Funmi Iyanda: A Hero or A Villain

                                                  

Funmi Iyanda

This lady has created an image for herself, one many people that grew up with her New Dawn with Funmi Iyanda will basically call "amazon". However to many who have loved to loathe her, she is nothing but a thorn in the flesh and one that they will be very happy to get rid off.

 Funmi has an imagine of a non nonsense woman, a social critics and one you will not expect from a social corrupt setting like Nigeria. She reminds one of the "The Man" in Ayi Kwei Armah "The Beautyfuls Are Not Yet Born". And more important many will attribute the personality of a fearless feminist, one who will crush every obstacle on her path.

 Her breakfast show that ran for over 10 years in Nigeria (New Dawn with Funmi Iyanda) was the talking point of social discourse in the 90s, she treats her issues with passion while at the same time tries to remove herself from her passion. During her time on TV, she quizzed many people from high flying politicians to celebrities and to ordinary citizens who are trying to salvage their country. No wonder she got the title "Oprah Winfrey" of Nigeria, one title she does not take lightly to as she believes she is an enigma on her own.

 The major issue in Funmi television history came on the morning of 6th October 2004 when innocently (Yes! innocently)she interviewed Bisi Alimi, the controversial Nigerian gay rights activist. This simple interview sent a shocking waves round Nigeria, and the aftermath left Funmi coming to the reality of the country she so loved.

 So it was not surprising recently when on twitter she started a conversation about a newspaper report of the sexuality of Nigeria female singer Asa.  The backlash was overwhlming. The hate tweet that followed was beyond believe and it was interesting to see her losing many of her followers that day for saying as a matter of principles that she is open to discuss on LGBTI issues in Nigeria, and that she will not in any way discriminate against anyone based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

 Her religious conservative followers threw tantarum, they called her names and stated in clear terms what a disgrace she is. Many even accused her of being a Lesbian. However, while these group of people were busying themselves slagging her off, there was another group of progressive Nigerians who got drawn into the debate and the interesting thing was, for every one religious conservative she lost, she got 3 progressive followers.

 This shows that even in Nigeria, the war of homosexuality is fought on both sides, and Funmi with her controversial views on the issues and many other issues ranging from Women's rights, abortion and single parenthood is found right in the middle of it. No matter what you think of these fearless woman, whether you see her as someone to love or loathe: Funmi has come to stay as Nigeria mermite.

In Africa, anal sex goes Hetero

While I was in secondary school, I have always been told that rectal sex is something between two men. Even many anti gay activists have used this sexual practice as a means of attacking the gay movement. It is the core of the sodomy law in Africa and the buggery law in other part of the world.

However, the recent study in Africa has shown an increasing number of straight people and mostly young heterosexual people practising anal sex on a daily basis.

While the notion of sex in itself is a very difficult topic to tackle in the African setting, the mere fact that more and more straight couples in Africa are embarking on a rectal sexual journey for pleasure gives a call for concern – because most of this is unprotected by condoms.

An act of unprotected anal intercourse is 10 to 20 times more likely to result in HIV transmission compared to an act of unprotected vaginal intercourse, due to the different biological characteristics of the rectum which make it much more susceptible to infection.

What do we know?

According to Morenike Ukpong, a Nigerian Microbicide activist ; over 12% of young people in Nigeria are practising anal intercourse. In different studies done across Africa, the following were found as anal sexual practices among heterosexuals.

An anonymous survey of 2593 men and 1818 women in Cape Town according to Kalichman et al (2009), they found out 14% of Men and 10% of Women have engaged in anal sex in the last 3 months, of this only 67% of the men use condoms compared to just 50% of the woman.

Even there is a significant drop of condom use among truck drivers (N=320) in South Africa Ramjee et al (2002) and sex workers (N=147) in Kenya. Schwandt et al (2006). The two studies find 42% of truck drivers having anal sex with female sex workers, while it was 40% among female sex worker who said they have ever practised anal sex.

This is not the end of the surprising data. In Lane et al (2006) findings, it showed that young people between the ages of 15-24 years in South Africa engage in anal sexual behaviour. There is no difference between the sexes, while young male engage at rate of 5.5%, young female are at 5.3%.

