Category: West Africa
Nigerian gay-themed film will explore homophobia’s impact
Gay Nigerians are excitedly anticipating the release of a new Nigerian gay-themed film that will explore the impact of homophobia and other issues tha [...]
Nigeria is about to get its first trans beauty pageant
A group of trans women and activists are set to launch what will be Nigeria’s first trans beauty pageant. From the African Human Rights Media [...]
Nigerian gay YouTuber shares his coming out experience
YouTube celebrity and gay advocate Vicwonder got a boost from a GoFundMe funding campaign after coming out as gay to his Nigerian family. He shared hi [...]
Senegal: Victims of homophobia find respect inside prison walls
African prisons often are hotbeds of homophobic violence, but that hasn't been the experience of seven Senegalese men convicted in November on homosex [...]
37 arrests of allegedly LGBTQ Senegalese since September
The ongoing anti-LGBTQ crackdown in Senegal reached a new milestone yesterday with the arrest of the 37th person suspected of being part of a sexual m [...]
Meet the Nigerian blogger who amplifies queer visibility
A Nigerian blogger popularly known as Evander Bright is leveraging social media to promote LGBTQ+ visibility and provide a safe space for members of t [...]
Romeo and Juliet: Couple in love flees Mauritanian parents, sharia law
This is a love story, but not a usual one: A young couple fell in love and got married. The bride’s parents objected. So far, so familiar. But here’s [...]
Blackmail, parents, threats – Qtalk helps LGBTQ+ Nigerians
LGBTIQ+ Nigerians benefit from the support provided by volunteer counselors via the Qtalk app. (Seventh in a series) From the African Human Right [...]
Silence = failure when Senegal’s LGBT community is attacked
This fall, Senegal learned that its human rights defenders lacked the courage to defend sexual minorities against human rights abuses. From [...]
Senegal: Activists pledge to confront Islamist homophobia
LGBT rights activists in Senegal are speaking out against violently homophobic Islamists even as they work to help the victims of that homophobia. A t [...]
African churches: Why preach love, then imprison gays?
Why do people who preach love every Sunday want people put in prison for what they do in the privacy of their bedrooms? That was one of the questions [...]
Senegal: Arrest of 2 homosexuals at Great Mosque of Dakar
Two suspected homosexuals were arrested Nov. 23 in the area of the Grand Mosque of Dakar, Senegal. From the African Human Rights Media Netw [...]
#EndSARS: LGBT Nigerians get extra help to cope with crisis
More than a dozen LGBT Nigerians suffering from violence stirred up by #EndSARS protests have benefited from an emergency community relief program run [...]
Slander, HIV, bias at work – Qtalk helps LGBTQ+ Nigerians
LGBTIQ+ Nigerians benefit from the support provided by volunteer counselors via the Qtalk app. (Sixth in a series) From the African Human Rig [...]
13 Senegal arrestees were tortured before being released
Torture by police followed by the dangers of release back into Senegal's homophobic society. That is the testimony of men who were arrested Oct. 16 at [...]
Senegal: Prison for 7 men arrested at supposed ‘gay wedding’
A court in Senegal imposed prison sentences Friday on seven allegedly gay men who were arrested Oct. 16 at a celebration that police claimed was a gay [...]
Nigerian youth commits suicide after being blackmailed by homophobes
A young man in Lagos, Nigeria, reportedly committed suicide last week after he was blackmailed by homophobes. From the African Human Rights M [...]
Nigeria gets its first LGBTQ online streaming platform
Equality Hub, a Nigerian non-profit working to advance the rights of sexual minority women, has just launched a new LGBTQ online streaming platform. [...]
Nigeria: Prosecution flubs 47-man homosexuality trial; judge dismisses case
A Nigerian court ended a legal stalemate this week, dismissing a two-year-old case against 47 men charged with breaking the country's 2014 anti-homose [...]
You can help LGBT Nigerians crushed by #EndSARS violence
Their jobs lost. Their shops looted. Forced to beg in order to eat. LGBT Nigerians are frustrated, depressed, and plunged into poverty by the violence [...]
Senegal: Anti-gay zealots target 25 arrested men, 4 teenage girls
Senegal has intensified its repression of LGBTQ+ people amid escalating anti-gay propaganda and political pressure from the strict Islamist organizat [...]
#EndSARS Crisis: Here’s how to support LGBTIQ+ Nigerians
LGBTIQ+ Nigerians are suffering from violence and economic hardships triggered by the #EndSARS protests that have spread across the country. You can h [...]
Good news from Senegal: 4 rescued men reach safety
The last of 10 suspected homosexuals who were rounded up on Sept. 20 by the Safyatoul Haman religious militia in the holy city of Touba have been evac [...]
Family, blackmail, intersex – Qtalk helps LGBTQ+ Nigerians
LGBTIQ+ Nigerians benefit from the support provided by volunteer counselors via the Qtalk app. (Fifth in a series) From the African Human Rig [...]
Senegal: How a gay activist confronts violent Islamic homophobia
Arrests, assaults, rapes, expulsion, exile -- an LGBTQ rights leader in Senegal explains his struggles against violent and hypocritical Islamic homoph [...]
