UBMISSION TO PARLIAMENT ON THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE CIVIL UNION BILL

rof Pierre de Vos, University of Western Cape

Dr Jaco Barnard, University of Cape Town
(Excerpt)

It is well documented that same-sex sexual activity has occurred all over Africa through all periods of time. Where such activity occurred before the twentieth century, those who engaged in it were not referred to as ‘homosexuals’. This is because the concept of homosexuality (as well as heterosexuality) is a Western concept invented in the late nineteenth century to label those who engaged in same-sex sexual activity. In different and complex ways and often through the work done by European missionaries, the notion of homo- and heterosexuality was introduced into Africa as part of the colonial project. While many traditional African societies frowned upon same-sex sexual activity, other societies accommodated such behaviour in different ways. What is clear that no such concept as homophobia existed in Africa before its introduction by Western missionaries. It can therefore be said that while homosexuality is indeed ‘un-African’, so is homophobia.