December 2013 housed various events, from The Future Awards Best 100, THINK 30 (30 under 30 awards), Rhythm unplugged, Lagos countdown etc, all were fun and exciting bursting with glitz and glamour with artistes belting their popular tunes on stage but one stuck out not because it is a sore thumb, but for the kind of event it was.
The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs) on the 15th of December gathered a number of persons such as Ade Bantu a Nigerian-German musician, producer and activist, Ayo Sogunro a lawyer, activist and writer , 1st lady of Soulmuzik Zaina, veteran actress Ann Njemanze, Dorothy Aken’Ova feminist and Executive Director of International Center for Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights (INCRESE), Etienne Lambert, the representative from the Canadian High commission, actor, Wale Ojo, and a host of other individuals from different work spheres from media, to banking etc with international Journalist Yinka Ibukun as the host for the day.
This gathering was for the special screening of TIERs documentary “Veil of Silence”.
The Veil of Silence, a 35mins long documentary looked into human rights situation of LGBT individuals living in Nigeria, how they survive in an antagonistic society and how legislation in Nigeria threatens what is left of their humanity. The short film featured members of the community in Nigeria and professionals in the health and legal sector, some of whom were Barrister Ayo Sogunro, a lawyer and writer, and Dr. Adekemi Sekoni, a public health practitioner and Lecturer, Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
While the public screening for the Veil of Silence is being planned for this year, 2014 with anticipated guest of over 350, the documentary plan to screen at the major film festival in the US, 38th edition of the San-francisco LGBT film festival, the largest LGBT film festival in the world and the longest running. Plans are still on for London screening in the first quarter of this year, 2014.
Below is the picture story of Veil of Silence Special Screening in Lagos...
