Uyaiedu Ikpe-Etim

Last updated

Uyaiedu Ikpe-Etim
Born1989 (age 33–34)
NationalityNigerian
Occupation(s)Film producer, screenwriter, filmmaker

Uyaiedu Ikpe-Etim (born 1989) is a Nigerian film producer, screenwriter and filmmaker, who creates works which tell the stories of Nigeria's marginalised LGBTQ communities. In 2020 the BBC included her in its list of the 100 Women of the Year.

Contents

Biography

Ikpe-Etim was born in 1989. [1] She is co-founder of the production company Hashtag Media House, and since 2011 she has worked to give voice to the Nigeria's minority communities, especially the LGBTQ community there. [2] The rights of the LGBT community in Africa are severely persecuted, and Nigeria and its film industry are no exception: in Nollywood homosexual characters are ridiculed and portrayed as predators, moved by economic interests or under the influence of cults and spells and often end up being punished for their actions or saved by the church. [3] [4] [5] Those films that feature the LGBTQ community in Nigeria, usually feature homosexual men. [6]

In 2020, Ikpe-Etim, along with film producer Pamela Adie came to prominence in Nigeria due to their production of the film Ìfé. [7] The film was Ikpe-Etim's directorial debut and tells a love story between two women. [1] Ìfé is not the first lesbian-themed film to be produced in Nigeria, but it is the first to show such a relationship normally, without prejudice or stereotypes. [4] [7] Indeed the producer, director and actors in the lead roles are all members of Nigeria's LGBT community. [4] Ikpe-Etim identifies as queer. [2] However, the production had to face the National Board of Film and Video Censors, which went so far as to threaten its creators with prison sentences for "encouraging homosexuality" in a country where same-sex marriage was banned by law since 2014. [7] In fact, to avoid censorship, the film was released abroad in October 2020, at the Toronto LGBT Film Festival. [5] [8] [9] It was released ultimately on the streaming platform ehtvnetwork.com. [10] It was screened at the Leeds International Film Festival in November 2020. [11]

Speaking

In Uyaiedu's TEDx talk, "Becoming Free of the English Box" she questions where the desire for wanting to drop her African identity came from. In August 2017, Uyaiedu gave a talk at Eastern Mediterranean University on the importance of asking questions.

Awards

In 2020 Ikpe-Etim was listed as one of the BBC's 100 Women for 2020, recognising her contributions to women's rights in Nigeria. [12] [13]

Related Research Articles

Within the Muslim world, sentiment towards LGBT people may vary between societies and individual Muslims, but is largely negative. The Quran mentions the "people of Lot" and, echoing the narrative of the Hebrew Bible, describes how God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because of their residents' engagement in homosexual acts. However, modern historians from the Western world have argued that Muhammad, the main Islamic prophet, never forbade homosexual relationships outright, although he disapproved of them in line with his contemporaries. At the same time, "both the Quran and the hadith strongly condemn homosexual activity" and some hadith advocate the death penalty for people who engage in any homosexual acts. To this end, anything other than heterosexual activity — chiefly vaginal intercourse between a biological man and a biological woman — is eligible for punishment under Islamic law. Sexual activity between women is generally viewed as a significantly lesser offense than sexual activity between men, and this is reflected in the laws of some Muslim-majority countries; there are typically harsher punishments for male offenders than for female offenders or, in some cases, bias in the form of legalizing lesbian activity while criminalizing gay activity.

Homosexuality has been documented in China since ancient times. According to one study by Bret Hinsch, for some time after the fall of the Han dynasty, homosexuality was widely accepted in China but this has been disputed. Several early Chinese emperors are speculated to have had homosexual relationships accompanied by heterosexual ones. Opposition to homosexuality, according to the study by Hinsch, did not become firmly established in China until the 19th and 20th centuries through the Westernization efforts of the late Qing dynasty and early Republic of China. On the other hand, Gulik's study argued that the Mongol Yuan dynasty introduced a more ascetic attitude to sexuality in general.

