had to thrive under the shadows, with exceedingly amazing persons, and act. Surviving through the very grasps of being seen as a disgrace. the resilient power of the queer community” would be celebrated on this year’s Shelle list”.
With Spotify now available in Nigeria, one can now listen to Queercity podcast free of charge, simply by downloading the Spotify app. Available on android and iOS. The Fourth Season of the podcast which seeks to explore more silenced narrative of Queer Nigerians and West Africans, through Discussion, Interview and Storytelling would air it’s First episode by the 31’st of March, 2021 and would run into the month of pride. To Volunteer for our activities this year, contact us.
While we prepare ourselves for the big season, we implore you hit the subscribe button on your favourite podcast player, or you visit our website. To help us keep creating, you can use our donate button, or buy from our Merch store. For Sponsorship and Advertisements on this season, contact us.
Timeless Queer Defiance and it's consequences in Nigeria With Chude –
QueerCity
"Defiance comes with consequences and I am comfortable with it". He speaks about gay rights in the Nigerian churches, at conferences and anywhere. On this episode of the Queercity podcast, we would be experiencing what the reality of speaking for LGBT+ rights in Nigeria is for Nigeria's own Chude Jideonwo. Chude is known for his active amplification of minorities issues with his big show #WithChude, where he has also created space to help bring Queer persons' narratives safely to the mainstream media.
Chude speaks of how empathy could be an approach to fighting for the rights of sexual minorities, and to furtherly engaging violently oppressive systems. Behind the scenes packing and Bisi Alimi's appearance on “The Dawn” in 2004, and the interview with Faraphina magazine
Timeless Queer Defiance and its consequences in Nigeria with @chude Jideonwo
Join the community by conversation via #Queercitypodcast #7yearsLaterSSMPA #LGBTNigerianLivesMatter #LGBTpodcast #Queerlivesmatter
Credit Executive Producer: Queercity Media and Productions @Queercitymediaandproductions
Hosted and Produced by: Olaide Kayode Timileyin(QueerNerd) @OKTIMILEYIN
Guest: Chude Jideonwo
Website: Queercitypodcast.com
Upcoming event: bit.ly/PrideInLagos
—
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercity/message
The Ghanaian LGBT community in the past few weeks have been the victims of organized and targeted homophobia in the country, as each day comes by since the organization (LGBT rights Ghana) launched it’s safe space for Queer people in Accra, Ghana on the 31st of January 2021. It all started after pictures of the event was uploaded on the internet by LGBT Rights Ghana and the presence of the European Union, and Australian High commission was appreciated.
Homophobic lawyers like Moses Foh Amoaning keep crusading for the closure of the safe space, and it’s been a tough one for the queer community in Ghana. The country’s Catholic Church also express it distaste in the new community centre through it’s call for closure of the community centre.
According to LGBT Ghana’s most recent post on instagram, Ghana’s Traditional leaders visited the premises few day ago threatening to burn down the safe space, and sadly, the police won’t help save the space nor it’s queer inhabitants.
On Wednesday the 24th of February 2021, at around 11:13am , pictures and a video surfaced on LGBT rights Ghana twitter page with the caption
The above picture shows men who are from the national security inside the safe space, and the picture seem to taken from an higher altitude, looking like it’s taken from a roof level.
This morning, our office was raided by National Security. A few days ago, traditional leaders threatened to burn down our office but the police did not help. pic.twitter.com/FM2XVXDnJL
Another picture from LGBT Rights Ghana’s twitter also show Security vehicles on the street of the safe house, Queer Ghanaians are currently unsafe, and the international community still seem to be silent about it.
You can lend a voice to this inhuman treatment the Ghanaian Queer community is experiencing by speaking about this violation of their fundamental human rights on your social media, write to your local government official challenging them to lend a voice to this injustice, donate to LGBT rights Ghana GoFund me.
Timeless Queer Defiance and it's consequences in Nigeria With Chude –
QueerCity
"Defiance comes with consequences and I am comfortable with it". He speaks about gay rights in the Nigerian churches, at conferences and anywhere. On this episode of the Queercity podcast, we would be experiencing what the reality of speaking for LGBT+ rights in Nigeria is for Nigeria's own Chude Jideonwo. Chude is known for his active amplification of minorities issues with his big show #WithChude, where he has also created space to help bring Queer persons' narratives safely to the mainstream media.
