A True Portrait of Queer Nigerian Life

In the 2003 film Emotional Crack, Crystal (played by Stephanie Okereke Linus), a young woman, in an abusive marriage gets roped into a sexual relationship with her husband’s mistress, Camilla (Dakore Akande). However, Crystal soon starts to grieve the relationship, which doesn't sit right with Camilla. Camilla, in the end, becomes mentally unstable due to the rejection from Crystal and kills herself. Similarly, in Dirty Secret, a male gigolo, Alex (Muna Obiekwe), gets entangled in an incestuous relationship with a wealthy man and his daughter. The film paints the wealthy man as hedonistic and interested in ‘experimenting when it comes to pleasure’—these were his exact words—as he tries to woo Alex, who is already in a relationship with his daughter. As the film progresses, the man and Alex spend time together shopping and frolicking. However, the man and Alex soon meet their demise, with the daughter left demented. In the 2010 Men in Love, Charles (John Dumelo), a married man, reconnects with an old friend, Alex (Muna Obiekwe), who happens to be gay. Alex hits on Charles, but he rejects his advances, and Alex rapes him. The film ends with Charles’s wife arresting Alex while seeking spiritual deliverance from a pastor.