There’s a house on the street on which you live, the best of all the houses. In architectural sublimity no bungalow or duplex compares. You admire this house – no, envy it. You promise not to ogle it every time you walk by – you always break this promise. You wish you were the one who swaggered out its gate every morning, graciously ignoring – like any half-decent celebrity – the paparazzi-eye-flashes-of-jealousy from the neighbours.
One day, you walk into this house – maybe on an errand, maybe you’re now friends with the owners, maybe you’re a Jehovah’s Witness on a Sunday-salvation beat – whatever the reason, you walk into this house and as you stand in it, disappointment drowns you. This house, this dream abode which commands awe and respect from without, within is an unkempt ramshackle interior decoration of sullen existence.
The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria recently signed into law a same sex marriage act which, amongst a host of holier than thou edicts: outlaws same sex marriage, prohibits any “public show of same sex amorous relationships”, and promises imprisonment for anyone who even witnesses a same sex marriage – good luck driving with your eyes closed as you pass by your rebellious gay neighbours’ wedding ceremony.
The venomous glee with which, most likely, majority of Nigerians met this gayvelopment has shocked some people. Mass hysteria reminiscent of the Salem Witch Trials swept social media and the streets, with suspected homosexuals getting arrested in some states by the superior and sin-less heterus sexualae.
While this law raises pertinent questions about the contemporary relevance of orthodox religious beliefs, homophobia, our treatment of minorities and more, what intrigues me the most is what it says about our social consciousness and approach to life; about our perspective of right, wrong, and the indispensable grey area between; about our definition of greatness; about our value for truth.
Now, Nigerian (indeed African) culture embraces flamboyance, and in its egotistically evolved state, adores ostentation. The ‘big man’ is he who has the biggest yams in his barn (and in his pants), drives the biggest SUV, swaddles himself in the most regal clothes, owns the most cows, sprays the most naira at sister Clara’s wedding, speaks the biggest grammar (shout out to Honourable Patrick Obahiagbon, I see you bruv!) , or owns the most expensive house in Maitama. But the wealthy Nigerian doesn’t merely possess these things. No, he publicly displays the profundity of his possessions with boisterous galore – hyperbole is ever so important in these matters.
The essence is the outward show of achievement, the razzle dazzle. It doesn’t really matter if, just like that house, there is no concrete inner worth. Who cares? Pfft! The illusion, so long as its histrionics are upheld properly, far outweighs the reality. It doesn’t matter if you are dying inside, just make sure on the outside you look like you’re LIVING LARGE.
This culture easily expands to other facets of our lives. When it comes to marriage, you will readily find among the yet-to-be-wedded those very comfortable, expectant even, of a poor marriage so long as their for-better-or-worse half is fine putting up the regular show of ‘a happy couple’. Our contemporary music and movies are notoriously shallow, but worry not, just make sure you hype! hype! hype! We gladly gobbled the art of branding and continue to master the skill of “packaging” not bothering to ensure content is up to standard. And when it comes to religion, we see ourselves as the holiest nation fertilizing God’s green earth (insert angelic-chant sfx here).
It should be no surprise then that a statement such as “homosexuality is not our (Nigerian/African) culture, it is being forced upon us by the oyibo (the West)” would achieve mantra-like status. So much so the friggin’ EU had to respond to that assertion. Of course, homosexuality can’t be an African culture! Not that those who would swear by that statement can tell you much about the confetti of cultures found within their state, let alone their region, let alone the nation, let alone West Africa. No! Yet there seems to be a general expert knowledge of EVERY African culture, thus absolute certainty that “homosexuality is un-African“. Well… umm… you know, so long as you ignore trivial evidence like the Yan Daudu of Northern Nigeria, historical records of transgenders in Eastern Nigeria, documented research into homosexual cultures in the Yoruba and Igbo (West Africa); the Lovedu, Zulu and Sotho (South Africa); the Kikuyu and Nandi (East Africa); the Nuer and the Zande (Sudan).
