Nancy Awori

Being an African woman film maker, in a country that doesn’t recognize same sex relations, I have constantly seen the discrimination and stigmatization that black lesbian, bisexual and queer women face when it comes to being cast in films and how frequently they are cast in problematic ways which triggered my interest in this study.

Such experiences have motivated me to research the representation of LBQ women in contemporary African films. As an African woman who is aware of the cultural, political and social notions surrounding homosexuality in Africa and particularly within the history and current context of heteronormativity and homophobia in Kenya, my research contributes to the social justice goals of a free and safe space for black LBQ women coming forward and telling their stories through films. This subjective experience form the basis of my interest and is further bolstered by my awareness of the limited literature and resources. I have a bachelors in Film Production from Multimedia university of Kenya and a Masters in Women's and Gender studies from University of Western Cape in South Africa.