Need: Support to Do a Documentary in Nigeria

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Tags:

• documentary
• emotional release healing circle
• Film as a weapon
• naija
• Nigeria
• queer african
• traditional yoruba spirituality

I am a Queer Nigerian graduate student studying film at Hunter College and co-direct
Casa Atabex Ache' the House of Womyn's Power in the South Bronx

i am looking to go home and work on a documentary looking at traditional Yoruba spirituality. The film is called “Reconciling Faith in Yoruba.” the project looks at the value of traditional Yoruba spirituality in Nigeria, as
well as an organizing tool. I am looking at the traumas created in families, communities & country because of colonization/ foreign religions, which condemn or disapprove of Yoruba. While I am out there I would love to
do apiece looking at Nigerian or West African queers.

I also have the skills of doing healing circles , workshop facilitation and organizing. Casa Atabex Aché-
the House of Womyn’s Power bridges spirituality and social justice. Casa looks at the root cause of oppression
(white supremacy, capitalism, patriarchy) how we experience it on an institutional level and also internalize it.
with internalize oppression and institutional oppression we cause trauma/violence in the world or on
ourselves along with being impacted by the trauma that is caused upon us. we support young and adult
womyn of color to heal from trauma not just thru talking, but emotional release work of getting the energy
out of ones body.

I am writing to get support in going to Nigerian and getting the trip and documentary funded

* Do you know of grants or individuals that would fund my project and trip locally
in the United States or internationally?
* Do you know of media, community based organizations, non-governmental organization
that would sponsor me to come out to Nigerian?
* I can do workshops or media work in exchange for the sponsorship.
* Do you know of media festivals or conferences that I can connect with for funding,
resources and sponsorship
* Do you have creative ideas on how I can fund this trip please feel free to contact me?

I want to travel in August 2011 and stay three months for this project.

I am also including a bio on myself and my organization for background information of my skills.
Thank you in advance for your support.

Please contact me at:
toyinadebanjo@gmail.com

Skpe: tengadejr

facebook.com/toyin.adebanjo

http://naijaboiculturalproductions.blogspot.com
looking at film, activism, organizing, media justice, sexuality

http://naijaboi.tumblr.com/
Sexuality, Queer P.O.C. films, love, organizing, Africa, gender expression, being a nerd

In solidarity & peace
Oluseyi Toyin Adebanjo

____________
OluSeyi Olutoyin Adebanjo, Media Artist, Co- Executive Director of Casa Atabex Ache’- The House of Womyn’s Power

Seyi is a Queer Nigerian media artist, organizer and healer. Seyi is a graduate of the University of Minnesota,
receiving a degree in African Studies. Seyi has been a community organizer since 1995 working in such
communities as Minneapolis MN, & South Central LA. Seyi has worked with communities of color
around issues of immigration, homophobia, police brutality, & health care. Seyi uses skills in filmmaking,
community organizing, spirituality, and cultural practices to direct a womyn of color not for profit organization
in the South Bronx. Casa Atabex Ache’ empowers young and adult womyn of color to reclaim their lives,
heal from trauma, become leaders and activist to end violence against womyn. Seyi uses media as a
tool to bridge spirituality and social justice. Currently I am attending the Integrated Media Arts Graduate
Program at Hunter College to receive a Masters of Fine Arts

I am a media artist who raises awareness around social issues through digital video and photography.
I thus incorporate media activism with my passion for social justice and community building. As an artist
I do not make art for art sakes. I manifest art for activism. My art animates the personal so that it may become political. I use cultural production style as a vehicle to build community, identity and empowerment.

My art communicates with a distinct voice on many themes: “womyn” of color, immigration, sexual orientation, spirituality, post-colonialism, homophobia, poverty and white supremacy/ privilege. It passionately examines
cultural practices, identities, cultural displacement and community transformation.

Seyi has created such shorts as “What is A Terrorist?” which talks about the impact of the United States’
war on terrorism on People of Color. Seyi’s film “Look of Love,” deals with positive imagery of
Same-Gender-Loving Womyn and Gender Queers loving and embracing themselves. Toyin has worked
with local artists to produce socially conscious and spiritual films, direct and crew in all aspects of
production and post-production. Seyi’s recent successful productions “Yo Tengo Fuerza- I Have Power!
Young Womyn Healing, Transforming and Being Free” has created visibility for young women’s experience
in the foster care system,

Casa Atabex Ache-the House of Womyn’s Power and city awareness to the process of healing after
child sexual abuse. “Sacred Spaces of South Bronx-BAAD!” a 13-minute documentary portrait of a
space called BAAD! This love letter to BAAD! has generated possible funding and publicity to this space.
Toyin’s shorts have been screened at the African Diaspora Film Festival, Brooklyn Film Festival,
Hip Hop Film Festival, Blaxtino Art Festival, African Theatre Open Mic, Manhattan Neighborhood Network
Cable Access Channel as well as the Art Crawl Exhibition.

Mission & Vision of Casa Atabex Aché www.casaatabexache.org

Casa Atabex Aché supports womyn of color to reconnect with their individual and collective powers of
healing and action so they may have self-empowerment, self-healing & self-determination to transform their lives, families and communities. At Casa, we believe that systems of oppression and poverty cause “dis-eases”
in communities of color that dramatically impact our ability to have control and power over our lives.
Utilizing a Human Rights framework, Casa’s empowering programs teach Young and Adult womyn of color
to name the sources of our oppression (including systems and institutions), identify their impact on our mind/body/spirit, and additionally, learn healing and community organizing skills that will support them.
Through these programs, Casa sustains long-term social justice movement-building and supports women
to create the world they want to live in today.

Healing Circles using tools of emotional release, participants express and address issues of homophobia,
attacks on lesbian parenting & childbirth, gender stereotyping, gender violence, hate crimes, anger, fear,
low self esteem and self hate often resulting from life experiences of sexual trauma, domestic violence,
heterosexism, institutional racism, poverty and other forms of oppression.

Utilizing a holistic model, Casa’s mission is to support the emotional, spiritual, physical and intellectual
development of womyn and their health needs related to their experience of abuse and neglect. Casa’s
core constituencies are young and adult womyn of color