You see, homosexuality puts our public ostentation of piety at risk. And so everything must be done to cease zis madness, mein führer! Its irrelevant if the whole world has no qualms with the Nigerian brand of homosexuality, because, like all things ostentatious, the show is more important to the performer than it is to the audience. Of course such an attitude is not the special preserve of Nigerians but what I do find peculiar is the hatred unleashed towards the homosexual lifestyle in particular. In the list of cultures (used loosely) which smear our public piety, homosexuality comes a distant third behind the heavyweight champions: CORRUPTION and INTERNET FRAUD. So why do these CLEAR VICES not receive half the vilification spewed at homosexuality? The answer, I believe, has to do with money (Ka-ching!).
To our social consciousness crimes appear to be permissible so long as they lead to acquisition of wealth, “Times are hard, chairman, man must survive!” Any means leading to a fatter bank account balance, though rebuked, is ultimately justified. Gross corruption and internet fraud (famously celebrated by one Olu Maintain), though more damaging to our dignity than two dudes or chicks trying to get freaky with each other, are much less detested because if successful they culminate in the possession and expected parade of affluence.
The future pilfering politician and potential yahoo-yahoo boy (that’s Nigerian slang for an internet fraudster) inside us sits by our left ear, whispering sweet nothings filled with promises of you one day being the BIG BOY. So, yes, fraud is illegal, and corruption is crippling our country, but some day I may be the one to benefit from it – “all na hustle” (note: pronounce as huzzle to win extra street cred points).
Nietzsche said, “morality in the individual is herd instinct”, and the instinct of the Nigerian herd has been programmed to ATTACK! Destroy any and all that threaten our public piety; if you must be putrid, keep it private – though even that is now under threat. I do not find this urge to attack, to kill, strange. Apart from a manifestation of the animal that is man, orthodox religion trains society in the distasteful arts of physical and psychological violence – sugar coated in righteousness, of course. Large scale bloodlust is a natural by-product; with morality as our justification we become blind to our own hypocrisy, double standards and fear of facing the challenges of dealing with TRUTH.
There is a house on the street on which you live, and now that you stand inside it, it doesn’t seem like the best of all the houses. Eroding walls, half broken tiles, tattered furniture, brown blobs all over the ceiling marking spots where rain snuck in past the roof, drapes draped in dust, bathtubs neglected to rust… But worst of all, this house is soulless. It is lived in but it has no life. This house is just a house.
You leave this house and return to the wider world, half disgusted at its pretentiousness, yet half amazed at the braggadocio with which it parcels its lie. You want to tell the neighbours taking Facebook-post-photos in front of the oh so elegant gate that it’s all a sham, a facade. But will they understand? No, will they care? And why should you? Why should you care? Isn’t it still a beautiful house? Isn’t it still the jewel of the street, the talk of the town? How the owners chose to live within it is not your business. It’s still a beautiful house and everybody loves it. Why shouldn’t I?
You begin to walk back to your own house, a thought dancing around your mind – you know, maybe I should put some more effort into beautifying the outside of my house.
ABOUT THE WRITER (this is where I talk about myself in the third-person)
Africa Ukoh (@Pensage) is a playwright, screenwriter, actor, stage director and creative concept developer. He has been the recipient of awards like the BBC African Performance competiton (1st runner up, thank you very much) and the Stratford East/30 Nigeria House prize. He co-founded a new age arts initiative called African Renaissance Theatre and Entertainment. Some of his works have been produced on platforms such as the BBC World Service, Voice of Nigeria and Sentinel Nigeria magazine (shey I try, abi?). If you love literature you can check out some of his works here, here and here (also, a play of his was published in the 2012 Sentinel Annual Literary Anthology, in case a copy actually exists). If you love theatre check out a review and photos from last year’s performance of an award winning play of his.
Ps: he is also looking for a job because these bills ain’t gon’ pay themselves!
Queen
Jan 18, 2014 @ 22:13:56
nice write up.
the law signed by our president is truly raising dust. guess we need brooms and dust wipes lol
thepensage
Jan 19, 2014 @ 19:17:11
Rather than those I’d say we need a reality check. But I think as a people we’re too used to avoiding truth. So maybe brooms will just have to suffice.
Henrynator
Jan 19, 2014 @ 11:29:32
Kudos to some dynamic art!! Now the world will rethink Nigeria! Jah bless!
thepensage
Jan 19, 2014 @ 19:19:03
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed the post.
