Nigeria / 2015 / 30mins / Documentary / English and Yoruba

Ọya: Something Happened on the Way to West Africa! follows the journey of Oluseyi Adebanjo as a Queer Gender Non-Conforming Nigerian returning home to connect with Òrìṣà (African God/dess) tradition, and follow a trail back to the powerful legacy of their great grandmother, Chief Moloran Ìyá Ọl ya. This personal and political story vibrantly investigates the heritage of command, mythology, gender fluidity, womyn's power and the hidden truth behind the power of indigenous Yorùbá spirituality. As they encounter obstacles of a national strike and anti-gay marriage legislation to find the roots of the practice, will they be able to find affirmation for themself as a person between genders/worlds and take on this inheritance? The documentary illuminates the lives of Òrìṣà Ọya (Warrior Goddess), Chief Moloran Ìyá Ọl ya and Seyi Adebanjo while interweaving Yorùbá mythology, poetry, performance, and expert interviews.

Oluseyi Adebanjo

Oluseyi Adebanjo is a Queer gender-non-conforming Nigerian MFA artist. Seyi's work raises awareness around social issues through digital video, multimedia photography and writings and is the intersection of art, media, imagination, ritual and politics. Seyi has been an artist in residence with Allgo, has exhibited at the Longwood Art Gallery and previously at the Skylight Gallery - Restoration Plaza Corporation, BAAD!, MCNY, the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art and Waterloo Arts Gallery. Seyi is has been a fellow with AIM at the Bronx Museum and also with The Laundromat Project, Queer/Art/Mentorship, Maysles Institute, IFP and City Lore Documentary Institute. Seyi is on the faculty of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Special Programs, Open Arts, where they teach the integration of arts/culture with the theories and practices of social change. Seyi also teaches at Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY). They have been a visiting Artist at NYU Institute of African American Affairs, NYU Cinema Studies, Harvard University African & Diasporic Religious Studies Association, The Black Lavender Experience Conference at Brown University and Brooklyn Museum. Seyi was the keynote speaker at the 2016 Liberation-Based Healing Conference at the Silberman School of Social Work. Their work has received the Best Documentary Short award at Drama Baltimore International Black Film Festival, Reel 13 Short Film Award, Fish Parade 2015 Grand Marshal, Best International Short Film Award Sydney Transgender International Film Festival, Pride of the Ocean LGBT Film Festival Award, and Hunter College's Dean of Arts & Science Master's Thesis Support Grant. Learn More