More interesting is Matasha (1998) findings that among primary school pupils in Tanzania, 9% had anal sex as their first sexual experience.

Taken together, these studies show that there is a previously unknown anal sexual behaviour among heterosexuals but the focus on anal sex and health for many years has been the limited to gay/MSM communities.

What we are getting wrong

The focus of HIV prevention in Africa has always been primarily targeted at vaginal sex, and thereby prevention messages have always been use condoms. But we are now finding out that as straight people engage in anal sex, the likelihood of using condoms diminishes. For many, anal intercourse may be a form of virginity protection, or contraception, and there is a common belief that anal intercourse carries no risk for HIV infection.

Dr. Karim of the famous CAPRISA 004 argued that this sexual behaviour – when unprotected - could be driving a sizable amount of new HIV infections in Africa. In agreeing with him, I asked the question “is it time for us to broaden our scope of what HIV transmission looks like in Africa?”

If we still argue that HIV transmission in Africa is mainly heterosexual, are we assuming that the risk is only from unprotected vaginal intercourse? Or are we going to acknowledge the prevalence of unprotected anal intercourse among heterosexuals and address heterosexual transmission more broadly, and honestly?

Not only are we overlooking the reality and the prevalence of this sexual behaviour among the general heterosexual population (Note that these are small studies, which means that if we were to conduct bigger and broader survey we will find more), we are also losing the need to do a reassessment of our prevention strategy that will provide safer anal intercourse irrespective of gender or sexual orientation.

Coupled with the myth around anal sex is the lack of using the right lube. In a presentation at the strategic meeting by Dr. Brian Kanyemba from the Desmond Tutu foundation, he said people were using all kinds of things for lubricant: olive oil, Vaseline, Vicks and even mayonnaise - none of which are condom-compatible.

Gay and straight couples need to know the facts about anal intercourse, and need condoms and condom-compatible lubricants to engage in this behaviour in a safer way.

The hope. The future

Anal sex is a pleasurable sexual activities and it can be safe if and when certain conditions are met. These conditions include; using condoms with condom-compatible lubrication.

Another answer to safer anal sex is rectal Microbicides - which would be a lube or a gel with anti-HIV properties.

A safe and effective rectal Microbicides could help everyone engaging in anal sex have a pleasurable and safer sexual experience.

It is important to know however that it is not a replacement for condom use, but it is to be used as an additional option for protection, Ideally, one day we will have rectal Microbicides that not only protect against HIV, but other STDs as well.

As we drive towards zero HIV infection, it is also important we started looking at other prevention technologies that will be very easy for people to use without actually affecting their sexual behaviour.

As IRMA’s rectal Microbicides advocates sat down to work at the Project ARM meeting in Addis in 2010, one of the interesting things that came out was the need to intensify advocacy for rectal Microbicides in many ways and that includes engaging with our community to let people know that anal sex is a human behaviour, both homosexual and heterosexual.

There is increasing need for information on anal sex, anal  health and active involvement of NGOs in Africa. This campaign should also include NGOs working with African communities all over the world. Also we should start the discussion with women; both young and old that there is a need for more discussion on anal sex

Rectal Microbicides are looking like the future of HIV prevention, but for the dream to be achieved, there is the need for everyone to be involved in the process – on both the research and advocacy fronts.

From civil societies to clinicians, doctors to government officials, international organizations and funders the world over.

But while we await the rectal Microbicides reality, we should not forget that when we talk anal sex, we should also scream……… AND LUBE.

As without the right use of the right lube, anal sex will not only be painful and unpleasant, but also puts the receptive partner at the danger of sexually transmitted infections including HIV.

Anal sex is great, condom use is pleasure, but don’t forget AND LUBE.

Reference:

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/32479-12-nigerian-secondary-school-students-practise-anal-sex

http://journals.lww.com/aidsonline/Abstract/2006/01020/Heterosexual_anal_intercourse_increases_risk_of.19.aspx

Matasha et al (1998) Sexual and reproductive health among primary and secondary school pupils in Mwanza, Tanzania: need for intervention.

