The first poster for This is Love, an upcoming Nigerian documentary directed by Victor Ugoo Njoku and Neec Nonso, has been officially unveiled. The poster launch comes ahead of the documentary’s release, which delves into the intimate lives of three LGBTQ+ couples in Nigeria as they navigate love and relationships in a country where same-sex relationships remain criminalized under the 2014 Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act (SSMPA).
The minimalist teaser poster directs attention to the documentary’s title, suggesting that it will highlight personal and intimate LGBTQ+ stories and communicate a universal message of love. The logline reads, “This is Love tells the romance stories of 3 Nigerian LGBTQ+ couples and how they navigate romantic relationships in a conservative and hostile Nigerian environment.”
Produced by Ebuka Njoku (Yahoo+), the documentary features a lesbian couple, a gay couple, and a transman partnered with a ciswoman, each sharing their personal stories while addressing topics of acceptance, religion, and health.
Co-directors Victor Njoku and Neec Nonso have shared their personal connections to the project. For Njoku, a German-based Nigerian filmmaker who was a line producer and subtitle supervisor on Yahoo+, the documentary represents a deep connection to his own experiences growing up effeminate in Nigeria and reflects his long-standing desire to create a queer-themed film. “For the longest time, I wasn’t sure what about the Nigerian LGBTQ+ experience to make into a film. Then I met a middle-aged British-Nigerian man who had been married to a man for about a decade at the time; but had also managed to keep the marriage a secret from his family and some of his friends,” Njoku said. “I couldn’t stop reflecting on how sad that must be for him, and more so for LGBTQ+ people in Nigeria.”
Nonso, known for his cinematographic work on Nigerian documentaries (Michael Okpara: The Legend And The Legacies (2022) And January 1970: Untold Memories Of The Nigerian Civil War (2019)), sees This is Love as a bold statement on freedom and the expression of identity, despite the risks. “I grappled with whether I should take on this project at all, and if I did, whether I should use my real name or hide behind an alias. As an artist, I realized I could not let fear dictate my work. Art must confront difficult issues and amplify voices that are often silenced. This documentary, titled, This Is Love, is a euphemism for young Nigerians boldly declaring, ‘we are not afraid of love,’” Nonso added in a statement.
Produced by VUN Productions and Aguocha, the documentary was shot in Lagos and features dialogue in English, Pidgin, and Yoruba. The film aims to highlight the often unseen and unheard experiences of LGBTQ+ Nigerians and contribute to ongoing discussions on human rights and equality.
Release details for the documentary remain unknown.
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