Richard Akuson (born July 26, 1993) is a Nigerian lawyer, LGBT rights activist, writer, editor, and the founder[1] of A Nasty Boy[2] magazine, Nigeria's first LGBTQ+ publication. In 2019, Akuson was named one of Forbes Africa's 30 Under 30[3] change-makers for challenging rigid notions of masculinity, gender, and sexuality in Nigeria where homosexual acts can be punished with 14 years in prison. In 2017, he was nominated[4] for The Future Awards Africa's New Media Innovation Award. Akuson is also a two-time Abryanz Style & Fashion Award Best Fashion Writer nominee. Following the launch of A Nasty Boy magazine in 2017, he was named one of the 40 Most Powerful Nigerians under the age of 40 by YNaija.[5]
Richard Akuson
Esq
Richard Akuson at The National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C.
Born
(1993-07-26) July 26, 1993 (age 30)
Nationality
Nigerian
Alma mater
Nasarawa State University, Keffi, and Nigerian Law School, Lagos.
Richard Akuson was born in Akwanga, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The second of three boys, he was raised in an upper-middle-class family; his father, a politician, and his mother, a college lecturer. He attended Shepherd's International College, a private, co-educational Christian boarding school, before heading to the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, for his first professional degree in law. He was called to the Nigerian Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2017, upon his graduation from the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.
Careeredit
Akuson started his career as a style intern at the age of 18. In 2014, he co-founded ILLUDED, an online photo-sharing platform. In 2016, he was offered a position to head BellaNaija's fashion and style sections—a position that launched his career through the roof. His work at BellaNaija earned him an Abryanz Style & Fashion Award nomination for Fashion Writer of the Year in 2016. Later that year, he left BellaNaija to launch The PR Boy, a boutique PR firm that catered primarily to Nigerian startups. In 2017, while at the Nigerian Law School, he launched A Nasty Boy, the boundary-pushing[6] LGBTQ+ publication that soon grew in stature and international acclaim.[7]
Essaysedit
In April 2019, Akuson authored a searing, tell-all essay[3] for CNN detailing the circumstances that led him to flee Nigeria for safety in America. In July 2019, he wrote a heart-rending[8] essay for The New York Times' "Sunday Review." The essay, "This is Quite Gay," was prominently published in the Times' web front page and appeared on a similarly prominent position in print, the next day.
Activism and asylumedit
Akuson sought asylum in America in 2018 after fleeing Nigeria upon surviving a brutal homophobic attack. In the U.S., he continues to speak openly about the attack and the insidious culture of homophobia in Nigeria. He has granted interviews to OkayAfrica, Very Good Light,[9] and The Black Youth Project,[10] where he gave great detail surrounding the event. Akuson continues to be an outspoken activist for the LGBTQ+ and asylum communities in America.
Referencesedit
^Akinwotu, Emmanuel (November 16, 2017). "Nigeria's Nasty Boy: 'People in my law class thought I worked for a porn site'". The Guardian. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
^Dazed (2017-06-29). "Get to know Nigeria's most controversial fashion magazine". Dazed. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
^ ab"Richard Akuson, Founder of A Nasty Boy, & Upile Chisala in Forbes Africa's 30 under 30 List for 2019". Brittle Paper. 2019-07-05. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
^"The Future Awards Africa 2017 Nominees". The Future Awards Africa. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
^"Amaka Osakwe, Richard Akuson, Tokyo James… See the #YNaijaPowerList2017 for Fashion and Beauty » YNaija". YNaija. 2018-01-03. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
^"The male models wearing dresses in Nigeria". BBC News. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
^Idowu, Torera (13 June 2017). "Is this Nigeria's most controversial magazine?". CNN. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
^Akuson, Richard (July 6, 2019). "This is Quite Gay". The New York Times. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
^"Why 'A Nasty Boy,' Nigeria's first queer publication is no more". Very Good Light. 2019-02-28. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
^Staff (2019-07-15). "Richard Akuson: the 'A Nasty Boy' editor talks the future of his queer fashion magazine and life as an asylum seeker in the U.S." The Black Youth Project. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
