As we commemorate Gay Pride Month this June, it’s essential to spotlight the diverse narratives within the African LGBTQ+ community. Cinema has been a powerful medium for expressing these experiences, often challenging societal traditions and sparking critical conversations about identity, acceptance, and rights. From pioneering films to groundbreaking contemporary works, these films reflect the struggles and triumphs of LGBTQ+ individuals, showcasing their resilience, creativity, and pride.
In this context, here is a selection of available-to-stream films telling African stories that have collectively played a crucial role in illuminating LGBTQ+ voices and perspectives, contributing to a richer understanding of the myriad experiences within the African continent.
1 – “Dakan” (1997, Guinea): Directed by Mohamed Camara, “Dakan” is considered one of the first films from sub-Saharan Africa to address homosexuality. It narrates the story of two young men who fall in love, facing opposition from their families and society. Despite controversy and censorship threats in Guinea, the film was screened at several international film festivals and received positive reviews. It’s significant as it pioneered LGBTQ+ cinema in Africa, showcasing the courage and resilience of gay individuals in a hostile environment. You can watch “Dakan” on Vimeo On Demand. You can also watch it on Kanopy.
2 – “Woubi Cheri” (1998, Côte d’Ivoire): Directed by Laurent Bocahut and Philip Brooks, this documentary explores the lives and stories of the woubis, a community of gay and transgender people in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The film shows how the “Woubis” (a word used by the queer community in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire) create their own language, culture, and family structures, and how they use humor, music, dance, and fashion to express their identity and celebrate their difference. The film also challenges the stereotypes and prejudices that often portray homosexuality as a Western import or a colonial legacy in Africa. This title is hard to find, but there’s probably a copy on YouTube.
3 – “Karmen Gei” (2001, Senegal): Directed by Joseph Gaï Ramaka, the film reimagines the opera “Carmen,” featuring a bisexual protagonist and exploring themes of desire and freedom. Despite criticism for its sexual content and deviation from the original opera, the film was praised for its musical score, cinematography, and performances. It was also an early challenge to the narrative expectations of African cinema, in its celebration of female sexuality. You can stream “Karmen Gei” on Kanopy, OVID.tv, FilmDoo, and Vimeo On Demand.
4 – “Skoonheid” (2011, South Africa): Directed by Oliver Hermanus, the film tells the story of a middle-aged man who is married with children but is secretly attracted to his friend’s son. His attempts to suppress his feelings lead to a violent act. The film was the first Afrikaans-language film screened at the Cannes Film Festival and won several awards during its festival tour. “Skoonheid” (2011)” is a South African film that is available to stream on TLA Releasing’s YouTube channel. It is also available on FilmDoo.
5 – “Stories of Our Lives” (2014, Kenya): This anthology film, created by The Nest Collective, presents five stories of LGBTQ+ life in Kenya, based on true accounts. The film was also banned in Kenya for its depiction of same-sex relationships, leading to legal threats and harassment for some filmmakers. Despite this, it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and won several awards. You can watch Stories of Our Lives on BFI Player, Justdial, Vimeo On Demand, and Film Platform.
6 – “While You Weren’t Looking” (2015, South Africa): This film offers a snapshot of contemporary LGBTQ+ life in South Africa, focusing on the lives of a lesbian couple and their rebellious daughter. The film explores themes of race, class, gender, and sexuality in post-apartheid South Africa, featuring a diverse cast of actors and characters, including trans and non-binary individuals. “While You Weren’t Looking” is available to stream on IndieFlix.
7 – “The Wound” (2017, South Africa): Directed by John Trengove, it explores the intersection of tradition and sexuality within the Xhosa community. The film follows a closeted gay man mentoring a young initiate during a circumcision ceremony while hiding his attraction to another man. Despite backlash and protests from traditional leaders and groups, the film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and won several awards. “The Wound” is available to stream on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Kanopy, and other services.
8 – “Rafiki” (2018, Kenya): Directed by Wanuri Kahiu, it tells the story of two teenage girls who fall in love amid political and social turmoil. Initially banned in Kenya due to its positive portrayal of homosexuality, the ban was temporarily lifted after Kahiu sued the government, alleging a violation of her constitutional rights. “Rafiki” was the first Kenyan film screened at the Cannes Film Festival and received international acclaim. You can stream “Rafiki” on Hoopla, Film Movement Plus, Showmax, and Tubi. You can also buy Rafiki on Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, and other services.
9 – “Walking with Shadows” (2019, Nigeria): Directed by Aoife O’Kelly and based on a novel by Jude Dibia, this film tells the story of a successful businessman forced to confront societal prejudice when his secret life as a gay man is revealed. The film is based on the novel by Jude Dibia, which was published in 2005 and won Sweden’s Natur och Kultur Prize. It was screened for the first time at the London Film Festival in 2019 but never received approval from Nigeria’s authorities for general release. It’s available to stream on Kanopy, Apple TV, and Prime Video.
10. “The Legend of the Underground” (2021, Nigeria): A powerful documentary, directed by Nneka Onuorah and Giselle Bailey, shines a light on the non-conformist youth in Nigeria, who are fighting against a deeply conservative society that criminalizes LGBTQ+ individuals. Bailey and Onuorah follow several charismatic, defiant young men and women who are risking plenty to live authentically in a country where homosexuality is widely stigmatized and rejected. It’s available to stream on HBO Max (now just Max).
Of course, there are more films out there, so don’t hesitate to contribute to this list by leaving your suggestions in the comments section.
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