'A non-discriminatory programme for gay men will reduce HIV infection in Nigeria'

Bisi Alimi;a case for non discriminatory HIV prevention for Nigerian gay men

In 2004,Adebisi Alimi was on the Funmi Iyanda Show told Nigerian he was gay thus becoming the first openly gay man in Nigeria.That bold move made headlines.Expectedly, the backlash was overwhelming sending Bisi back to the closet and constantly watching his back during public outings.He was granted asylum by the UK government in 2008 and currently studying for a Masters degree in Global Governance and Public Policy at the University of London.Bisi studied drama at the University of Lagos and before leaving for the UK had become a strong advocate for non-discriminatory programming for men who have sex(MSM) in Nigeria earning the membership of groups such as UNAIDS Intervention Team for MSM in Nigeria and amFAR MSM/HIV review panel for Africa 2008.He spoke with NIGERIAN HEALTH JOURNAL on his current efforts and the future of HIV prevention for MSM in Nigeria.

How would you appraise Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS programming especially as it relates to an all-inclusive programming for most at risk groups?

I left Nigeria about 4 years ago, and the impression I get each time I meet Nigerian HIV advocates at International conferences is that things are changing, and I can see that too. At the Microbicides Conference in Pittsburgh in 2010, the Nigerian delegation were discussing Rectal Microbicides. At the Int’l AIDS Conference in Vienna, I attend the session on HIV funding, and the Nigerian government representative spoke about investing in vulnerable and high-risk communities. Whether this is the case in reality I am not sure but the mere fact that we have moved away from the culture of ‘do not talk about it’, to that of developing policies that seem to be inclusive is very interesting. I have seen an increasing number of MSM community-based organisations(CBOs) working on Men who have Sex with Men(MSM) issues responding to the crisis within the community, and I am really happy about the stage we are now.

Programming for sexual minorities like MSM might remain a hard nut to crack in Nigeria. Does this reflect a lack of capacity to programme for MSM aside the issue of intolerance?

There are a lot of issues to this.The MSM or what you may want to call the “Gay community’ in Nigeria needs to do more in the area of creating proactive visibility. Visibility was what *Dare Odumuye and I did in the 90s and early 2000. We didn’t just sit around waiting for miracle to happen; we took our cases to those that matter. Now the MSM community is characterised by bickering and struggle for funding instead of coming up with very creative approach to involvement. Living in the UK has opened my eyes to community involvement and engagement and I feel there is need for more of that approach from CBOs in Nigeria. There is also the hypocrisy around human sexuality and religion, which we have been deceived to consider as our culture. Nigeria’s cultural identity is not built around Islam or Christianity. Let me add that government has not created an enabling environment for most of these organizations to prosper or take shape and when they struggle to exist, there is not enough protection for them. The anti-gay scenario in Nigeria is not encouraging either.So,for there to be an active HIV intervention and proactive service delivery to reduce the impact on HIV within the gay community,everyone has a role and our approach and attitude towards alternative sexuality and lifestyle needs to change.

What does it take to bring MSM issues to the front burner of our AIDS given the fact that religion keeps popping up even in addressing public health challenges?

It will not be easy, and I quite agree with you that religion is one of the key barrels to providing adequate and all inclusive sexual health services .Mind you, this is not just an MSM issue, even women HIV response in Nigeria is still behind the desire for the MDGs. Nigeria still does not have a clear cut policy and working framework for prevention, and access to treatment in Nigeria is still below the target for universal access. So, the agenda of inclusiveness will be key in bringing the issues of MSM and HIV to the table. The MSM activists should know that it is very important they work in a very inclusive environment, where they collaborate with other activists to have a comprehensive approach.When this is done, it will break the barrel of religion. Unless this is done, and the approach of ‘we and them’ is ditched, the desire for inclusion will continue to stay in the dreamland.


Can you articulate what Nigeria stands to benefits from a comprehensive programme for MSM and related groups?

It is a fact that in countries where there are inclusive HIV prevention and treatment approach, the rate of infection will go down and there is an increased awareness. Also,we know from social scientists that sexual behaviour rather than sexual identity are the drivers for increase rate of HIV infections, also in countries where people are given the freedom to make informed choices based on non-discriminatory HIV information,a low rate of infection means a healthier country, and a very productive one. Prevention has been seen to be very cost effective if it is inclusive. A well-formed intervention means that there will be less tendency for risk behaviours and that means people will do what will make them healthy. There will be an increase in sexual satisfaction and that also means people having the sex they desire with enough information on safer sex. A non-discriminatory comprehensive programme for MSM will mean less infection rate and a healthy nation for all of us.


