OUR FATHER: AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

Dear President Muhammadu Buhari,

It is never out of place for children to approach their father, to run into his embrace when the fire breaks out. We strongly believe that it is extremely appropriate to approach you at this critical time . 

We are grateful that the pressures and place of your office avails the Nigerian people so much. That you have become our president at a time like this is a blessing, thorough, solid and available.

We, the people, bring this topic within your sphere. In 2014, we killed a young Nigerian boy in Jos. We permitted his neighbours to break into his home to dehumanise him because he is homosexual. In 2015, we raped a girl in Lagos because she is lesbian- as if rape cures anything. In 2016, Ondo State, a gentle man lost his life equally to homophobia.

Continuously, we have thrown our brothers and sisters to the dogs and they cannot help themselves (by reporting to the law enforcement agents) because even when they do, they do not(they are arrested for being of bringing the violation against themselves.) Since Nigeria began,  we have seen such homophobic violations being justified. However, when the government enacted the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act 2013(the Act), the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer (and Questioning) Intersex Asexual(and Allies which includes families, medical and paramedical experts, legal and para-legal experts, journalists, writers, teachers, leaders researchers….) community(the community), (human beings like everyone else) have been denied jobs, dismissed from their workplaces, evicted from  their homes, disowned and brutally dishonoured. In as much this could happen to any Nigerian, the community bears the worst and a greater threat at increased severity.

The Act amongst other things makes it impossible for us, native and visiting Nigerians, to acquire fundamental services including access to medical treatment, safe, private and secured existence. The Act denies us all the protection that the Constitution and your leadership afford every Nigerian citizen. This is simply because of the majority are bothered by our independent, private, mutual attractions and inclinations within our private space. Our private lives no toll on the independent safety, rights  and happiness of other individuals. However, democracy is not rule by most of the people but all of the people.

It has been argued that community’s existence is against Nigeria’s religious and cultural backgrounds. But, our father, our country is a secular one that embraces all believes that conform to our survival and stability. Moreover, we are not strangers to what religious extremists have been known to do, inflict on others and become. Regarding our culture, the community which in one way or the other involves everyone in the country. We are diverse and dynamic people sworn under the constitution to embrace and protect all kinds of diversity that does not threaten our common wellbeing. As the rest of the Nigerian population, persons with different sexual orientation and identity are proud of their country and the diversity of our culture and way of life. It is our sincere belief that our diversity is our beauty and that our diversity is the foundation of our security. It is also our strong conviction that, if there is anything that threatens our security and survival, it is intolerance and disrespect to our diverse way of life. How does loving safely and privately threaten anyone? How does meeting voluntarily, quietly and harmlessly, hurt anyone? How do voluntary sexual activities behind locked doors and even public displays of affections of any kind threaten our national security or morality?

Furthermore, it is apparent that any comparism between our existence and paedophilia or bestiality is undesirable and unfounded. The community strongly holds that voluntary consent to engage and co-existence is the very foundation of inter-personal relationship. It is also obvious that consent cannot be gotten from legal minorities (below 18), mentally unstable individuals and animals. However, what can we say about seeking the consent of a mother who does not and cannot decide whether or not she shall birth a homosexual, transgender or heterosexual child? Some things are not ours to determine. Inshallah, we shall all soon be able to tell them apart.

As you read this, the community is being unjustly crushed even after we have been driven out of our churches, homes, mosques, offices, schools and lives as we know it. we are forced into the darkness of danger and rejection, especially when we are not living double and dangerous lives like yet our invisible members are. Regardless, two years under the Act has left us an inevitably frightened existence to struggle with- some being utterly destroyed in the process. This is far cry from everything that your great leadership promised and now stands for.

Attached to this letter is a human rights report submitted at the Centre for Human Rights here in Pretoria, South Africa in February 2016 on the situation of human rights in Nigeria. It is dangerous, what has been recorded in Nigeria.

