“The Royal House of Allure”: Revisiting Sabelo Mlangeni’s Intimate Portrayal of Queer Nigeria.

James Brown (2019) by Sabelo Mlangeni.

Situated in Lagos, The Royal House of Allure is a safe house for members of Nigeria’s queer community. This haven is a place of safety, security and expression for people who are seen as “threats” to heteronormativity. As Nkgopoleng Moloi writes for contemporaryand.com : “Like many cities in the world Lagos is a city of extremes. Individuals who fit into the mould of heteronormativity (especially those protected by wealth) are considered worthy of protection and celebration while others (feminised, queer and poor bodies) are rendered invisible and unworthy. Queer and poor people are not only invisible, they are also unsafe due to discrimination, criminalisation and violence.”

In 2019, photographer Sabelo Mlangeni spent 6 weeks in the House to document the lives of those who were forced to seek refuge there. In an interview with Carl Collison for Mail & Guardian, Mlangeni said, “What the house does is it gives [its members] a sense of belonging. What I’ve witnessed was that the minute people walk into the house, they become themselves. Like, they completely open up. But the minute they walk out, they are living in fear again. One of the members, for example, was arrested because of his blue hair. He had to sleep in a police station. He had to bribe the police to get out. And what [the police] do is they go through your phone. If they find something, then, you know…”.

Olalere’s body painting shoot (2019) by Sabelo Mlangeni.

Make up by Thom Smith and Daniel

The Royal House of Allure is the latest in Mlangeni’s greater body of work that captures the lives of vulnerable queer communities on the African continent.

Prayer for Truth I (2019). Icon Matheu, Chef Anthony, James Brown and Tonnex by Sabelo Mlangeni.