Is it true that the major source of risk from the MSM community to the general population are the bisexuals. Could you please clarify or put this in the right perspective?

I distaste stereotyping and scapegoating. I strongly believe people should be able to enjoy sex through the expression of their sexuality. What is missing is necessary and needful information for people to have informed choices about the kind of sex they have. Like I said, HIV is not an issue of sexual identity or sexuality, it is more of sexual behaviour and that is what we have to look into. There are evidence now that there are increasing heterosexual anal sex and this is a new revelation in Africa, so we need to be very careful when we talk about these things.

Do you subscribe to the proposal that programming for MSM should be addressed under the general purview of men’s health so as to navigate the stigma and discrimination.

No,I strongly oppose that. There are differences in issues affecting these populations and it will be unfair for us to merge the two issues together. Heterosexual men have little or no concern about anal cancer, and many other sexually transmitted infections( STIs) that are common in the gay community. Also the issue of understanding sex and sexuality differs from the two groups, just as much as issues affecting men differs from race, to ethnicity, so it will be one of the biggest mistakes of prevention to confuse the two.

Advocacy for MSM in Nigeria dimmed with the demise of Dare Odumuye in 2007.What would you attribute this to?

Dare had a vision to start an advocacy that will open the door for prevention that is inclusive. Now,what we have are career advocates.Dare and I had a passion and it was that passion that dictated what we did. We were not paid, we had no means of making money from the advocacy,and even our aim was not to travel out of the country. But now, advocacy is tied around money and overseas trips.Also Dare knew what needed to be done; he knew who has the power to get it done. He was more local than global and it worked, he was able to open doors, network and get result locally and that is what is missing. I want to see more passionate advocates;those that will not aim to be super heroes of the community, but spokespersons for the community-speaking not what they think but what reflects the desire and need of the community.

Is there a leadership gap to be filled at the moment and who is playing that role?

There is a leadership role to be filled indeed, and there is no one I can single out is playing that role. The community is seriously fragmented and the increasing competition for funding is creating a divided community where there is no cohesion and no clear-cut agenda for advocacy and this is a big shame. When Dare was alive, we all look up to him to lead the way, but now, it is a different story.

Your absence also has created some gaps. What have you been up to lately?

Really? I will take that as a compliment. I moved to the UK in 2007 after my coming out on Funmi Iyanda’s show. I know many people are saying that I used the show as a means to run away. I think I will be happy to make it clear here that it was never my wish to leave Nigeria. I miss Nigeria a lot and wish I could go back home and share my experience. I really wish to get back in the struggle and tackle some of the issues you raised in your questions. I am not boasting, but I think I still command respect within the community and I can help in coordinating an agenda. As for what I am doing; well I am doing my Masters at the University of London at the moment, and that will finish in the summer. I am studying politics but with special interest in International development and Aids. Im looking at how the systematic global north funding has either helped or undermine development in Africa, but I will also look at HIV and Poverty within minority groups. Finally, possibly come back home one day and get involved in politics.

Do you see a change soon in attitude towards MSM in Nigeria especially as we continue to seek for innovative ideas and ways to control this epidemic?

Yes I really do see a change; I am more optimistic now than I was 4 years ago. I have seen loads of changes, there are increasing room for discourse around human sexuality now, though most times in negative ways, but I know that even negative publicity is sometimes a good step in the right direction. All that we need is a very strong and cohesive community of MSM, which is driven by passion and ready to effect a change without discord.

What Biology did not teach me about Human Sexual Make up.

I am sure I am not the first person writing on the curriculum of Biology in secondary schools, but since I have a personal experience growing up in Africa, there are certain things that Biology has taught me that are not true, and many things biology has failed to teach me.