Chude speaks of how empathy could be an approach to fighting for the rights of sexual minorities, and to furtherly engaging violently oppressive systems. Behind the scenes packing and Bisi Alimi's appearance on “The Dawn” in 2004, and the interview with Faraphina magazine
Timeless Queer Defiance and its consequences in Nigeria with @chude Jideonwo
Join the community by conversation via #Queercitypodcast #7yearsLaterSSMPA #LGBTNigerianLivesMatter #LGBTpodcast #Queerlivesmatter
Credit Executive Producer: Queercity Media and Productions @Queercitymediaandproductions
Hosted and Produced by: Olaide Kayode Timileyin(QueerNerd) @OKTIMILEYIN
Guest: Chude Jideonwo
Website: Queercitypodcast.com
Upcoming event: bit.ly/PrideInLagos
—
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercity/message
On the 31st of January 2021, a popular On-Air-Personality with the name Oheneyere Gifty had her show (The StandPoint- Listen to the feminine side) discussed “my struggle with homosexuality”, inviting two other persons who claimed to be “ex and struggling” gay person and a former Lesbian. Coincidentally, that was also the day for LGBT+ rights Ghana ( A youth led LGBT movement in Ghana) Fundraiser and safe space launch.
Over the years, the African big and small media houses had thrived on emotions, biases, and unprofessionalism when it comes to LGBT narratives, with each giving their audience what they perceive it takes to retain them. With histories of controversies and misinformation being the focal point of these media houses on queer matters, they drive conversations that fuels more hate toward LGBT persons. A major driver of such conversation in media is Ghana is Gifty Anti, who according to LGBT rights Ghana is ” A well known journalist/broadcaster and a gender activist” who “this is not her first time encouraging damaging stereotypes about LGBT persons in Ghana. In 2019, in the heat of the CSE debate, she compared homosexuality to skin bleaching”.
Speaking at the Parliament’s Appointments Committee for vetting on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 , Ghana’s Minister-designate of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Sarah Adwoa Safo spewed “Mr Chair, the issue of LGBT is an issue that when mentioned, it creates some controversy but what I want to say is that our laws are clear on such practice. It makes it criminal. Section 104 of the Criminal Code prohibits one from having unnatural carnal knowledge with another person. So, on the issue of its criminality, it is non-negotiable. On the issue of our cultural acceptance and norms, these practices are also frowned upon. So, for me, these are two distinct clarities on the matter and that is what I strongly stand for,”. Ghana’s Homophobic lawyers Moses Foh-Amoaning and others are working actively to get the Safe Space closed.
Clearing the air on February 11, 2021 as regards the words on the street of Ghana, which had been that the Europeans sponsored the space to “propagate homosexuality” LGBT Rights Ghana posted an official communique stating that the event or office space wasn’t sponsored by the Australian High commision, which was only a guest just like others.
Joyce Opoku Boateng a human rights lawyer in Ghana said that calls for the office of LGBT right Ghana that was recently opened in Accra to be shut down are against the laws of the country. According to Wikipedia “Same-sex sexual acts between males are illegal in Ghana, and LGBT rights are heavily suppressed. The majority of Ghana’s population hold anti-LGBT sentiments. Physical and violent homophobic attacks against LGBT people are common, and are often encouraged by the media and religious and political leaders. At times, government officials, such as police, engage in such acts of violence. Reports of young gay people being kicked out of their homes are also common, as well as reports of conversion therapy occurring across Ghana.
Despite the Constitution guaranteeing a right to freedom of speech, expression and assembly to Ghanaian citizens, these fundamental rights are actively denied to LGBT people.Pro-LGBT activism exists in Ghana, but such efforts are often thwarted by the Ghanaian government.”
Ghana is among over 70 countries around the world that still criminalize consensual same-sex relationships, many LGBT people continue to experience severe human rights abuses and persecution in these countries.
While the struggle continues, the media seem continuously acting to misinform the people , “Weaponizing LGBTQ (hating words) by some Ghanaian politicians to discredit, insult & dehumanize LGBTQ Ghanaians. Playing the populist rhetoric & appealing to people’s worst prejudices”.
Lend your voice to the Ghanaian Queer community today by taking a stance against the closure of their safe space. You can write to your Government to lend a voice, Follow LGBT rights Ghana on socials, donate to their course, create infographics, or share this !
Timeless Queer Defiance and it's consequences in Nigeria With Chude –
QueerCity
"Defiance comes with consequences and I am comfortable with it". He speaks about gay rights in the Nigerian churches, at conferences and anywhere. On this episode of the Queercity podcast, we would be experiencing what the reality of speaking for LGBT+ rights in Nigeria is for Nigeria's own Chude Jideonwo. Chude is known for his active amplification of minorities issues with his big show #WithChude, where he has also created space to help bring Queer persons' narratives safely to the mainstream media.
