Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Gender Studies and Sexuality
Year: 2024
DOI:
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The People’s Court: Confronting Protective Homophobia in Southern Africa
Ngobeni Hlamulo Jeffrey
ABSTRACT:
In Southern Africa, homosexuality is met with mixed reactions of whether it is part of the African identity or not. Some people believe that same-sex relations are unnatural and should not be accepted in society. This group utilizes religion and cultural traditions to isolate and exclude people in same-sex relations from their communities. The group has associated people in same-sex relations with paganism because of the idea that homosexuality is against the natural order of the creation of God. Homosexuality is further recognized as heterodox because it opposes the orthodox of heteronormative sexual behaviours. Meanwhile, another group of people believes that same-sex relations are indispensable from the African identity and traditions. This group believes that protective homophobia is un-African because of the ethic of Ubuntu and the sexual diversity of ancestral spiritual calling. Amongst Africans who accept or reject same-sex relations are those who choose to isolate themselves from the conversation. This specific group carries the view that same-sex relations should be practiced for as long as it does not interfere with their lives. The different groups disclosed are the foundation of this study. This study seeks to underpin the diversity of African sexual ethics. Experiences of traditional healers who are in same-sex relations because of their ancestral spiritual callings will be collected and analysed to provide evidence of how homosexuality is African. It will further utilize the ethic of Ubuntu to bring to attention African sexual norms before colonialism. This study argues that homosexuality is African.
keywords: Homosexuality, African, Colonialism, Religion and Ubuntu