As I grow older, I discover many things in life that I never learnt in class, and those things I was taught, that either never existed, or existed but was taught wrongly. This distorted information helped in shaping my ideology as a young man, and formed many erroneous view I had, it became the standard for my believe and relationship with people and things around me. So to finally discover that almost all the things I spent 6 years of my life learning was either false, or half true and that I have to start unlearning them, was a big task for me.

I am very sure many of you can see yourself in this picture, and have to go back to the classroom of life and social interaction to unlearn many things and start learning many things, most often than not, it is always after making a big mistake or taken a big wrong step.

For instance, on the issue of human sexuality, I was taught in my youth that the world is made of "Man" and "Woman", and that man and woman will meet and have sex and have babies, and that anyone who does not conform to the ideal of man and woman is biological deformed and needs help, and that includes people that self identifies as either Gay, Lesbian, Transgender or Inter-sex.

Another is the issue of "Hermaphrodite" in contrast to "Inter-sex". As a teenager growing up, I was taught that people with both sexes are biologically deformed, needs help and most times they do not live long into old age. Also biology taught me that it is a serious medical condition that needs instant intervention. Biology taught me that the make up of the body of a girl is different from that of a boy, and that is it not possible for a boy to have biological make up of a girl, and for this reason the whole concept of "Trangenderism" is an ideology that violates the order of nature and so should not be encourage.

But as I grow older and discover things for myself, I realise that most of this things is either false or half true, and that this has formed the basis for hatred, violence and discriminations, and not necessarily religion, as many has suggested (mind you I am one of the most antagonist of religious institutions)

On of the issue of Trans, I was fortunate enough to attend the first International congress on Gender Identity and Human rights in Barcelona in June 2010. In as much as it sounded that I was invading other people's safe space, I was exposed to a world I have never been before. I saw things and heard things I would never have seen or heard in my life.

Prior to my trip to Barcelona, I have many friends who are Trans and in the private of my room, I have asked myself questions about Trans people and the desire behind transiting, but I have never been bold enough to call on my friends to explain certain things to me. Not because I do not want to ask, but I was wondering, how can a man want to turn to a woman, why will someone want to go through such pain to do that, or why would a woman wants to transit.

As a gay man, I have enough troubles being gay, black and African, and these further complicate the views I have about Trans people. But being in the audience in Barcelona, listening to Trans people talking, and sharing their journey through life, I felt ashamed of my ignorance, this ignorance was not based on my inability to learn, but on what I was taught in Biology class.

I heard about Hormones, pathology, electric shock, correctional counselling. I heard the story of survival, sex works and the pain of living in a body that is not yours, looking at gentiles that do not represent you, and the burden of having to live your life in falsehood. I started to question biology teachings of man and woman, and specific human make up based on gender at birth, and the actual gender of the person.

There is also the issue gender binary of man and woman, and the exclusion of people who do not self identifies as one, either a man or a woman. There is also the discrimination on the basis that you have to be either LGB, or Straight, and then even within the LGB, the issues affect the T and I are left for the dogs.

I also had the opportunity to attend the session on Inter-sex, where for the first time in my life, I came face to face with people who are inter-sex and listened to their horrible childhood experience. I heard about the killing of inter-sex people in Africa, and the discrimination they faced in the LGB movement, I listen to advocates sharing their journey through life and the pains of denial of full sexual empowerment based on fear and hatred.

The painful thing is, it has taken me 35 years to understand the diversity in Human sexual make up, and finally when I learnt about it, it was a shock that will have to stay with me for a long time. If only when I was young and innocent, Biology has taught me all this, and not only me, but many other young people like me, maybe then, there wont be so much hatred in the world, religion will not have the power to manipulate us, and maybe, just maybe, many people that have committed suicides and gone into drug use as a reprival would have had a different life now.

Maybe there wont have been that debate for a "Gender Neutral Toilet", maybe everyone that wants to transit can do so with enough empowerment, maybe Inter-sex people can have the power to decide what is best for them.

Maybe, just Maybe.............

Today, I challenge the Human Sexual make up as proposed by Biology, I expand my knowledge of Human and Humanity and though I have to break my bank to be able to be in Barcelona, it was a trip worth taking.

