nigeria

culture

PHOTOESSAY: Heavenly Bodies

Step into Nigeria’s LGBTQ+ ballroom scene with this photoessay.

Temiloluwa Johnson —

Apr 29, 2025

af+

Love In A Sinking City: A Queer Timeline

“Today I am 28. It is 2023. In Nigeria, it is illegal to do the things I did freely at the beaches in Toronto; watch my queer friends kiss under…

Machi —

Nov 21, 2023

lgbt book reviews

Queer Naija Lit: Akwaeke Emezi’s “The Death of Vivek Oji” Delves Into What Is Born in Death

Emezi’s ability to immerse the reader into multiple characters’ realities and tell a story that isn’t just one narrative but infinite is reminiscent of Toni Morrison, even as Emezi creates…

Chinelo Anyadiegwu —

Nov 8, 2022

lgbt book reviews

Queer Naija Lit: Akwaeke Emezi’s “Pet” and “Bitter” Explore the Costs of a Different World

A new world isn’t possible without people believing it is.

Chinelo Anyadiegwu —

Sep 28, 2022

lgbt book reviews

Queer Naija Lit: “We Are Flowers” Documents the Beauty and Resilience of Nigeria’s Queer Community

We Are Flowers, a Queer Nigerian anthology, is defiant and audacious. It has no choice but to be.

Chinelo Anyadiegwu —

Aug 29, 2022

lgbt book reviews

Queer Naija Lit: “Under the Udala Trees” Honors the Past and Paints the Future With Hope

In light of current conditions for queer Nigerians — and global conditions facing queer people — a book like 2015’s Under the Udala Trees is ever-timely.

Chinelo Anyadiegwu —

Jul 29, 2022

lgbt book reviews

In Their Debut Romance, Akwaeke Emezi Writes a Kind of Love I Recognize

The friendship central to You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty is as important as the romance.

Chinelo Anyadiegwu —

Jun 27, 2022

lgbt book reviews

Queer Naija Lit: Akwaeke Emezi’s Poetry Collection Makes Space for Many Selves

This is a book to be read and re-read, like all true stories.

Chinelo Anyadiegwu —

Jun 13, 2022

dating

Your Assumptions About Black, Queer Masculinity Are Erasing My Asexual Identity

As a black, masc, asexual person, I am continually sought out for my assumed hypersexuality. When people don’t get that from me, they automatically assume a flaw, forgetting there are other…

Timinepre Cole —

Apr 7, 2022

lgbt book reviews

Queer Naija Lit: “Vagabonds!” by Eloghosa Osunde Names the Things People Would Rather Look Away From

Welcome to Queer Naija Lit, a new series that analyzes and celebrates queer Nigerian literature. First up: a review of the new novel “Vagabonds!” by Eloghosa Osunde.

Chinelo Anyadiegwu —

Apr 5, 2022

first person

In Remembrance of My Queer Nigerian Christmas

That Christmas with queer family reminded me that multiple possibilities exist even in the darkest of places.

Mariam Sule —

Dec 23, 2021

politics + activism

Where Do We Go to be Queer, Nigerian and Alive?

Queer and gender non-conforming Nigerians are more vulnerable to threats and extortion by the Nigerian Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) because they can legally be targeted for their sexuality or gender…

Chinelo Anyadiegwu —

Oct 21, 2020