A lavender marriage is a male–female mixed-orientation marriage, undertaken as a marriage of convenience to conceal the socially stigmatised sexual orientation of one or both partners. The term dates from the early 20th century and is used almost exclusively to characterize certain marriages of public celebrities in the first half of the 20th century, primarily before World War II, when public attitudes made it impossible for a person acknowledging homosexuality to pursue a public career, notably in the Hollywood film industry. One of the earliest uses of the phrase appeared in the British press in 1895, at a time when the colour of lavender was associated with homosexuality.

LGBT History Month is an annual month-long observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements. It was founded in 1994 by Missouri high-school history teacher Rodney Wilson. LGBT History Month provides role models, builds community, and represents a civil rights statement about the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community. As of 2022, LGBT History Month is a month-long celebration that is specific to Australia, Canada, Cuba, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in the State of Palestine</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, & transgender (LGBT) people in Palestine face a precarious situation due to a lack of civil rights legislation aimed at tackling discrimination. There is also a significant legal divide between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, same-sex acts were decriminalized in the adoption of the Jordanian Penal Code of 1951 following the Jordanian annexation. Gaza, however, still follows the British Mandate Criminal Code Ordinance, No. 74 of 1936, which outlaws same-sex acts between men, with the current punishment being up to 10 years in prison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nse Ikpe-Etim</span> Nigerian actress (born 1974)

Nse Ikpe-Etim is a Nigerian actress. She came into prominence in 2008 for her role in Reloaded. She was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 5th and 8th Africa Movie Academy Awards for her role in Reloaded and Mr. and Mrs., respectively. In 2014, she won the Best Actress in a Drama award at the 2014 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards for playing "Nse" in Journey to Self.

Historically, the portrayal of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in media have been negative, reflecting the cultural intolerance of LGBT individuals; however, from the 1990s to present day, there has been an increase in the depictions of LGBT people, issues, and concerns within mainstream media in North America. The LGBT communities have taken an increasingly proactive stand in defining their own culture, with a primary goal of achieving an affirmative visibility in mainstream media. The positive portrayal or increased presence of the LGBT communities in media has served to increase acceptance and support for LGBT communities, establish LGBT communities as a norm, and provide information on the topic.

Gay media refers to media that predominantly targets a gay, lesbian or LGBTQ+ allied audience. The primary target market for gay media may also more broadly be considered to include members of an LGBTQ+ community. Secondary targets are LGBTQ+ allies, and in some instances those who oppose gay rights may be targeted as a form of activism to change their minds. There are many types of gay media, and the type is determined by the purpose of the media presented. Gay or queer media can also be defined as web sites, films, magazines and other cultural products that were created by queer individuals, or groups that are typically out, meaning that they are public or open about their identity. Gay creators do not always include gay themes or issues in their productions but there is usually at least subtle references to queerness or acceptance in these media.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer+(LGBTQ+)music is music that focuses on the experiences of gender and sexual minorities as a product of the broad gay liberation movement.

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<i>Kiss and Tell</i> (2011 film) 2011 Nigerian film

Kiss and Tell is a 2011 Nigerian romantic comedy film, produced by Emem Isong and directed by Desmond Elliot. It stars Monalisa Chinda, Joseph Benjamin, Desmond Elliot, Nse Ikpe Etim, Uche Jombo and Bhaira Mcwizu. Though the film was a commercial success, it was met with mixed to negative reception.

Despite the history of colonisation and the resulting process of Westernisation since 1842, Hong Kong still embodies many aspects of Chinese traditional values towards sexuality. It is traditionally believed that heterosexuality is the nature, coherent, and privileged sexuality. Popular media marginalises and discriminates against LGBT members of Hong Kong in an attempt to maintain "traditional lifestyles".

<i>Heavens Hell</i> Film

Heaven's Hell is a 2019 Nigerian psychological drama film, produced and directed by Katung Aduwak; it stars an ensemble cast which includes Nse Ikpe Etim, Fabian Adeoye Lojede, Bimbo Akintola, Chet Anekwe, Damilola Adegbite, OC Ukeje, Kalu Ikeagwu, Femi Jacobs, Bimbo Manuel and Gideon Okeke. It is majorly financed by BGL Asset Management Ltd and One O Eight Media, with production support of other partners such as Hashtag Media House and Aberystwyth University.