Chude speaks of how empathy could be an approach to fighting for the rights of sexual minorities, and to furtherly engaging violently oppressive systems. Behind the scenes packing and Bisi Alimi's appearance on “The Dawn” in 2004, and the interview with Faraphina magazine
Timeless Queer Defiance and its consequences in Nigeria with @chude Jideonwo
Join the community by conversation via #Queercitypodcast #7yearsLaterSSMPA #LGBTNigerianLivesMatter #LGBTpodcast #Queerlivesmatter
Credit Executive Producer: Queercity Media and Productions @Queercitymediaandproductions
Hosted and Produced by: Olaide Kayode Timileyin(QueerNerd) @OKTIMILEYIN
Guest: Chude Jideonwo
Website: Queercitypodcast.com
Upcoming event: bit.ly/PrideInLagos
—
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercity/message
The conversation around sexuality and identity steadily seem to be gaining momentum in Nigeria, where visibility is no longer the focus of community conversations and discuss, but how to properly, and positively utilize the visibility the community has horned, to propagate more social acceptance of Queer folx in Nigeria. Haven properly learnt to harness social media platforms to raise the bar for visibility, more representation and diversity ( being basis of inclusion ) is experienced. We are now our story tellers, our very own pilots of our narratives. More voices are being raised across different forms of human existence on Queerness in Nigeria. The world witnessed the loud ones like the #Endsars Movement, the #EndHomophobiaInNigeria which seem to have shone in a very centrifugal light on the Nigeria Queer community, with its resulting community visibility being the strongest at it’s emerging identity.
With the anonymous ability of the birdie app, the Nigerian queer community has continued to grow in a beautiful, strong , and powerful way, with numeric strength driving more conversation and giving representation in conversations found safe. One of such community conversations which found it way to twitter is that from the trans community. A tweep tweeted
The twitter thread did not just throw a lot of questions into the air and leave us to wonder if answers can be gotten, it brings to the table answers waiting to be heard, struggle wailing to be seen, stories hoping to be told, One of which is “What’s the Nigerian Transwoman Experience” ?
The Nigerian Trans Experience isn’t specifically different from the everyday trans woman who is from a space where legal protection doesn’t exist for queer people, it is the same story of constant confusion, emotional imbalance, physical and mental insecurity, body dysmorphia, paranoia and loneliness. Trans women in Nigeria are getting to learn on their own what transition should be like, forming little sisterhoods to share the pain, trauma, lessons, and laughter from existing on the street of Nigeria.
In a country like Nigeria, where transphobia is an appreciated feat and TERFs won’t stop making excuses for their own transphobia. Transwomen see each day through “what it takes to see the next day” and not living as they should, walking the streets of Nigeria with high hopes of “passing”, without anyone at the bus-stop having to ask if they are a man or a woman.
Sending love and hugs to Nigerian trans and non binary folks. Imagine waking up everyday and a certain group is always waging war against your existence.
With the twitter thread having up to 10 things to keep themselves (transwomen) safe in Nigeria or West Africa, one is forced to ask how best do anyone who is queer stay safe in Nigeria ? This is the reality of underprivileged queer folx in Nigeria, who don’t have the resources to live in spaces where they can exist without exposure to harm.
Transwomen GoFund me from twitter you might want to support !!!
A big thank you to everyone who has donated and shared. We have surpassed more than a third of our fundraising goal for Chizzy, a Nigerian trans woman who is facing homelessness. Let's try to sustain our momentum. Please continue to retweet and share. 🌈🌈 https://t.co/SdVL5gVUVspic.twitter.com/LTKI4acWyh
— Queer Union For Economic and Social Transformation (@QUEST9ja) November 11, 2020
— trans hoodoo fund (applications closed) (@transhoodoofund) February 18, 2021
Timeless Queer Defiance and it's consequences in Nigeria With Chude –
QueerCity
"Defiance comes with consequences and I am comfortable with it". He speaks about gay rights in the Nigerian churches, at conferences and anywhere. On this episode of the Queercity podcast, we would be experiencing what the reality of speaking for LGBT+ rights in Nigeria is for Nigeria's own Chude Jideonwo. Chude is known for his active amplification of minorities issues with his big show #WithChude, where he has also created space to help bring Queer persons' narratives safely to the mainstream media.
Chude speaks of how empathy could be an approach to fighting for the rights of sexual minorities, and to furtherly engaging violently oppressive systems. Behind the scenes packing and Bisi Alimi's appearance on “The Dawn” in 2004, and the interview with Faraphina magazine
Timeless Queer Defiance and its consequences in Nigeria with @chude Jideonwo
Join the community by conversation via #Queercitypodcast #7yearsLaterSSMPA #LGBTNigerianLivesMatter #LGBTpodcast #Queerlivesmatter
Credit Executive Producer: Queercity Media and Productions @Queercitymediaandproductions
Hosted and Produced by: Olaide Kayode Timileyin(QueerNerd) @OKTIMILEYIN
Guest: Chude Jideonwo
Website: Queercitypodcast.com
Upcoming event: bit.ly/PrideInLagos
—
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/queercity/message
QueerCity Media 