HIV prevention and the Immigrant African MSM in London

As the political climate in the UK hots up, there are many expectations from many people and the three political parties are trying their best to make as many promised as possible, from Conservatives "giving power to the people", to Labour promise of "better future for all" and the Liberal Democrats saying "Better and Fairer Tax for all"

One thing that is of big concern to me is the issue of politicians commitment to "Sexual Health", and when I talk about sexual health, as a concerned sexual health advocate, I am talking about promise from politician on investment in Research and investing in treatment option. More money into prevention work for high risk groups, and the decriminalization of HIV transmission.

In the 80’s HIV was more of a winning gimmick for politicians. They made promises to tackle the epidemic, but 25 years on, with increasing number of people getting infected every minute, that issue is no more a political priority. As even more importantly is the issue of Immigrants and HIV transmission in Europe and mostly in the UK.

In 2007, I had the opportunity to kick start a project funded by the Newham PCT. The concept behind which was to provide prevention services for African MSM living in London, so that there can be an uptake of HIV testing and thereby reduce late diagnosis.

In 3 years, the project saw a huge interest in testing, and more men have been placed on treatment, they have been trained to be community champions, and this has seen more of this men coming to term with their sexuality.

But just when the excitement was high, and we are seeing an improvement in the sexual health of Immigrant African MSM, the funder are not sure this is a viable project, they are faced with the need to cut back on public funding and to prioritize spending within the Health system, and the first victim will be those projects that are not considered as point scoring.

With a service user base of over 50, this project, being the only in the whole of UK, providing such service for Immigrant African MSM will come an end, and the men will have to look elsewhere for their sexual health needs, and the funny thing is this might take another five years before another primary care trust sees the reason to fund such a project.

So, in 2010, HIV treatment, research, and prevention investment is not a political point scoring, but it gulps more money than even the banks.

So as I pack my bags and leave a dream behind, I think of many African MSM that will be arriving the UK with dire need for sexual health, one that is design to understand the dynamics of their identity and social constructs.

Just really wish someone can see beyond their nose.

The Search for a leading Black LGBT role Model

At the last NUS LGBT conference, the Black LGBT students caucus had a training session where they were asked to name celebrity role models from the Black LGBT community. We spent 30 minutes thinking and we could hardly come up with a name.

The problem was not lack of Black LGBT celebrity or role models, it is just that we could not relate with them, at least after 30 minutes, many of us remember Steven K Amos, but again you asked yourself what really has he done for the Black LGBT community apart from coming out, and then we also remember John Ameachi.

I was worried why we found it pretty difficult in the UK to find a Black LGBT role model, but then I got the answer when I went to America in December with my partner. I was in New York for some days, and there I heard about a strong organizing of Black LGBT people, they have great representation and the community is very strong. The same can be said of Chicago where I had a wonderful reception and met influential Black gay men and we talked about their struggles and how it is very easy for them to organize.

I was worried about the lack of same thing here. But one thing the Americans have going for them was the Black liberation movement of the 60's, a battle that created a great sense of consciousness in the people and has taught them that if you do not represent yourself, no one will do it for you, something the Black community in the UK does not have.

The fight in the UK is more of Black community fighting against each other rather than fighting for each other. I have only lived in London for 3 years, but I can still recollect attending many Black gay men's meeting most of which are dead by now, due to bickering, hatred and quest for leadership. The community is in disarry and the so called leaders are busy individualizing the struggle for personal gains.

The fight against stigma and discrimination within the Black community in UK is one that can not be won unless there are strong Black LGBT movement and people out there. The demand for a significant figure in the Black community is one that is urgently needed.

I am not looking for a role model like Sir Elton John or Sir Ian Mcknelle, but I am looking forward to a more proactive Black LGBT community that has a leader, one that is built on the struggle for freedom within and without. One that will start an anti discriminatory campaign within the Black communities and in our schools. One that is strong enough to push for Black LGBT agenda in all fields.

As I await this day, I call on the ones that I know to please take the chance, take the risk and lead your people to the promise land. No one will do it for us.

Africa LGBT event at the BFI..... my take

When i was invited by the organizers of this year's London Lesbian and Gay film festival to be on the panel at the African LGBTI film screening, I was really excited. Not because he gives me another opportunity to open up my mouth wide again and start yarning something, or that I happened to be among the few that get driven to the venue while I have a VIP attention and then watch the film for free while someone else pays close to £10 to see same film.

