In Africa, queer-identifying people continue to be stifled, castigated, and erased from their society. Such hostility directed toward them, extend itself to any societal field that dares to grant them any sort of representation or inclusion. In this specific context, we are talking about cinema. In fact, cinema has always been a tool for the visual representation of our realities and stories. While the forefathers of African cinema used it as a weapon for social change, they never extended such activism toward homosexuality in the continent. In fact, many wouldn't even think of taking on such a risk at that time, knowing the shared orthodox values glorified in the continent in regard to homosexuality, even still today. A value that condemns such sexual existence backed by religion, and traditions. 

Regardless of the social views that negate the importance of queer stories, some filmmakers saw the necessity of telling those stories. Cinema, being this medium for social change and enlightenment in the continent, could also be this hopeful home for queer stories and reality to be portrayed beautifully in order to shift something in the shared generational ignorance pressed against it.

"Green-Simms, author of "Queer African Cinemas" argues that these films not only record the fear, anxiety, and vulnerability many queer Africans experience; they highlight how queer African cinematic practices contribute to imagining new hopes and possibilities." 

"Dakan (1997)" by Mohamed Camara was the groundbreaking first West African film exploring the theme of homosexuality as its central plot. Unfortunately, the reception of the movie in the continent was so brutal and harsh, that it was detrimental to the promising career of the filmmaker. Such a response by the public was indeed a warning for any other filmmaker that would try to explore what is considered "immoral" in the continent.

Thankfully, such fear never stopped future filmmakers who understood the urgency of depicting queer people's stories in films, knowing that it is also part of our reality and that sharing queer people's stories in cinema is also sharing the continent's story.

Even though these movies are suffering quite the same fate as "DAKAN", by being banned in their home countries, inciting riots, and not being distributed or screened in their local countries. It shows us that regardless of the hate, LGBTQ+ representation in African cinema is needed for today and for the future to come. It is a great weapon to fight against homophobia and champion for the inclusion of queer people in the continent more than ever. 

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As a part of this piece, we are presenting different films that engage with queerness in Africa.