Openly gay Nigerian minister Jide Macaulay now ordained a priest
U.K.-based British-Nigerian gay minister the Rev. Jide Rebirth Macaulay has been ordained a priest in the Church of England. From the African Hum [...]
Anti-gay violence continues in Senegal’s ‘holy city’
Once again the gay community in Senegal's holy city of Touba is suffering from homophobic violence. On Oct. 8, another young man was beaten up, filmed [...]
Nigeria Diversity Prize picks 15 finalists, including RightsAfrica founder
Queer rights activists, journalists, and advocates in the fights against cerebral palsy and autism are among the 15 finalists newly announced by the N [...]
Here’s Nigeria’s first LGBTIQ+ virtual job fair and why you should be a part of it
LGBTIQ+ Nigerians have a chance to be a part of an upcoming Naija LGBT Virtual Job Fair scheduled for next month. From the African Human Rights M [...]
New Nigerian song promotes sexual diversity and human rights for all
Nigerian singer and human rights activist Samuel Uchenna, popularly known as Samuch, has released an empowering new song that promotes respect for all [...]
French activists demand travel ban against Senegal homophobe
French LGBTI activists are demanding that France and other Western European nations block visits by the leader of the Senegalese religious police that [...]
Senegal: Activists seek funds to rescue 10 men arrested by religious police
Religious police on Sunday night arrested 10 young gay men in the holy city of Touba, Senegal, and threatened them with homosexuality charges. LGBT ri [...]
Bisi Alimi’s advice: Gay men have the right to show affection to any man
LGBTQ activist Bisi Alimi has advised gay men to express their feelings towards any man unless the man has told them he's straight. From th [...]
Gay Nigerian forced to sign affidavit renouncing homosexuality
To avoid homosexuality charges, a young Nigerian man was hauled before a Nigerian court last month and forced to sign an affidavit renouncing homosexu [...]
Nigerian activist: It’s time to march against anti-LGBT bias
Nigerian human rights activist Samuel Uchenna has suggested that it's time for public demonstrations by LGBTIQ+ Nigerians pushing back against the cou [...]
220 LGBTIQ+ Nigerians get help surviving the pandemic
Hundreds of LGBTIQ+ Nigerians got a helping hand from the Covid-19 Relief Support Fund that was launched in early July. From the African Huma [...]
Boosting LGBTIQ rights in West Africa, one grant at a time
A new organization is promoting LGBTQI rights in West Africa by financing initiatives run by the region's LGBTQI communities. From the Africa [...]
Nigerian youth wins LGBTIQ+ writing contest
A Nigerian youth has been declared the winner of the Nigerian LGBTIQ+ writing contest launched by NoStringsNG. From the African Human Rights Medi [...]
Nigerian singer Fireboy is dismantling gender norms
Popular Nigerian singer Adedamola Adefolahan, professionally known as Fireboy, has no regard for gender norms. From the African Human Rights Medi [...]
Porn, bullying, HIV – Qtalk helps LGBTQ+ Nigerians
LGBTIQ+ Nigerians benefit from the support provided by volunteer counselors via the Qtalk app. (Fourth in a series) From the African Human Rights [...]
Nigerian singer Simi apologizes for anti-LGBT comments; all is not forgiven
Nigerian singer Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has apologized to the Nigerian LGBTQ+ community for her previous homophobic comments. By [...]
Call for applications: LGBTIQ+ community support fund
The Nigerian LGBTIQ+ website NoStringsNG.com is offering emergency help with food purchases for LGBTIQ+ Nigerians living in Nigeria. From t [...]
Nigerian gay model seeks fan support for nude photo project
Award-winning international gay model Alex Gede is seeking support from his fans to allow him to create more "artistic, classic, and erotic” photos by [...]
Nigerian ex-youth pastor shares throwback of struggles with being gay
Dan Yomi, who served as a youth pastor while in Nigeria, has shared a glimpse of his past struggles with his sexuality. From the African Human Ri [...]
Here’s how you can support the repeal of Nigeria’s anti-gay law
Out gay Nigerian youth, Mathew Blaise has launched a campaign urging the Nigerian government to repeal the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act (SSMPA). [...]
‘People should expect greatness’ in film about Nigerian women in love
In a NoStringsNG podcast interview, Nigerian actress Cindy Amadi defends "Ìfé", the new and trending Nollywood film about two women who fall in love w [...]
Blackmail, abuse, homelessness – Qtalk helps LGBTQ+ Nigerians
LGBTIQ+ Nigerians continue to benefit from the support provided by volunteer counselors via the Qtalk app. (Third in a series) From the Afric [...]
Nigeria: New diversity prize will boost young people’s work
To celebrate and encourage tolerance and diversity in Nigeria, a forward-looking group of citizens has launched the Nigeria Prize for Difference and D [...]
Film Alert: Nigeria’s first lesbian-themed film coming your way
The Nigerian LGBTIQ+ community is pumped up in expectation of an upcoming lesbian-themed film. From the African Human Rights Media Network [...]
Here’s how LGBTIQ+ Africans can celebrate Pride this year while at home
Even if they're home-bound because of Covid-19, all LGBTIQ+ communities in Africa will be able to celebrate Pride this year, thanks to a group that is [...]