Ife: Producers Of Nollywood’s First Lesbian Movie Risk Prosecution

The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has vowed to prosecute Pamela Adie and Uyaiedu Ikpe-Etim, Nigerian filmmakers, if “Ife”, the first Nollywood lesbian-themed movie is released before the end of the year as promised.

AllNews reports that NFVCB had kicked against the movie’s distribution due to the prohibition of homosexuality in Nigeria, which comes with a 14-year jail term if one is found committing the crime.

Speaking with Reuters, Adie who is an LGBT+ activist said the movie would be released via an online-demand for interested persons to access it.

“Anyone who wants to watch will be able to do so from anywhere in the world,” she said.

“In Nigeria, there has never been a film like ‘Ife’. No film has had the impact it will have, or already has in Nigeria… The reception to the poster and the trailer has been mad."

But in a chat with the BBC, NFVCB director, Adebayo Thomas, said “There’s a standing law that prohibits homosexuality, either in practice or in a movie or even in a theatre or on stage. If it’s content from Nigeria, it has to be censored.”

According to Thomas, the board has the right to censor the movie, regardless of the platform it is released, “as long as it’s Nigerian content and it’s telling a Nigerian story.”

Thomas added: “If it did not pass through NFVCB and it is released, the filmmakers will be prosecuted according to the law,” he added.

“As long as it’s Nigerian content, we will pull it down because we have collaborations with Google, YouTube, and other key players.”