Homosexuality Was Not "Un-African"

The examples above demonstrate that queerness was not out of the ordinary in precolonial Africa. Gender and sexuality were viewed through diverse and culturally specific lenses, far removed from the binary norms introduced by European colonizers.

Further Reading

For those interested in learning more about this fascinating history, consider reading books such as Boy-Wives and Female Husbands and kenyan, christian, queer. Additionally, joining tours or cultural experiences that delve into this rich history can provide deeper insights into Africa's precolonial past.

Homophobia may be loud in present-day Africa, but history tells a different story-one of fluidity, acceptance, and resistance to colonial impositions. It's time to reclaim these narratives and understand the true diversity of African identities.

Homosexuality in Africa has become a taboo subject in many modern contexts. Some African leaders, like Uganda's Yoweri Museveni, claim that LGBTQIA+ identities are a Western import, contradicting "African culture." However, these views ignore the continent's history. Homophobia in Africa is a result of colonialism, not an inherent aspect of African societies.

Colonial powers imposed rigid gender norms and laws that criminalized homosexuality across Africa. These laws, based on European Christian doctrines, were alien to the diverse and fluid practices that had existed for centuries before colonization. Homosexuality and non-binary gender identities were not only present but also accepted in various cultural contexts in precolonial Africa.

Evidence of homosexuality in ancient Africa can be seen in Egyptian art. The tomb of Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep, two men depicted embracing as lovers, stands as a testament to same-sex relationships in Ancient Egypt. The concept of a third gender or androgynous expression was recognized and often revered, not only in Egypt but also in other African kingdoms.

The Imbangala people of Angola in the 16th century accepted men who wore women's apparel and lived among their wives. This demonstrates a fluid approach to gender roles and relationships. The Igbo and Yoruba of Nigeria did not operate on a rigid gender binary. Gender was not assigned to babies at birth but determined later in life based on societal roles and personal attributes. The Dagaaba people of Ghana assigned gender based on the energy a person presented, rather than anatomy, showing a profound understanding of gender as a spectrum.

One of the most compelling stories comes from Buganda (present-day Uganda) and its last monarch before colonization, King Mwanga II. In the late 1880s, King Mwanga was an openly gay ruler who resisted the growing influence of Christian missionaries and European colonizers. As missionaries attempted to convert his people, Mwanga ordered their execution to preserve his kingdom's way of life.

This historical narrative has been twisted over time, with colonial interpretations framing Mwanga's sexuality as a moral failing. However, his resistance to colonization and the Christian imposition on Buganda highlights the existence and acceptance of homosexuality before Western influence.

These examples demonstrate that queerness was not out of the ordinary in precolonial Africa. Gender and sexuality were viewed through diverse and culturally specific lenses, far removed from the binary norms introduced by European colonizers.

Homophobia may be loud in present-day Africa, but history tells a different story-one of fluidity, acceptance, and resistance to colonial impositions. It's time to reclaim these narratives and understand the true diversity of African identities.