But because it presents a chance to discuss the plight of the LGBTI movement in Africa, over 40 years after the Liberation of same group in Europe and America. Knowing that I will be speaking on the panel, I promised myself, never to demonized Africa and her people, I belong to the group of advocates (as I hate to use the word "activist" for myself), that believe if there are information, there will be a change in attitude from Africans towards LGBTI people. How these information is created and passed on to the people at the grassroots is another thing I will talk about some other day.

The entrants for Africa this year were from South Africa, Uganda and Nigeria. The South African film shows the new issues tearing the soul of that nation apart; corrective rape of Lesbians. I heard of these 4 years ago when a friend of a friend was raped and killed. The believe is that if you rape a Lesbian, she will turn heterosexual. It reached its peak last year when a top female footballer in South africa was raped and killed. These has also been identified as a means of transmitting HIV to the Lesbian community in south Africa. The pain and the agony of being raped and rejected by family just because you are Lesbian is so traumatic that the scare will live with you for the rest of your life.

While I was still dealing with the pains and trauma of "Mosa" , the next film from Uganda was another affirmation of what I know. As someone who has been buying my family love for over 6 years now, I know what it is like to be a rejected gay man. I remember always telling my friends back home in Nigeria that the only way they can be loved and respected is when they have money to give. it sounds bizarre, but that is the truth. Though I have never met Victor face to face, I have the honour of being painted by Gabrielle, who did an artistic activist work around Transgender issues in Africa, and Victor was one of the people she painted. She told me of the courageous world of Victor. I have also longed for an opportunity to meet him and tell him how much I adored him.

Watching the "Kuchus" (the local name for Gay people in ugandan) of Uganda, brought back memories. Memories of growing in Nigeria, trying so hard to effect change, trying to work for the community i am passionate about. The tears we shed for lost battles and won battles. The pain of having nothing to eat, of joblessness because we are gay and open. The frustrations from the press and the local people, the rejections from families and friends. To me the "Kuchus" film reminds me of myself, but also brought a feeling of guilt.

I sat in the audience in London watching the courageous determination of LGBTI people in Africa, people that could have used the abuse they face to run away but they decided to stay. Not that i consider myself a coward, but sometimes, I asked myself, would staying back at home change something by now? But again, I know that my coming to Europe has not been in vain, and it has not been for self glorification and for a life of luxury.

While the "Kuchus" got the audience griming, the next film to following left them asking very probing questions. The entry from Nigeria was "House of Rainbow". A film that rather talked about the life experience of a British gay pastor who tried to set up a "gay church" in Nigeria. the film explored the challenges he faced in his attempt and what led to him "fleeing" the country. While Mosa and Kuchus looked at the struggles of African LGBTI in Africa, the HOR film was more about the struggles of the pastor.

It was quite interesting to follow for me as I was part of the formation of this church right from the beginning, and knowing very well that there was an agenda. A gay church in Nigeria is not bad, but as at the time it started, was it right? Considering the rising in hate crime towards LGBTI people in Nigeria? I will say no. History has shown that using religion as a basis for LGBTI right all over the world is a failed battle.

But was it liberation this pastor was bringing to Nigeria? from my perspective, the answer will be NO. The whole idea was more like setting a stage for the eventual life of luxury being enjoyed by the founder today.

The whole essence of this write up is not to attack the person of the pastor, but to uncover, the second wave of exploitation that is taking place in Africa at the moment. The exploitation of the vulnerable LGBTI community in Africa, a situation where, they are becoming meal ticket and flight tickets to the advantaged few who sees the situation to self glorified themselves.

So when next you watch "House of Rainbow" ask the pastor very important questions like: who are those boys? What happened to them? did they give permission for the film? did they even know a film is being made or have they been told it will be showing at the LLGFF? will they ever have a share from the money made? What happened to them after the church was disbanded? was the Reverend really a Nigerian? Did he grew up in Nigeria?

Maybe then you will get a better and clearer picture of things. Mind you I am not saying he should not be involved in the struggle, all I am saying is, it should be for the people and not for self glorification.