Kialy Tihngang - Artist

My name is Kialy Tihngang, and since 2022, I have been anonymously recording interviews between myself and various Cameroonian people across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. The intention is embroider elements of these conversations in pink versions of Cameroon’s traditional textile, Toghu, and then animate these embroideries to become a visual snapshot of queer Cameroonian identity. For this commission, I’ll be turning two of my interviews into 10 minute animations.

I am a British-born Cameroonian visual artist with a textiles background. I am also bisexual, so in the context of Cameroon’s antiquated homophobic laws I’m finding it really interesting to physically stitch together these two apparently contrasting elements of my identity.

I’m currently editing the audio of one of my interviews with another British-born Cameroonian queer woman. It’s very frustrating to choose what to cut out because there are so many impactful clips, but, the embroidery and animation process is incredibly time-consuming so needs must. The editing process feels very similar to having to navigate queerness and ‘Cameroonianness’ as one - you’re constantly having to pick and choose which parts feel relevant, appropriate, and safe to share. 

 Despite a worrying far-right political shift in the Global North, I still recognise the privilege of living in Scotland, which has relatively progressive LGBTQIA+ laws and is fairly societally tolerant. I am deeply aware that in Cameroon, being caught in same-sex relations can be punishable by fines and imprisonment. The landscape is even more dangerous for trans and gender non-conforming Cameroonians, who are even more at risk of being disowned, attacked, and extorted. 

 By platforming these conversations with queer Cameroonians, I hope to make one small inroad in changing these attitudes. At the very least, I hope to provide a resource where queer Cameroonians in Cameroon, the UK, and further afield, can see themselves and know that they are far from alone.