Documentary The Boy from Mushin, About A Nigerian Man Who Came Out As Gay On TV, Seeks Funding

Many African counties remain deeply homophobic. While there has been some attention paid to the situation for LGBT people in nations such as Uganda (due to its planned law to make ‘aggravated’ homosexuality an executable face), there are many other countries on the continent where gay sex is illegal and coming out puts your life at risk due to a deeply homophobic society.

The documentary, The Boy from Mushin, hopes to tell the story of one Nigerian man who did come out, live on TV, and ended up leaving the country due the the fallout. However, to complete filming and editing, it’s hoping to raise $35,000 via Kickstarter, but it’s only got a few days left to do so.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘The Boy from Mushin is a feature length documentary, telling the story of Bisi Alimi, a man who put his life on the line when he chose to come out as gay live on Nigerian national television.

‘In 2004 when the president of Nigeria claimed that there were “no gays in Nigeria”, Funmi Iyanda, interviewed Bisi about his sexuality on her popular television show, New Dawn. The fury that followed tore Bisi’s world apart – alienating him from his family and friends and subjecting him to years of hateful attacks. Funmi’s show was pulled off air, and Bisi’s proud declaration was debated in Parliament.

‘Bisi left Nigeria an exile and arrived in London a refugee. From the streets of Mushin, one of the poorest slums of Lagos, Nigeria, he has become one of Africa’s most prominent human rights activists. This film tells his story: following him as he returns to Nigeria for the first time ever since he was exiled almost 8 years ago.

‘This is a film not only about a courageous man trying to change the world, but a window into the lives of other courageous gay men and women that are fighting tirelessly for acceptance and equality across Africa. It tells a complex story where race, gender, sexuality and populist politics intersect in Nigeria – a story that affects the lives of African LGBT people, but also has an impact in the global north, from conducting business in Nigeria, to tourism and issues of immigration where LGBT people are concerned.’

You can take a look a look at the trailer/fundraising video below, and if it’s a project you’d like to help out with, head over to Kickstarter. The movie is still short of its target, and with an important story to tell, it would be a shame if it didn’t make it.