Straightwashing is portraying LGB or otherwise queer characters in fiction as heterosexual (straight), making LGB people appear heterosexual, or altering information about historical figures to make their representation comply with heteronormativity.

<i>New Money</i> (2018 film) 2018 Nigerian comedy-drama film directed by Tope Oshin

New Money is a 2018 Nigerian film directed by Tope Oshin with production by Inkblot Productions and FilmOne. It tells the story of a sales girl who dreams of becoming a fashion designer and subsequently receives an unexpected inheritance from her absentee father. Released in March 2018, it stars Jemima Osunde, Kate Henshaw, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Dakore Akande, Wale Ojo Osas Ighodaro and Falz d Bahd Guy.

<i>Ìfé</i> Upcoming Nigerian romantic LGBT film directed by Uyai Ikpe-Etim

Ìfé also spelt as Ife is a 2020 Nigerian LGBT romantic film executive produced by prominent Nigerian LGBTQ rights activist Pamela Adie and directed by Uyaiedu Ikpe-Etim. The film is touted to be the first full fledged lesbian film in the history of Nollywood. However some sources stated that it is also the first Nigerian LGBT film.

Pamela Adie is a Nigerian LGBT rights activist, public speaker, screenwriter and filmmaker. Pamela is hailed as a prominent public speaker advocating LGBTQ community and has often raised her voice on empowering LGBTQ community in Nigeria. Her research and works about LGBT rights in Nigeria have featured in several LGBT anthology series. She rose to prominence with her directorial debut Under the Rainbow which reflects her personal memoir. Her production venture Ìfé is deemed as Nigeria's first lesbian film. She is the executive director of non governmental organisation Equality Hub.

<i>Quams Money</i> 2020 Nigerian film directed by Kayode Kasum

Quam's Money is a 2020 Nigerian action comedy film written by Chinaza Onuzo, and directed by Kayode Kasum. The film stars Falz, Toni Tones, Jemima Osunde, Blossom Chukwujekwu and Nse Ikpe-Etim in the lead roles. It is a sequel to the 2018 film New Money. The film had its premiere in four different locations in Nigeria including the FilmHouse Cinemas in Lagos on 6 December 2020 ahead of the theatrical release. It had its theatrical release on 11 December 2020 and opened to mixed reviews from critics while also emerged as a box office success. Prior to its release, it was considered one of the most anticipated Nigerian films of 2020.

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References

  1. 1 2 "ÌFÉ, UNA CINTA LGTBQ DE 'NOLLYWOOD'". Cinemelodic (in Spanish). 22 August 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Ìfé Writer and Director Uyaiedu Ikpe-Etim on Decolonizing Nigerian Storytelling and Queer Love Stories". Autostraddle. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  3. ↑ "Here is all you need about 'Ìfé', a lesbian love story directed by Uyai Ikpe-Etim". Pulse Nigeria. 4 July 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 Aisha Salaudeen. "A Nollywood film about two women in love faces an uphill battle in a country where homophobia is rampant". CNN. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  5. 1 2 "A rare cinematic portrait of queer women's intimacy in Nigeria". africasacountry.com. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  6. ↑ "Producer of Nigeria's new history-making lesbian film has a cunning plan to beat homophobic censors". PinkNews - Gay news, reviews and comment from the world's most read lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans news service. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 "The Nigerian filmmakers risking jail with lesbian movie Ife". BBC News. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  8. ↑ Akwagyiram, Angela Ukomadu, Alexis (22 August 2020). "Película de amor lésbico de Nigeria se lanzará online para evitar la censura". Reuters (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 January 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)[ dead link ]
  9. ↑ Desmond, Vincent (6 August 2020). "Nigerian's First Lesbian Love Story Goes Online to Beat Film Censors". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  10. ↑ Lebret, Melusine (13 December 2020). ""Ife" Set To Become A Turning Point In Nollywood's History". The Organization for World Peace. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  11. ↑ "These Are The Best Nigerian Films of 2020". OkayAfrica. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  12. ↑ "BBC 100 Women 2020: Who is on the list this year?". BBC News. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  13. ↑ "Aisha Yesufu, Uyaiedu Ikpe-Etim and others make 2020 BBC's 100 women list". Pride Magazine Nigeria. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.


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