Revolution of Love Nigeria

"We want to start a revolution - are you with us?"

In light of the dehumanizing persecutions of sexual minorities in Nigeria based on sexuality and gender, we are starting a peaceful revolution of love to ignite a change in dealings with LGBTQ persons. This revolution will go down at the University of Lagos, Nigeria, and it's vehicle will be the arts.

Based on research, and inspired by Madonna's Secret Project Revolution, and TIERs Nigeria's 'Human Rights, Sexuality, and the Law' conference, the entire revolution is artistically designed to reinstate humanism and humanitarianism in the meddling of human rights affairs. It would disintegrate sexual orientation and gender issues like stereotypes, freedom of expression, minority right, violations, religious; cultural; and political bigotry and hypocrisy, etc, through visual arts (art exhibition), and majorly a performance art (the play production; title withheld deliberately) that is highly rich in entertainment value, by virtue of it's elements which are: drama, dance, music (live and recorded), movements, poetry, monologues, dialogues, symbols, motifs, imagery, etc.

We are preparing a live theatre production to commence the revolution. This would be a #ProductionOfFirsts, daring the arts in Nigeria as theatre here hasn't really been venturing into LGBTQ issues. The play (title withheld deliberately) is written by Woody Lightyear, and it explores REAL-LIFE violations of the Human Rights of sexual minorities in Nigeria. It will be performed by Lightyear Entertainment; a theatre organisation based in the University of Lagos, made up of students, and also youths in the non-academic community.

We are starting this revolution through theatre because of people's nonchalant attitude in responding to the didactic messages of the arts in television. So what we are doing is that we are curating this revolution to be a highly social engagement, by bringing people away from the comfort of their homes, their TV, their bed - where they could just lay and watch the video from their computers, then skip to the next movie or something. They would witness this revolution live, sitting next to one another, and be able to discuss with one another as this is going to be extremely thought-provocating and socially provocating. Considering Nigeria's population, sexual minorities constitute several millions of people which are even more than some countries' entire population, and that is not a 'minor' truth.

OBJECTIVES

• To advocate for respect of diversity as a potentially beneficial phenomenon for socio-economic development.
  
• To have this Revolution go on a tour round several communities locally and internationally, especially university communities for the purpose of enlightenment.
  
• To quell prejudice and the violation of the human rights of sexual minorities.
  
• This revolution aims at awakening people's consciousness in contributing to a better society where the sexual minorities would no longer be stigmatized, discriminated, marginalised, and violated, all under a veil of silence.

CREDITS

Since inception in November 2015, we (Lightyear Entertainment) have been able to build many diverse and rich work/performance credits as a young people's theatre organisation, and we have received international recognitions and awards. Few of our past work credits amidst all include works for:

The First Lady of Nigeria - Aisha Buhari, European Union (EU), International Festival of India, United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), Federal Ministry of Transportation (Nigeria), Kennesaw State University (USA), University of Lagos, DIAGEO, High Commission of India in Nigeria, Rotary International, MTN, etc.

BUDGET

$35000

The scope of this revolution is so wide; incorporating visual arts and theatre arts, so there's a lot to be considered:

• Venue
  
• Publicity (which already has a strategy drafted for it, and is projected to transcend the borders of Africa)
  
• Rainbow Carpet cum Art Exhibition
  
• Technicals - Lighting, Sound, Costumes, Set, Make Up, Props. (Technical Equipments would definitely be acquired)
  
• Caring for ALL the artists that are working and sweating everyday to bring this revolution to life.

CONCLUSIVELY

This revolution was scheduled to happen in August 2017, but oppositon came hard against us from some selfish people, so all plans were disrupted. Now we want to revive the revolution of love. All plans have been documented and we need your help to be swift so that this vision can be well executed according to plan.

"We want to start a revolution - are you with us?"

Please support the #RevolutionOfLoveNigeria

P.S - The title of the play is being withheld deliberately, and the mention of it was even cut out from the fund raiser video while editing because of strategies already drafted by the curator, to create an impact and achieve the goal of the revolution as hinted in 'Publicity' under 'Budget'. And as for 'Publicity', expect something "AMAZING".

Please keep up with the revolution and watch it nurture by visiting Lightyear Entertainment's Facebook Page and Lightyear Entertainment's Instagram Page as updates will roll out regularly. Updates will be posted here also.

*because of PayPal's problems with Nigeria, we had to have a very trustworthy family relative in the US help us collect the funds. So he will send the funds to us in Nigeria when required.