African Sexualities Cultures

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

This class looks at discourses of gender and sexual diversity on the African continent from a variety of perspectives. The course centers the narratives and cultural production of those who identify (or dis-identify) as LGBTQ+ in circumstances where such an identity is frequently considered “UnAfrican.” It explores: 1) the sexual and gendered legacies of European colonialism (and its ongoing manifestations); 2) the possibilities and limitations of inherited “queer” terminology from the west (frequently employed by the non-profit industry), and 3) the methods that gender and sexually diverse Africans have employed to made sense and space for themselves across a variety of national and cultural contexts. Our discussions operate with the understanding that “Africa” is, following philosopher V.Y. Mudimbe, as much a rhetorical invention as a geographical location. While the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ Africans are very real, the popular depiction of the continent as socially “backwards” and uniformly homophobic is arguably the latest iteration of a far older script. Drawing on recent scholarship in the field of Queer African Studies, African Cultures and Sexualities seeks out alternative narratives and non-normative presence in contemporary literature, art, film, performance, and in digital space.