Biologism and Gender-based Violence in Contemporary Africa: Articulating a Panacea from Traditional Yorùbá Sexuality

Abstract

Biologism is a theoretical conjecture which renders the ‘nature’ of persons in bodily processes and physical manifestations. Whilst dauntless scholarly contentions in the Western tradition have served sharply to indicate the flaws and limits of biologism, it is disturbing that biologism has become a dominant framework for the articulation of gender relations among contemporary Africans. This outlook derives perhaps, from the overwhelming influence wielded by Christianity and Islam on the minds of the contemporary African. However, a critical scrutiny of these religions reveals that not only do they endorse biologism but that they are replete with instances and verses in their scriptures that promote gender-based violence and patriarchy. In the face of these propositions, this research portends to revive the traditional Yorùbá account of gender relations as a plausible instance of ideas that are originally African, and capable of use for surmounting contemporary challenges. As a consequence, the study contextualizes the discourse within traditional Yorùbá culture relying on the Ifá corpus. It affirms that biologism had no apologists among the traditional Yorùbá. It further avers that gender construction among the traditional people is neither antagonistic nor hegemonic but flexible and complimentary. Hence, the recommendation that this indigenous perception be reinvigorated in contemporaneous times to check the discrimination and subordination of women and homosexuals in Africa is the onus of this drudgery