HOMOPHOBIA IN AFRICA
Leo Igwe
There is a new form of hatred and intolerance sweeping across the black continent. This form of hatred targets a group of people not because of their race, religion, sex, color, or ethnic origin, but because of their sexual orientation. It is the hatred and intolerance of gay and lesbian people - otherwise known as homophobia.
In some African countries, homophobia has led to attacks, torture and maltreatment, persecution, stigmatization and discrimination against fellow human beings often backed by the state and religious groups. In others it has inspired oppressive legislations and barbarous policies that violate the human rights of homosexuals.
In Somalia, two women were sentenced to death for 'unnatural behavior' referring to homosexuality. And in Egypt three men accused of setting up a gay web site were charged with violating the Egyptian law, which prohibits homosexual relationship. In Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni described homosexuality as an abomination And Ugandan church leaders have called on the government not to register the gay and lesbian group called the Integrity Uganda. They described the organization as unbiblical and inhuman.In Ghana, the governemnet has banned a gay conference scheduled to take place in September 2006. Ghana's Information Minister Kwamena Bartels said homosexuality was illegal in Ghana '"Unnatural carnal knowledge is illegal under our criminal code. Homosexuality, lesbianism and bestiality are therefore offences under the laws of Ghana," Hence the gay event was not permitted "Government does not condone any such activity which violently offends the culture, morality and heritage of the entire people of Ghana," He said.
In Zimbabwe, President Robert Mugabe has been up in arms against homosexuals in the country. He equates homosexuality to bestiality. “Homosexuals are worse than pigs and dogsâ€. He said. Mugabe enjoined anyone who wants to be a gay to go to Europe or America ‘ if you come to Zimbabwe, you will suffer’. And the Zimbabwean police have been acting accordingly. They have clamped down the activities of the gay and lesbian organization in the country. In Namibia, the former president, Sam Nujoma never disguised his hatred for gays and lesbians. He outlawed homosexuality in 2001. Nujoma regarded homosexuality as part of the white culture, which we Africans ‘condemn’ and ‘reject’.
He said ‘the Republic of Namibia does not allow homosexuality and lesbianism here. Police are ordered to arrest you, deport you, and imprison you’. He described homosexuality as against ‘God’s will’. He called it ‘the devil at work’
And a minister under his government told graduating police officers to “eliminate gays and lesbians from the face of Namibiaâ€
This appears to be what President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria is set to achieve in his country. Already, homosexuality is a crime under the Nigerian law. Still, in January 2006, President Obasanjo sent to the parliament a bill that bans same sex marriage and relationship. The bill provides for a maximum term of five years with no option fine for any one who contracts or supports gay marriage or relationship. According President Obasanjo the homosexual tendency is “clearly un-Biblical, unnatural and definitely un-Africanâ€
In Nigeria, gays suffer a lot of abuses and violence. The Nigeria Army and Police expel officers who indulge in homosexual acts. Some years ago, some students attacked and forced a stick into the anus of a gay student in Ile Ife. The executive bill currently before the national parliament will only reinforce popular hatred, prejudice and discrimination against homosexuals in Nigeria.
African religious leaders have also been contributing to the rising tide of homophobia on the continent.
Last year Anglican Bishops from Africa met in Nigeria and agreed to ban the ordination of gays. Archbishop Akinola of Nigeria who presided over the meeting described homosexuality as an abomination, which contradicted the Bible and African values.The bishops didnt see any conflict or contradiction in their position with the christian teaching of love and good neighborliness.
While homophobia continues to reverberate in every aspect of African society, South Africa has stood out a beacon of light, hope and progress. The rainbow nation has been leading the way in the struggle for the human rights of gay and lesbian people. South Africa was the first African nation to adopt a constitution that outlaws discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Today, gays in South Africa can marry and adopt kids.
A South African Anglican Bishop has taken an exception to the rigid and retrogressive stand of other clerics against homosexuality. Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane of Cape Town said his church is committed to all its congregation- including homosexuals.
So while South Africa is making progress in terms of upholding the rights of gays and lesbians, many other African nations are fanning the flame hatred and sexual apartheid.
Two reasons are responsible for this- politics and religion.
Politically, African leaders claim to have the exclusive knowledge of what is African and un-African. They arrogate to themselves the power and right to define and determine what is or is not in accordance with African value system. Hence some of them have pronounced homosexuality un-African.
But in actual fact these politicians are expressing their personal opinion, faith and prejudice. At best they express what is in accordance with the sexual orientation of the majority, not that of the entire society.
Societal values and norms are defined not by the presidents or the pope, not by the priests, bishops or mullahs but by the people. Democracy should apply not only to our politics and decision-making processes but also in determining social norms, values, ethics and morality.
One of the hallmarks of a healthy democracy is the respect for the rights and interests of the minorities. African leaders are obliged to respect the rights of sexual minorities and abolish all forms of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. This is imperative to the process of human development, social transformation, cultural renewal and moral progress on the black continent.
Another factor responsible for the prevalence of homophobia on the black continent is religion especially the codified versions of Christianity and Islam. Africa is a very religious society. Religious practice is still in trapped in the medieval mindset. Due to religious indoctrination, most Africans regard homosexuality as sodomy. African christains believe any move to recognize or legalize homosexuality will be a re-enactment of the biblical doom of Sodom and Gomorrah. Incidentally the western church, which brought Christianity to Africa, is gradually abandoning this spiritual anachronism.
And this is evident in the division and polarized positions over the ordination of gay clergy.
The western church has adopted a largely liberal approach-they have ordained a gay bishop. But the African church has taken a very retrogressive and conservative stand in line with its blind and literalist interpretation of the Bible.
So while the western church has started towing the part of tolerance, respect, humanity and love, the African church- in fact the entire black continent- still has its head buried deeply in the sand of moral stagnation, hatred, intolerance, oppression, persecution, and discrimination against gays and lesbians.So what we are witnessing in Africa is essentially a religion based homophobia. Early in this 21st century the church in Africa is in dire need of a reformation and the transformational matrix of Enlightenment.
The time has come to awaken African political and religious leaders to these self-evident and inalienable truths: that homosexuals are human beings; that homosexual acts are human acts; that gay and lesbian rights are human rights. Africa must abandon homophobia and embrace humanism and universal human rights.
References
1. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3955145.stm [1]
2. http://www.keithboykin.com/author/africa.html [2]
3. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/this_world/3664859.stm [3]
4. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5305658.stm [4]
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