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In 2013, Nigeria enacted the anti-LGBTQ law — the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill (SSMPA) — and in the years since, it has been used to harass, imprison, extort, and commit violence against anyone seen as not conforming to Nigerian societal and cultural norms. The Legend of the Underground is a look at the struggle against rampant discrimination in Nigeria today, as seen through the lens of several bold and charismatic, non-conformist youth who fight to live out loud.
The documentary follows two tight-knit groups of chosen families: In New York, a man named Micheal Ighodaro lives with his friends who are part of the Nigerian diaspora and works to advocate for the people and communities he left behind in Nigeria after having been attacked for his identity. Meanwhile in Nigeria, a circle of friends struggle with the option to either search for a safe haven abroad, or to stay and fight a system that seeks to silence them.
Original Release
06/29/2021
US Release
06/29/2021
Links
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| James Brown | Self |
| Denrele | Self |
| Denrele Edun | Self |
| Mikael Ighodaro | Self |
| Olumide Makanjuola | Self |
| Ayodeji Otuyelu | Self |
| Papa Oyeyemi | Self |
| Stephen Tayo | Self |
Directors
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| James Brown | Self |
| Denrele | Self |
| Denrele Edun | Self |
| Mikael Ighodaro | Self |
| Olumide Makanjuola | Self |
| Ayodeji Otuyelu | Self |
| Papa Oyeyemi | Self |
| Stephen Tayo | Self |
Producers
| Name | Role |
|---|
| Nancy Abraham | Executive Producer |
| Rickey Austyn Biggers | Executive Producer |
| Lisa Heller | Executive Producer |
| Mike Jackson | Executive Producer |
| John Legend | Executive Producer |
| Ty Stiklorius | Executive Producer |
| Giselle Bailey | Producer |
| Nneka Onuorah | Producer |
| Stephen Bailey | Producer |
| Cassandra Corbett | Producer |
| Katie Mark | Producer |
| Sara Rodriguez | Producer |
| Nancy Stanton Knox Talcott | Producer |
| Aude Temel | Producer |
| Sharia Walker | Producer |
Editors
