James Brown (internet personality)

James Brown
Born
James Chukwueze Obialor

Lagos, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
Occupation
  • Content creator
Years active2018-present

James Chukwueze Obialor, popularly known as James Brown, is a Nigerian internet personality and content creator who is part of the LGBTQ community in Nigeria.[1]

Work

In 2018, Brown was one of 57 young men arrested on charges of homosexuality at a birthday party in a hotel in Egbeda, a suburb of Lagos (homosexuality is illegal in Nigeria; see LGBTQ rights in Nigeria).[2] The police displayed the arrested men in front of news media to humiliate them.[3] While most stayed quiet,[4] Brown spoke up to the media to describe his arrest as unfair, including saying that he was a dancer hired to perform at the party,[2] and that the police had no evidence he had committed a crime.[5] His speech, including his phrase "they didn't caught me", became part of viral videos about the incident.[6][7] He and others were imprisoned for a month in the Ikoyi Correctional Facility.[8][9] His bold public reaction to his arrest brought him significant media attention, along with support from Bobrisky, who is a Nigerian transgender woman and social media personality.[10][11] The cases against him and the other arrested men were dismissed by a court in 2020.[12][13]

The 2021 documentary The Legend of the Underground, about LGBTQ+ people in Nigeria, featured Brown among others.[5][14] It follows the story of his legal case and his choice to turn media attention into visibility for himself on social media as a gender non-conforming person.[3] Brown has said he identifies with and stands up for LGBT people.[15] He has been noted and criticized as a visible Nigerian cross dresser.[16][17] His father has also been criticized.[18]

Brown has a significant audience on social media.[19] His content includes videos of him dancing.[20][21] He made a viral video with comedian Viral TV in 2019.[22] Brown released a single titled "Hey Dulings" in 2021 after a catchphrase he uses to address his fans on social media.[23] He wrote an autobiography in 2022, The Chronicles of an African Princess.[24] In 2024, he acted in a Nollywood web series titled Hotel Palava.[25]

Brown has described himself as a drag queen and comedian[26] who plays a feminine role as entertainment, rather than a cross dresser.[27][28] In 2022, the Nigerian House of Representatives introduced a bill to prohibit cross dressing, as an amendment to the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2013.[29] Brown said the bill would not apply to him because of its exception for public entertainment.[26][30]

Personal life

Brown said that he started cross-dressing when he was a child.[31] He said he is a man with an "effeminate character".[32] In 2022 he said he had a girlfriend.[27]

In 2018, Brown said he had been infected with HIV at birth,[33][34] but retracted this claim in 2020.[35]

Brown said he went to the United Kingdom to study business at a university[36] but left due to the cost.[37]

Brown and Bobrisky have had public disagreements reported on by the media.[38][39]

See also

  • Bobrisky – Nigerian transgender woman (born 1991)
  • Fola Francis – Nigerian transgender model (1994–2023)
  • Jay Boogie – Nigerian transgender woman (born 1998)
  • Miss Sahhara – Nigerian beauty queen and LGBTQ advocate
  • Noni Salma – Nigerian transgender woman