richard, akuson, topic, this, article, meet, wikipedia, notability, guideline, biographies, please, help, demonstrate, notability, topic, citing, reliable, secondary, sources, that, independent, topic, provide, significant, coverage, beyond, mere, trivial, men. The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia s notability guideline for biographies Please help to demonstrate the notability of the topic by citing reliable secondary sources that are independent of the topic and provide significant coverage of it beyond a mere trivial mention If notability cannot be shown the article is likely to be merged redirected or deleted Find sources Richard Akuson news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2022 Learn how and when to remove this message Richard Akuson born July 26 1993 is a Nigerian lawyer LGBT rights activist writer editor and the founder 1 of A Nasty Boy 2 magazine Nigeria s first LGBTQ publication In 2019 Akuson was named one of Forbes Africa s 30 Under 30 3 change makers for challenging rigid notions of masculinity gender and sexuality in Nigeria where homosexual acts can be punished with 14 years in prison In 2017 he was nominated 4 for The Future Awards Africa s New Media Innovation Award Akuson is also a two time Abryanz Style amp Fashion Award Best Fashion Writer nominee Following the launch of A Nasty Boy magazine in 2017 he was named one of the 40 Most Powerful Nigerians under the age of 40 by YNaija 5 Richard AkusonEsqRichard Akuson at The National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D C Born 1993 07 26 July 26 1993 age 30 NationalityNigerianAlma materNasarawa State University Keffi and Nigerian Law School Lagos Known forLGBTQ activismTitleFounder and editor of A Nasty BoyHonoursForbes Africa 30 Under 30 2019 Websitewww wbr richardakuson wbr com Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Essays 4 Activism and asylum 5 References 6 External linksEarly life and education editRichard Akuson was born in Akwanga Nasarawa State Nigeria The second of three boys he was raised in an upper middle class family his father a politician and his mother a college lecturer He attended Shepherd s International College a private co educational Christian boarding school before heading to the Nasarawa State University Keffi for his first professional degree in law He was called to the Nigerian Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2017 upon his graduation from the Nigerian Law School Lagos Career editAkuson started his career as a style intern at the age of 18 In 2014 he co founded ILLUDED an online photo sharing platform In 2016 he was offered a position to head BellaNaija s fashion and style sections a position that launched his career through the roof His work at BellaNaija earned him an Abryanz Style amp Fashion Award nomination for Fashion Writer of the Year in 2016 Later that year he left BellaNaija to launch The PR Boy a boutique PR firm that catered primarily to Nigerian startups In 2017 while at the Nigerian Law School he launched A Nasty Boy the boundary pushing 6 LGBTQ publication that soon grew in stature and international acclaim 7 Essays editIn April 2019 Akuson authored a searing tell all essay 3 for CNN detailing the circumstances that led him to flee Nigeria for safety in America In July 2019 he wrote a heart rending 8 essay for The New York Times Sunday Review The essay This is Quite Gay was prominently published in the Times web front page and appeared on a similarly prominent position in print the next day Activism and asylum editAkuson sought asylum in America in 2018 after fleeing Nigeria upon surviving a brutal homophobic attack In the U S he continues to speak openly about the attack and the insidious culture of homophobia in Nigeria He has granted interviews to OkayAfrica Very Good Light 9 and The Black Youth Project 10 where he gave great detail surrounding the event Akuson continues to be an outspoken activist for the LGBTQ and asylum communities in America References edit Akinwotu Emmanuel November 16 2017 Nigeria s Nasty Boy People in my law class thought I worked for a porn site The Guardian Retrieved September 17 2019 Dazed 2017 06 29 Get to know Nigeria s most controversial fashion magazine Dazed Retrieved 2019 09 18 a b Richard Akuson Founder of A Nasty Boy amp Upile Chisala in Forbes Africa s 30 under 30 List for 2019 Brittle Paper 2019 07 05 Retrieved 2019 09 18 The Future Awards Africa 2017 Nominees The Future Awards Africa Retrieved 2019 09 18 Amaka Osakwe Richard Akuson Tokyo James See the YNaijaPowerList2017 for Fashion and Beauty YNaija YNaija 2018 01 03 Retrieved 2019 09 18 The male models wearing dresses in Nigeria BBC News Retrieved 2019 09 18 Idowu Torera 13 June 2017 Is this Nigeria s most controversial magazine CNN Retrieved 2019 09 18 Akuson Richard July 6 2019 This is Quite Gay The New York Times Retrieved September 17 2019 Why A Nasty Boy Nigeria s first queer publication is no more Very Good Light 2019 02 28 Retrieved 2019 09 18 Staff 2019 07 15 Richard Akuson the A Nasty Boy editor talks the future of his queer fashion magazine and life as an asylum seeker in the U S The Black Youth Project Retrieved 2019 09 18 External links editrichardakuson com Archived 2021 12 16 at the Wayback Machine Richard Akuson on Instagram Richard Akuson on Twitter Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Richard Akuson amp oldid 1177464784, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
