Discovering sexuality in an <i>A</i>frican context:<i> </i>An <i>A</i>frocentric perspective

Abstract

The rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals have increasingly become politicised in Africa in recent years. The prevalent notion that Africa is "homophobic" conceals a significant array of political dynamics around LGBT rights across the continent. Numerous studies indicate that the politicisation of LGBT life in Africa distorts their experiences and fails to encapsulate the intricacies of African sexuality. This study aimed to investigate sexual orientation from an Afrocentric perspective. This study specifically examined how black bisexual women managed and negotiated their sexual wants and orientation. The researchers utilised an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study design, requiring document analysis and comprehensive interviews for data collection. The research indicated that planning and strategy facilitated participants in identifying ways to reveal their sexual orientation. Bisexual women must disclose their orientation despite being in a hostile environment, driven by their pursuit of pleasure and autonomy. The writers advocate for a post-colonial reevaluation and reimagining to rethink and reclaim African cultural practices and beliefs that correspond with an Afrocentric perspective on sexuality.