K-Jay Akawu
Jan 19, 2014 @ 11:35:37
Ahh..good Talk. And good Writing (very good writing)..but still,we both know Homosexuality isn’t particularly admired in Nigeria. I think we have to give them this one,They got it right this time.
thepensage
Jan 19, 2014 @ 19:26:12
Lots of things aren’t admired in Nigeria, but what isn’t a crime should be made a crime. If for some reason it needs to be made illegal, this can still be done without making it a crime. I really can find no justification for putting people’s life at risk because we don’t like the way they have chosen to live. Fundamentally it’s no different than what the Nazi’s and Slave Traders did.
Nathan H.P
Jan 19, 2014 @ 12:22:46
This law is inconsequential,it raises questns that has no answers,these questions in turn direct our gaze from wat is really destroying our society!!!!!.this should be an epiphany,or an eye opener,wetin concern anybody wit man weh deh open nyash 4 anoda man?our attention and focus for d nxt few mnths has been divertd to arguing anti gay law,blah blah…instead of thinkin hw to better ourslves as a country!!!january is almost ova,nothing is happnin,electns are drawing near,and the only bill our so called good luck president is an anti gay bill,absurd!!!!!
thepensage
Jan 19, 2014 @ 19:32:40
Na busy body mixed with holier-than-thou behaviour dey worry us. Anybody with concrete challenges knows that homosexuality in Nigeria is not a present danger and in no way should be the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S priority. The law basically forces people who were already living a secret life to live a secret life… Yes, it’s THAT ridiculous.
Bride of Christ
Jan 19, 2014 @ 16:59:28
Hmmm…
God have mercy…
Bride of Christ
Jan 19, 2014 @ 17:00:49
It is Well…
K-Jay Akawu
Jan 20, 2014 @ 16:55:03
Its True a Lot of things hav been ignored to sign this bill..but still,fixing a spec of damage may be better than not fixing anything at all..We cannot say Homosexuality is not our concern because there are greater concerns…also,if anyone assumes homosexuality is the problem of just two people of the same sex having a shag,that person must wait patiently until his kid is lured into the “Art” by some random gay psycho…I’m sure he won’t feel too proud(Neither would You..U know it!)
thepensage
Jan 20, 2014 @ 18:26:15
I wouldn’t feel proud of ANYONE luring a kid into ANY sexual activity, homo or heterosexual in nature. Paedophilia or any activity which engages kids sexually is unthinkable. No matter who perptrates it.
Yes, a government doesn’t need to put the “small problems” aside and first deal with the big ones. But 3 things about this particular case:
1. As far as the anti-gay law goes, it victimises human beings, and legally is a facade of the law.
2. Beyond the gay issue, it speaks of our refusal/inabillity/reluctance (honestly, I’m not sure which) to attend to core issues in our public social sphere, focusing instead on irrelevancies.
3. As far as vices go, homosexuality is (for those who choose to label it a vice) the least damaging, yet the one we are most judgemental about. That’s an ugly double standard.
egopara
Apr 14, 2014 @ 11:09:35
our people have clearly pointed out that in every situation, we should always be suspicious of those who choose to cry more than d bereaved…
that said, you’ll have to forgive me as a sage if this piece does not meet your requisite intellectual standards. the question that kept begging for answers as I read this article is whether you were writing this from d goodness of your heart in a bid to see all men equal despite their proclivities or it was because you are somehow affected or are pushing/ pursuing a particular interest. anything short of d first stated, is corruption in itself. what makes it even more odious is that it is gilted in a cosh of seemingly good intentions.
permit me to also ask; do we condone murders, since we all know murder is as old as man? what about thieves and rapists? after all our people have names of d afore mentioned crimes.
