Deconstructing Sexuality and Xenophobia in Africa: A Critical Discourse on &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;The Thing Around Your Neck&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; and &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Under the Udala Tree&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;

Elisabeth Noumbouwo Mimiafou Ayuk-Etang,Charlotte Munge

doi:10.11648/j.ijla.20200806.14

Abstract

This study demonstrates that prejudices towards homosexuals in Africa are stifling. Such bigotries stem from deeply rooted African traditional beliefs, and partly from the “ideals” of adopted religions. It is, therefore, unlikely for conformists of heterosexuality to experience resistance and homophobic tendencies. Adherents to this view include Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Chinelo Okparanta in there texts The Thing Around Your Neck and Under the Udala Tree respectively. These writers also hold that restraints, constraints and exclusion of all sorts form the caucus of xenophobia towards homosexuality in Africa. The paper argues that, homosexuality is not strictly a global northern issue; but also, an African phenomenon, even though it meets with unprecedented resentment and resistance due to received religions and socio-cultural stereotypes. The objective of this study is to examine, interpret, and analyze the texts, and showcase the deplorable attitude of Africans towards LGBT practitioners. The analytical framework is based on indebt examination of the tests, using Queer and Deconstructionist perspectives as theoretical constructs. The study reveals that no form of sexuality is superior to another, as a result, no form should be encourage or discourage, because sexuality is innate. Also, heterosexuality is seemingly a sexual preference in Africa, but wrapped – up in a cluster of homosexuality which existence is behind the scene in Africa.

Highlights

Homosexuality dates from the first recorded instance of same-sex love and sexuality of ancient civilizations, involving the history of lesbians, gay, bisexuals and transgender peoples and cultures around the world
This paper focuses on Africans’ attitude towards LGBT practitioners as exhibited in Chimamanda Ngozi’s The Thing Around Your Neck and Chinelo Okparanta’s Under the Udala Tree
It is built on the assumption that Africans tend to reject homosexuality, though it is deeply rooted in certain parts of the continent

Summary

Introduction

Homosexuality dates from the first recorded instance of same-sex love and sexuality of ancient civilizations, involving the history of lesbians, gay, bisexuals and transgender peoples and cultures around the world. Homosexuality becomes an umbrella term that englobes Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) which is against the traditional religious norm of African sexuality. Using the Queer and deconstruction theories, we argue that Adichie and Okparanta have demonstrated that no sexual orientation is superior to another, and should be read as a standard with references to heterosexuality against homosexuality. The aim of this study is to demonstrate that prejudices towards homosexuals in Africa are stifling Such bigotries stem from deeply rooted African traditional beliefs, and partly from the “ideals” of adopted religions. Derrida suggests these oppositions are hierarchies in miniature, containing one term that Western culture views as positive or superior, and another considered negative or inferior. A rereading of the concept of sexual orientation is imperative to give credence to any sexual orientation and the rights of the practitioners

Homosexuality in the Narratives of Adichie and Okparanta

Sexual Binary and Dialectics in the Texts

Conclusion