The Legend of the Underground
The Legend of the Underground is a 2021 American documentary film, directed and produced by Nneka Onuorah
and Giselle Bailey. John Legend served as an executive producer under his Get Lifted Film Company banner. It follows several LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming youth in Nigeria as they deal with discrimination and make decisions about their lives.
The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 10, 2021. It was released on June 29, 2021, by HBO.
Synopsis
Several non-conformist youth in Nigeria fight rampant discrimination as they decide whether to stay or flee to live elsewhere in another country. They challenge the ideals of gender, conformity and civil rights in Nigeria.
Release
The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 10, 2021. It was released on June 29, 2021.
Critical reception
The Legend of the Underground holds a 100% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 8 reviews, with a weighted average of 7.90/10. Reviewers included the New York Times, Vogue, and the Washington Blade.