Words Thomas Stichbury
Styling Laurel Maris
Fear didn’t win out for Bisi Alimi, who grew up in Nigeria, where being gay is punished with imprisonment or, in some parts, the death penalty. After attempting suicide and even undergoing an exorcism as a teen, Bisi learnt to embrace his sexuality and, in 2004, became the first Nigerian to come out on national TV. When threats were made on his life, he fled to the UK, where he lives with his husband, Anthony. Christened “the angelic troublemaker”, Bisi, 44, is now an HIV/Aids and LGBTQ rights activist. In October, he organised a Pride event in his home city of Lagos, fighting for LGBTQ freedom in Nigeria.