I’ll end by reminding you that not because a majority endorse a wrong makes it right. you shall know d truth, for only it can set mankind free.
thepensage
Apr 20, 2014 @ 11:47:29
No disrespect meant, but I don’t think you understand the salient points of the article. I say this because the areas mentioned in your reply are not prevalent in the article. The “goodness of my heart” is not a concern of the article and “equality” surely is not the point of it as well. The, quite frankly, baseless, assumption that I am “pushing a particular interest” suggests an inability to curb your bias and develop an object opinion/response. As for being “somehow affected”, yes, I am affected. As are you. As is every Nigerian. When a government blatantly (and proudly) disregards the right of privacy of its citizens, exhibits fascist tendencies and use culture/religion to manipulate its people, all Nigerians are affected. It has little to do with homosexuality and related laws, it’s about public manipulation and elitist machinations. Issues like the unlawful detention of the man who got arrested for tweeting about the attempted Boko Haram jailbreak in Abuja, the Wendell Simlin case, and the NIS examination scam, are major indications that our supposedly democratic government is growing highly oppressive. Just because you don’t like the lifestyle of the people being oppressed (i.e homosexuals) doesn’t make oppression any less an evil.
K-Jay Akawu
Jan 20, 2014 @ 22:55:48
When a Law seeks to compell someone to conform to a norm of a society,a violator of this Law if subjected to apppropriate punishment cannot be seen as “Victimised” (Unless he/she did not infact fail to conform)..therefore I absolutely think your points 2 & 3 are perfect (point 1,I can’t say..#my opinion). If we consider Homosexuality a vice,then the Law isnt so bad… I like your direction.there’s just so much stuff they could hav outLawed.so much that it makes this gay thing insignificant and irrelevant(personally,I feel its a waste of time and a duplication since the Penal and Criminal Code already outlawed all sexual acts against the order of nature).
thepensage
Jan 20, 2014 @ 23:08:15
A law, I believe is not aimed at dictating to people how to live their private lives. Except that act of privacy infringes upon another for whatever reason(s). To enforce conformity upon a person whose contrary action was not an infringement but merely an indivdual choice, then criminalise potential non-comformists and subliminally (though this is subjective) incite a public against them (especially a public whose mob violence tendencies are not yet curbed), is to me victimisation. Maybe not legally so, but practically.
K-Jay Akawu
Jan 21, 2014 @ 11:47:13
Laws are made by the people(the Majority) via the representatives reflecting what most people want(most of the time) so in truth,Laws are meant to dictate to the people How to Live their lives since they are made by the people (that’s the whole point). A major function of the Law is to preserve morality.I don’t understand why you feel Homosexuality doesn’t fascilitate moral decadence.It isn’t a Private affair,nah,no way….people who have any empathy or even tolerance for Homosexuals in Nigeria may not be upto 1 percent of the population.It would be “Madness” if Laws were to be made or altered because of these 1 percent with an adverse reaction on the remaining population (e.g the 5000 Naira Note sham)…. It would cause me disgust and discomfort if I see a brother with another brother.the thought of it alone infringes and interferes with public Life……..as to potential Non conformists,that’s how Laws operate,they do not only punish but they deter.Outward attempts to violate Laws are in themselves violations. But My point is,Gay people would not be only violating Laws but Public Opinion and General applicable Norms.
thepensage
Jan 26, 2014 @ 11:50:02
My statment was “Laws are not meant to dictate to people how to live their PRIVATE lives”, so long as what’s done in privacy isn’t infinging upon another person or society at large. Intruding upon an individual’s private life is an early sign of a government with fascist tendencies. What we “like” or “dislike” is not the basis for the law. And definitely not the basis for criminalisation. If the “thought” of homosexuals disturbs you, don’t think about it. In the West there are people who are disgusted, utterly repulsed, by the sight of a caucasian and a black or asian or hispanic who are obviously in a romantic relationship. Even people in power (senators, governors etc), that doesn’t make it a crime, does it? Unless a gay dude forces you to watch a same sex “amorous relationship” act, you are not being infringed upon. We can’t sit in the privacy of our homes, place our minds on what someone elsewhere is doing in the privacy of his own home, become disgusted by it, then claim we are being infringed upon. Come on! Really? And let’s not pretend as if prior to the law Nigerian homosexuals were walking around the streets kissing in public. We all know they weren’t.
k-Jay Akawu
Jan 26, 2014 @ 22:37:56
Good argument..But things aren’t always so Logical,plus,I don’t think anyone should worry about this Law (it won’t ever be enforced-like half the other Laws)…again,Nice Article. An entertaining read.