References

  1. ^ Daniels, Robert (29 June 2021). "The Legend of the Underground movie review (2021)". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  2. ^ a b Onyegbula, Esther; Ajiromanus, Victor; Opakala, Amaka; Ofule, Onyedika (28 August 2018). "57 suspected homosexuals arrested during initiation in Lagos". Vanguard News. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  3. ^ a b King, John Paul (1 July 2021). "A new breed of heroes emerges in 'Underground' doc". Washington Blade. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  4. ^ Akwagyiram, Alexis (24 February 2020). "A police raid, viral videos and the broken lives of Nigerian gay law suspects". Yahoo News. Reuters. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  5. ^ a b Desmond, Vincent (29 June 2021). "A New Documentary Highlights the Resilience and Joy of Nigeria's Queer Community". Vogue. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  6. ^ Ikpoyi, Dan (20 July 2020). "James Brown: Meet popular Nigeria cross dresser". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  7. ^ Sesan (27 October 2018). "Being feminine is not a crime; Bobrisky inspires me –James Brown". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  8. ^ Aanu, Damilare (8 October 2018). "Obialor James 'They didn't caught me' talks about living with HIV". Within Nigeria. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  9. ^ Ojo, James (23 April 2021). "James Brown: I went to Ikoyi prison to become popular". TheCable Lifestyle. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  10. ^ Sesan (27 October 2018). "Being feminine is not a crime; Bobrisky inspires me –James Brown". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  11. ^ "'Bobrisky never really made me" James Brown talks about her relationship with Bobrisky, going to prison, and future aspirations #WithChude". ModernGhana. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  12. ^ Owolawi, Taiwo (27 October 2020). "Homosexuality case dropped against Nigerian social media sensation James Brown". Legit.ng. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  13. ^ Ezeamalu, Ben (27 October 2020). "Court strikes out charges against alleged homosexuals". Premium Times. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  14. ^ Bugbee, Teo (30 June 2021). "'The Legend of the Underground' Review: Gay Activism in Nigeria". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  15. ^ Ige, Tofarati (19 September 2021). "Why many Nigerians don't like my personality –James Brown". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  16. ^ Oluka, Nduka Lucas; Ugboma-Uti, Uchechukwu Anthonia; Ossai, Chiyenugo; Ossai, Donald Chimnecherem (3 March 2025). "Perceptions And Problems Of Reverse Gender Dressing Among The Citizens Of Nigeria: Delta State In Retrospect". International Journal of Innovative Social Sciences & Humanities Research. doi:10.5281/ZENODO.14958574.
  17. ^ Ilesanmi, Omolade; Osisanwo, Ayo (1 December 2024). "Discursive Tropes of Aggression Against Queer-Sexuality in Nigerian Standup Comedy". Sexuality & Culture. 28 (6): 2860–2878. doi:10.1007/s12119-024-10260-w. ISSN 1936-4822.
  18. ^ Adewole, Segun (5 January 2022). "He's one of Nigeria's problems, Okowa's aide slams cross dresser James Brown's father". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  19. ^ Grobbelaar, Enrique (21 March 2024). "Queer Nigerians Bravely Breaking Gender Barriers". Mamba Online. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  20. ^ Stewart, Colin (31 May 2019). "Nigerian music producer supports effeminate male dancer". Erasing 76 Crimes. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  21. ^ Metibogun, Shade (6 August 2024). "Video As James Brown Reverts to Male Outfit, Dances to Fuji Music to Mark Bobrisky's Return". Legit.ng. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  22. ^ Adegoke, Ireti (5 November 2021). "Viral TV: A Nigerian skit maker and influencer". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  23. ^ Odutuyo, Adeyinka (30 March 2021). "Following Burna's Grammy win, James Brown launches music career, drops single". Legit.ng. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  24. ^ Ajose, Kehinde (10 June 2022). "I wrote a book to tell my life's story –James Brown". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  25. ^ "Watch "Princess of Africa," James Brown & Ekwutousi Philo in New Comedy Series "Hotel Palava" Season 1". BellaNaija. 26 December 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  26. ^ a b Akinyode, Peace (11 April 2022). "Cross-dressing Bill: I'm a comedian, not crossdresser, says James Brown". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  27. ^ a b Iwalaiye, Temi (28 October 2022). "Who is James Brown? Man? Woman? Trans? Drag queen? or Crossdresser?". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  28. ^ Medeme, Ovwe (20 September 2022). "Why I'm still confused about my gender – James Brown". Premium Times. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  29. ^ Majeed, Bakare (5 April 2022). "Cross Dressing: Bobrisky, James Brown, others risk six months jail as Reps move to amend same-sex law". Premium Times. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  30. ^ "James Brown: I get angry when people compared me with Bobrisky". P.M. News. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  31. ^ Bassey, Ekaete (26 September 2023). "I was born a cross-dresser, says James Brown". The Nation Newspaper. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  32. ^ Sadiq, Mobola (17 January 2021). "Bobrisky has made himself my enemy –James Brown". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  33. ^ Aanu, Damilare (8 October 2018). "Obialor James 'They didn't caught me' talks about living with HIV". Within Nigeria. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  34. ^ "World AIDS Day: Ihe m mere oge m chọpụtara na m bu HIV - James Brown". BBC News Ìgbò (in Igbo). 1 December 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  35. ^ Owolawi, Taiwo (13 January 2020). "I am not HIV positive - James Brown aka 'they didn't caught me' backtracks". Legit.ng. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  36. ^ Odutuyo, Adeyinka (23 February 2022). "Video of James Brown Presenting to His 'Oyinbo' Classmates Surfaces As He Confirms Admission to UK University". Legit.ng. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  37. ^ Okanlawon, Taiwo (12 January 2024). "Why I dropped out of UK university - James Brown". P.M. News. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  38. ^ "Instagram delete 'James Brown' account afta gbas-gbos wit Bobrisky". BBC News Pidgin. 16 January 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  39. ^ Okoroji, Kelvin (21 November 2022). "Bobrisky explains reason for clashing with James Brown, Papaya Ex at event". QEDng.
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