A Critical Evaluation of the African Perspectives on Gay and Lesbian Relationships & Gender

This paper aims to examine the 'roots' of homosexuality in Africa given the perception among most Africans that homosexuality is alien to their culture. The study also provides comparative analyses of different conservative standpoints on sexual logic. Data for this study were collected from secondary sources including scholarly books, academic journals, and online publications. The findings suggest that homosexuality is not foreign to Africa despite the stigma it carries. They further suggest that culturalists and universalists need to treat this matter as an 'evolving phenomenon' and that promoting education for all is key to debunking the myths that surround gay and lesbian practices in Africa. For instance, until formal recognition was made a few decades ago, Europe also experienced these stigma challenges, and still does in a few places. The study recommends that discourse on this subject should be encouraged as it offers the best avenue that could eventually pave way for greater freedoms for gay and lesbian people in Africa.