The post-colonial era has had a significant impact on society's views towards the LGBT community across Africa. This change can be attributed to various factors such as religion, culture, colonial legacy, economic status, education level, media influence, political situation, and social norms. Africa is a diverse continent made up of different ethnic groups that follow various religions and cultures. These cultural beliefs have shaped how individuals view homosexuality.
Some African countries consider homosexuality illegal while others tolerate it. In most cases, religious institutions are responsible for influencing the attitudes towards sexual orientation and gender identity. The African continent has been influenced significantly by Christianity, Islam, and traditional religions. The major religions disapprove of same-sex behavior, which affects societal attitudes towards homosexuals. People who identify themselves as gay face discrimination, stigmatization, harassment, and even death threats from their families, friends, and communities.
There are several countries where laws protect the rights of LGBTQ+ people.
South Africa allows marriage between persons of the same sex, unlike Uganda, Nigeria, Burundi, Somalia, and other East African countries. Therefore, this paper explores how cultural, religious, and post-colonial contexts shape societal attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community in Africa.
Cultural Context
Africa has diverse cultural practices that impact attitudes toward the LGBT community. Homosexuality is an uncommon practice among Africans due to the deep-rooted patriarchal society. This aspect shapes the behaviors and perspectives of many individuals in the continent. Men and women are expected to adhere to strict gender roles since birth. Moreover, polygamy is common in Africa, with men marrying multiple wives, making monogamous relationships challenging. These customs have led to a negative perception of same-sex relations, leading to discrimination against gays. According to Tukahirwa (2018), homophobic views are rooted in African cultures and norms. Cultural beliefs and traditions influence social norms, which dictate appropriate sexual behavior. Most communities hold firmly onto traditional beliefs passed down through generations, including same-sex relations as taboo. As a result, most parents teach their children not to engage in such acts because it is unnatural and abnormal.
Religious context
Most African countries are predominantly Christian or Islamic. The two religions consider homosexuality a sin. In addition, they promote heteronormativity by emphasizing procreation and family values.
The Catholic Church encourages marriage between one man and one woman for life. It also prohibits artificial insemination, surrogacy, abortion, contraception, and same-sex marriages. Besides, the Anglican church believes that human beings were created male and female, and God's design is perfect. Therefore, any deviation from this order is considered immoral and punishable by death. The religious leaders condemn homosexuals to hell, while some encourage violence against them. On the other hand, Muslims follow strict Sharia law, which criminalizes homosexuality. The religious laws make the LGBTQ+ community vulnerable since they can face punishment up to death. Consequently, societal attitudes towards gay people are influenced by religion, leading to discrimination and exclusion.
Post-colonial Context
Africa was colonized by European powers, who introduced new systems of governance, education, and religion. These colonialists spread their culture, language, customs, and religious practices. They viewed Africans as inferior and submissive, imposing western norms on them. Some of these influences include monogamy, where men marry only one wife, heterosexual relations, and traditional gender roles. As a result, Africans view homosexuality as unnatural and abnormal. The colonial legacy shaped current attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community in Africa. In Uganda, British colonialism brought Christianity, creating an environment hostile to gays. The post-independence era saw the proliferation of missionaries promoting conservative religious beliefs, resulting in severe penalties for same-sex behavior.
Societal Attitude Towards LGBTQ+ Community
The African society has negative attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community due to cultural, religious, and colonial contexts. These factors shape social norms regarding acceptable sexual behaviors and relationships. Most countries have laws that criminalize homosexuality, while others do not recognize same-sex marriages or adoptions.
Nigeria's Sharia law permits stoning, beheadings, lashes, and amputation for same-sex relations. Moreover, Kenya banned same-sex marriages, making it difficult for gay couples to adopt children legally.
Zambia prohibited cross-dressing by transgender people, discriminating against those who identify with different genders.
Some nations like South Africa protect the rights of gays, allowing
How do African post-colonial, religious, and cultural contexts shape societal attitudes and policies toward LGBT communities?
The history of colonialism has had an impact on many countries around the world, including Africa. This includes social, political, economic, and cultural structures that have been affected by colonizers' beliefs and practices. Many African societies still have traditional values regarding gender roles and sexuality that are deeply rooted in their cultures. As a result, individuals who do not conform to these norms may face discrimination or even violence.