She Called Me Woman: Nigeria’s Queer Women Speak

Cassava Republic Press is publishing a new book titled, ‘She Called Me Woman: Nigeria’s Queer Women Speak’ on 24 April. To commemorate the launch of this ground-breaking collection of first-hand narratives from a cross section of queer Nigerian Women, the publisher has organised a synchronised revealing of the book and its cover (pictured) across several platforms, including MsAfropolitan.

The cover is great, strong and vulnerable at one. I’m so eager to read the book; there is a need for narratives exploring what it means to be a queer woman within Nigeria’s often deeply conservative communities. I am confident it will be a game-changer and an eye-opener.

The time is right to change the game too. CNN recently published an article with first hand accounts of Nigerian women speaking out about sexual abuse using #MeToo; Akwaeke Emezi’s “Freshwater”, a book with a non-conforming character has hit the bookshelves to much acclaim. It just seems like a growing number of Nigerian women are speaking about topics that are traditionally taboo.

“She Called Me Woman restores agency, presence and humanity to Nigeria’s queer women by providing a platform from which they speak for themselves. Women from a wide range of class, religion and educational backgrounds take the reader on a sometimes celebratory, sometimes troubled but always insightful journey into their everyday life. The book covers the experience of queer women from across Nigeria, with narrators coming from Maiduguri, Zamfara, Im, Oyo, Abuja, Plateau, Lagos, Ondo and more.  It restores balance in the discussion on sexuality and gender, which can unfairly favour queer men. It brings into mainstream consciousness the existence and issues of queer women in Nigerian society, ensuring that their stories are told and their voices heard.”

Let’s listen to their courageous voices.