Homosexuality almost like death is a sensitive topic to talk about. Most Gambians and Africans are too traditional to talk about it, while the others are too religious to even consider it. As always, the first excuse as to why homosexuality isn’t right is “God doesn’t allow it” while the second is, “It’s un-African”. Un-African? How do you even explain that? How can you even explain something not being Gambian let alone African? As a historian, I know that Akhenaten who ruled Egypt 2400 years ago was an openly gay pharaoh during his reign.
We have gorr-jigeen and ke-wudeh, (the Wolof and Mandinka for homosexuals) well before any toubabs or Arabs set their feet on our lands.
My problem is this modern African who mentions “traditions” only when it suits them, a tradition most haven’t even learnt. It’s your right not to like homosexuality, but don’t bring in tradition into this.
Going by history, it seems homosexuality was a part of some of our traditions until western religions were introduced when it became immoral to practice it. Now that the Westerners have decided it is okay, now we think it is right. Honestly, are Africans simply flags waiting for the Western wind to blow before we decide on something? Are we so ready to abandon our beliefs for anything that is accepted by Westerners? We lived peacefully with homosexuals until we were told it was evil. So we believed it and killed the practice, now the Western nations have introduced it with their “scientific” research to back up their decision so now we’re all busy jumping ship and arguing that it is okay.
Well some are celebrating the anti-gay laws so that they can go seek asylum in Europe. Others are fighting for anti-gay laws because they are being paid to do so. Can we as Africans for once make a decision based on what is best for the African and not just because of who’s paying?
Personally, I do not support homosexuality because my religion Islam forbids it. That is good enough reason for me. But please stop saying it is Un-African or whatever.
Momodu Jarra
Bakoteh
The death has recovered its seat
Dear editor
Thomas Sankara ousted from his seat almost twenty seven years ago had recovered his seat in the midst of greed and utter dictatorship. Once, when quizzed about a coup in the making, he answered that the enemy had won, since it was Compaore, a brother and a friend who knew him better than any other individual.
Within the brief spell of time Thomas took over Burkina Faso, he was able to neutralise the budget deficiency. When asked how he was able to do this, he responded that he had stopped importing polishing liquids for the nails, lip shines and had authorised officers to write on the double spaces of A4 size papers. The greatest feat he had ever accomplished was to auction all government vehicles that wasted fuel and replaced them with Renault cars that use little amount of fuel. When at an Ecowas summit he was asked why did he decided to step down from contesting for the chairmanship, he responded that he had only appeared together with his team to convince his fellow African leaders that their attire was made of cotton grown in Burkina Faso, and the cotton processed in his own country, and sewn by tailors in Burkina Faso. After he murdered this African icon, Burkinabes later realised that Comparore was indeed power hungry and a dictator. They wished they had defended their country against such a blood-sucking mongrel and a dictator way back in 1987.
All those years, Sankara was resting peacefully in his golden grave, Compaore the traitor was haunted by his ghost.
Michael Secka
Basse Santo-su
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