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Homophobic Africa? Toward A More Nuanced View

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 October 2013

Patrick Awondo ,
Peter Geschiere  and
Graeme Reid
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Abstract:

The recent emergence of homosexuality as a central issue in public debate in various parts of Africa has encouraged a stereotypical image of one homophobic Africa, often placed in opposition to a tolerant or depraved West. What is striking is that this image of Africa as homophobic is promoted by both traditionalists who insist that homosexuality is a Western intrusion and by the Western media that focus on homophobic statements from African political and religious leaders. What both neglect, however, is the existence of internal debate and disagreements among Africans on the subject of homosexuality. In this article we try to counter this image of a homophobic Africa with a more nuanced discussion, including a comparison of different trajectories in the emergence of homosexuality as a public issue in four countries (Senegal, Cameroon, Uganda, and South Africa). The comparison highlights considerable variations in the ways in which the issue became politicized. There is a world of difference, for example, between the image of the homosexual as un Grand (a rich and powerful “Big Man”) who imposes anal penetration as a supreme form of subjection (as in Cameroon or Gabon, where homosexuality is associated with witchcraft and other occult forces; compare Achille Mbembe's visionary evocation of a “phallocracy”) and the often quite marginal persons who become victims of gay persecution in other contexts. More insight into the variations of what is loosely and inaccurately called “homophobia” can help connect international pressures for decriminalization and protection to local circumstances. Working through local activists is crucial for the effort to counter homophobia in Africa.

Résumé:

Résumé:

L'émergence récente de l'homosexualité comme question centrale des débats publics dans plusieurs régions d'Afrique a encouragé l'émergence du stéréotype d'une Afrique homophobe, souvent placée en opposition à une culture occidentale soit tolérante soit dépravée. Il est marquant que cette représentation de l'Afrique comme homophobe est soutenue aussi bien par les traditionalistes, qui insistent que l'homosexualité est un phénomène importé de l'Occident, que par les médias occidentaux qui se concentrent sur des déclarations homophobes faites par des chefs politiques et religieux d'Afrique. Ces deux courants négligent d'admettre l'existence d'un débat interne et de désaccords parmi les Africains eux-mêmes sur le sujet de l'homosexualité. Dans cet article, nous tentons de contrer cette image homogène d'une Afrique homophobe avec une discussion plus nuancée en incluant une comparaison des différentes trajectoires dans l'émergence de l'homosexualité comme question publique dans quatre pays (Le Sénégal, le Cameroun, l'Ouganda, et l'Afrique du Sud). La comparaison met l'accent sur les variations considérables dans les manières dont la question de l'homosexualité s'est politisée. Par exemple, un monde sépare l'image de l'homosexuel comme un “Grand” (un homme riche et puissant) qui impose la pénétration anale comme une forme suprême de soumission (comme au Cameroun et au Gabon, o l'homosexualité est associée à la sorcellerie et autres forces occultes) et les personnes souvent marginales devenues victimes de persécution dans d'autres contextes. Une meilleure compréhension de ce qui est vaguement et incorrectement appelé “homophobie” sera utile pour rapprocher la logique des pressions internationales de décriminalisation et de protection de l'homosexualité avec les cultures locales. Il est indispensable d'obtenir le soutien d'activistes locaux pour contrer l'homophobie en Afrique.

Type
Commentary
Information
African Studies Review , Volume 55 , Issue 3 , December 2012 , pp. 145 - 168
Copyright
Copyright © African Studies Association 2012

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