Reinventing gender: Self-making,cross-dressing,and the Nigerian social media space

Abstract

This research explores the concept of self-making in Nigeria through the lens of cross-dressing, examining how this is expressed and curated in digital spaces. It focuses on three celebrities, Afolashade (formerly Bobrisky), Jay Boogie, and Deevaaah, who are renowned for their cross-dressing and gender-reversing performances on Nigerian social media. The study investigates how these individuals use digital platforms to construct and express alternative gender identities. Through content analysis and critique of visual aesthetics, this work seeks to reveal the underlying messages and strategies employed by these performers to engage and challenge their audiences within a culturally and politically charged environment.

Keywords

gender identity self-making cross-dressing Nigeria social media

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