Despite repressive laws and societal stigmas, many Indigenous Nigerians, including those in the LGBTQ community, are expressing and celebrating their true identities. Through this series of portraits from photographer and National Geographic Explorer Yagazie Emezi, queer and nonconformist Nigerians explain what it means to reclaim their space and break against colonial norms.
On this day I can be happy to wear an àdìre agbada, and on another day wear an Ibibio onyonyo, and still feel equally connected to these cultures. Indie musician Zainab Donli, better known as Lady Donli, approaches the complexities of her Indigenous identity as a constant marriage of the varied cultures and histories that birthed her. Her paternal great-grandfather hailed from Chad and escaped from slave traders before coming to Nigeria.
Being Indigenous means being in touch with my ancestors and learning from lessons that they have passed on … bringing that into the present day.A queer fashion designer, Jordyn Omololu Vangei was raised connected to his Yoruba culture. As a young child, he lived with his mother’s side of the family, speaking Yoruba. That changed when, at five years old, he went to live with his father, who prioritized English and Western sensibilities. “I had to start speaking English,” he says.
I like testing the limits of what's acceptable. Like, OK, I want to paint my nails … I should be able to do what I want.Writer Ayodele Olofintuade is training as a Yoruba traditionalist, a process that involves learning the ways of Yoruba spirituality and its connections to one’s ancestry. “Indigeneity is not conferred; it’s who you are,” she says.
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