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News Archives - IBFF screens "Woubi Cheri" a film by Phillip Brooks and Laurent Bocahut

International Black Film Festival (IBFF) presents a compelling documentary about the LGBTQ community in West Africa.

"Woubi Cheri" was filmed in 1997 by Phillip Brooks and Laurent Bocahut in and around the Ivory Coast City, Abidjan and presents a rarely seen side of Africa.

The film begins with a vocabulary lesson, "woubi's" are men who chose to play the role of a female in a relationship with another man, "yossi's" are bisexuals or married men living the down low, "controus" are homophobes.

The filmmakers gave the 30 plus audience members in attendance an inside look at the challenges faced by those who choose to be different. As stated by Barbra, the President of the Ivory Coast Transvestite Association who was born a man and is now living as a woman, "I have to work three times harder than a normal person". According to Vincent, who considers himself a "yossi" "he'd be harassed, judged and lose the respect of his family".

Homosexuality is ostracized in Africa in Africa and in 36 countries it is a crime evidenced by the June 7th arrest and imprisonment in Malawi under a 14 year sentence of Steven Monjezza (26) and Tiwange Chimbalanga (20) for conducting a symbolic marriage ceremony.

However, the screening of "Woubi Cheri" was underscored by a feeling of "Gay Pride" in New York.

As stated by audience member Rashawn Chisholm quote, "this is wonderful. It shows how gays in Africa struggle to be themselves. Many people need to see this film so they can have a full understanding of how people in other countries live and surmount obstacles".

After seeing the film Gary Mizel stated that, "he would characterize perversion as a homosexual trying to live and act like a heterosexual. What do you think?

Other audience comments were;

*** "I'm from Ghana, and I had no idea this was happening in West Africa".

*** "Being queer myself I know the feeling of alienation. I was very surprised to see images of queer people in a traditional African setting".

I'm eagerly anticipating the next screening and I invite you to come and join the discussions during the coming program year.

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