academic challenges un-african myth

By Joel Nana (BTM Fellow)

November 9, 2006: Yet another text book, written in French by one of Cameroonian academics – Charles Gueboguo, was launched recently in Paris, France.

The text book – La question homosexuelle en Afrique, is researcher Gueboguo’s quest in his sociology doctorate studies on homosexuality in Africa.

“The book is the fruit of a research study carried out in Yaoundé and Douala (which are two Cameroonian cities) gay and lesbian communities”, says the author. He emphasizes that in this research he wanted to establish a reason for the thriving gay visibility with the stigma and denial in the country.

The book is a fair quest without biasness and prejudices on homosexuality unlike many texts on the same subject, and that makes it pioneer as a francophone reading that tries to curb myths around this daunting matter.

Gueboguo argues that homosexuality has always been present in Africa. He says the lack of wording disqualified it in many African countries but did not mean it wasn’t existing.

The author, who advocates for non-discrimination and the respect for sexual orientation, had many times been victim of harassments from the Cameroonian government and the press for his opinions on non-discrimination.

“In Cameroon, you’d better not be gay, gay-friendly or even do a neutral questioning on homosexuality. That is why I decided not to launch my book here”, he contends.

This bold human rights defender has taken a stance which already caused harm in his academic career, but he’s adamant to take homosexuality debates further.

“Homosexuality is a social reality in Africa and … it is my role to question the facts, to do researches and come out with impartial results. It is not because I live in (a) society which refuses to admit sexual diversity”, he explains.

Gueboguo also challenges governments that they don’t predict the consequences of their actions when indicting certain subject matters such as homosexuality and Aids.

“I hope that my book will show the path for a debate and change people perception of homosexuality and homosexuals”, he concludes.