Written by In the last decade, the African continent has seen various governments passing draconian laws to infringe the rights and freedom of minority groups, most especially members who identify as lesbians, gays, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual and more. The arguments of proponents of anti-gay and homophobic laws in Africa have always stemmed from the eroded religious centered ideologies and beliefs. The late Robert Mugabe, one of the many African leaders who has been at their frontier of promoting homophobia, described homosexuality as ‘’inhuman’’. While popularly known for his homophobic rhetoric, Mugabe through his role as president of Zimbabwe made interminable endeavors to transgress the rights and freedom of the gay community in Zimbabwe.
Other trailblazers of homophobic laws include former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan. The Same Sex Marriage Prohibition act passed by Goodluck, made it illegal for gay people to even hold a meeting in Nigeria. This Act also criminalizes homosexual clubs, associations, organizations, with penalties of up to 14 years in jail. The act drew international condemnation from the United States, Canada and Britain. Some Nigerians who identified as LGBTQ+ fled the country in fear of their lives and what the Act sought to subject them to. Yoweri Museveni, the seemingly lifetime leader of Uganda, has been a major exponent of homophobia in Africa with the series of heavy-handed legislations made against persons of LGBTQ+ community. Yahya Jammeh, president of Gambia has called for gay people’s throat to be slit. His homophobic views have drawn international censure.
Today, many African political leaders have joined the caucus of passing these draconian laws and criminalizing homosexuality and its related campaign, activities and even social activism channeled in fighting for the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. The pivotal argument which has led to the rapid surge of homophobia on the African continent beside the religious centered claims and arguments is that Homosexuality is alien to the African culture. However, in many African cultures prior to colonialism, there had been mentions of homosexuality. In Yoruba, a tribe in Nigeria, the word for “homosexual” is “adofuro”, a common parlance for people who have anal sex. In northern part of Nigeria, “yan daudu” is a Hausa term to describe sissified men who are considered to be wives of men. An individual must look and act like one to called yan daudu. It is an identity and cannot just be carried. These terms are neutral and are not infused with hate or disgust.
In parts of Uganda, formerly known as the Buganda Kingdom, King Mwanga II was openly gay and faced no hate from his subjects until the arrival of Christian missionaries. Although King Mwanga is the most prominent African recorded as being openly gay, he was not alone. The Dogon of Mali reportedly traditionally worshiped ancestral “teachers” who were described as intersex and mystical. Anhydrous deities like Esu Elegba, the Yoruba god/ess of the crossroads, or Mawu Lisa, the Dahomey creator god/ess, can be viewed through a contemporary lens as possible patrons of LGBTQ+, despite being historically demonized. Many ancient matriarchal structures in Africa practiced female husbandry, where women attained wives and assumed economic responsibility over the children. In recent history, Black Dandyism (i.e., “La Sapologie” in DR Congo) continues to challenge gender performativity and binaries.
Boy-Wives and Female Husbands, a book investigating homosexuality and feminism in Africa, the researchers found “explicit” Bushman artwork that depicts men engaging in same-sex sexual activity. There have been other indicators that the transition from boyhood to adulthood within many African ethnic groups involved same-sex activities. So why the suddenly the continual dismissal of homosexuality on the continent?
Colonial powers once disintegrated Africans as having primitive, bestial sexuality as proof of their inferiority, Ironically, many of these Western states now condemn the sodomy laws they installed during colonial rule. Arguably, it was not homosexuality, but rather homophobia, that was imported to Africa from the west. One factor is the increased popularity of fundamental Christianity, by the way of American televangelists, since the 1980s. While Africans argued that homosexuality was a western import, they in turn used a western religious belief as the basis for their argument. However, when you probe further, they argue that homosexuality is not in the bible. But the bible is not our historical culture. This shows there is real confusion about Africa’s past. Reinforcing this is the fact that populist homophobia has kept many politicians in power. In Africa, if you hate gay people, you get votes. As long as the notion that homosexuality is un-African persists, Kenyatta will receive applause, Mugabe will win elections, and parliaments across the continent will reintroduce harmful laws.
To stop all this, we need to start by re-telling our history and remembering our true African culture, one that celebrates diversity, promotes equality and acceptance, and recognizes the contribution of everyone, whatever their sexuality.
