Finding Queer movies and art is almost impossible, despite the fact that queerness has always been an African concept, despite what the colonials and the hyper-religious Africans say. The censorship of queerness and media by most African countries means that expression via art is inaccessible to the general public. Despite this, queer filmmakers and actors have persevered, creating art that speaks to the soul of people in and out of the closet within the continent. To close out pride month, here are three Queer African movies you should watch.
All the Colours in the World are Between Black and White:
All the Colours in the World are Between Black and White follows two young men, Bambino and Bawa, who meet by chance at a shop. After being in each other’s company for a while, they develop feelings for each other, struggling with this as they navigate a severely conservative society. It premiered at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Teddy Award for best LGBTQ-themed feature film.
Dakan(1997):
The story follows the hidden romance between Manga and Sory, two young men dealing with the burdens of family, religious impacted conversion therapy, and the burden of a secret. The plot of the story is centered around Manga coming out to his conservative parents who condemn his relationship with Sory, forcing him to date a woman.
Tì ẹ Ńbọ̀:
For many queer teenagers, the fear of discovery is the beginning of wisdom. When you grow up in a hyper-religious society, the way Nigeria is, you’re one wrong thought, one whisper away from a conversion camp. Ti e Nbo captures the fear, the anxiety, and the journey of forced conversion by a teenager whose father wants him to ‘be normal’ by any and all means. Ti e Nbo (Your Own is Coming) shows the unfortunate reality of non-heterosexual teenagers.