We have been to the courts, to the social media, to God and now we have come to you. We need your great government to intercept the out-play of this self-nourishing tyranny against the community that has gushes out of the Criminal and Penal Codes and the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act 2013, as it is inhumane and challenges our cultural heritage, diversity as a people. Democracy has no business ignoring the minorities after all- if we truly can be called that. As a democratic leader who came into power through the love and full support of citizens, including the LGBTI parsons, there will never be anything more pressing and essential than repealing this particular Law and thereby ensuring the survival and full enjoyment of rights by all Nigerians .  Our Father, please repeal the Act.

A father knows his child, and accepts the best in him/her. A father audaciously, though often confusingly, engages with the complexities that are yet to be accustomed to or understood. We humbly your benevolence to engage with us on our humanity as your children, those who look up to your protection and defence.

We have a president, yes. But now we need you to stand, our father.

Respectfully,

Nnanna Ikpo

Samrawit Damtew

Tilahun Zewudie

Guillan Koko

(for the Nigerian LGBTIA community)

Tsilikin's Secret

Russia's Dmitry Tsilikin: Gay journalist stabbed to death a dozen times in St. Petersburg

An open heart knows no fear

But the warmth of loving

And warmth of a sincere tear

Like the gay Tsilikin

Whose heart was hushed

For a secret he did not create

'But the streets are crazy

And it could be anyone'

Anyone who has a secret to keep

Anyone from Nigeria, Russia, Uganda even South Africa

Anyone whose pink heart beats differently

Anyone curious and wanting

Anyone like Russia's Tskilikin

Your death means that we can die

And this should make the world think, see

The hushing of a heart is an evil with a vile stink

Whether its a deep red or the colour of velvet pink

That the streets and our homes close in on us

Because the conversations have exposed us

The media and technology have made us real

And our open hearts have made us vulnerable

Made us cry for a secret we did not create

Like the dark skin of a simple boy

And the gender of an underschooled girl

The story of an unscathed victim

And the secret of a hushed Tsilikin

In a world where death does not begin or end with the knife

But with hateful words and dangerous silence

With neglect and delibrate ignorance

Hushed affections and miscarried friendships

And anyone could be a victim

From Akinfessi to Tsilikin to...?

Who next, since it's you who is chosing

Image and more information sourced from: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/gay-journalist-stabbed-left-slowly-bleed-death-russia/#gs.=5v65_k

The world after babel

I got down in Maputo

So much portuguese

So many places to go

The words were not french

But I swear quartose is fourteen

Had we been cursed

Or blessed by the gift of babel?

Diversity was to confuse

But it filled us with colours

And dances we agreed on

Not to mention pictures

Tastes and textures

And drawings and kisses and translation apps

And spices and fabrics

And pizza and sensualities

And attractions and irritations

And new found laughter, and unveiled naughtiness

In a world where there is no word for gay 

But an 'oi' on grindr

In a place where there is not line for love

But the gentle squeeze of a stranger's crotch

The world after babel

Blessed by her fables

Told to a people stubborn enough to find their paths back to each other

In a Maputo without English

That has really stopped none from shining

In a blessed world, with black, white and more than one meaning to bliss

Preparing for the Sun

Naija, look, it will happen

All the rainbows will rise

And the darkness shall be lifted

Naija, look, it will happen

Because, for some strange reason hardwork pays off

Whether, it's good or bad

Naija, look, it will happen

Akinfessi's story will be told in the squares

And Kenny's Exodus read in our schools

Naija, look, it will happen
The sun will rise

Because there was independence

There was colonialism

So rebelion had a license

But when we get there 

Like South Africa and Maputo

Let's be different

For us, let's have all the issues resolved

Let the battles be won

Let rainbows breed not just from the law

But from the streets and hearts

Lets take all those blows now for our children ahead

Knowing that our dream Nigeria may not be reality in our life time

Lets fall into battle and bleed for our cause

Because either way falsehood or fighting exhausts everything

Naija, it will happen

But when it does let our streets be ready

When it does, let our ministries be ready

Lets face homophobia, biphobia and transphobia now, and engage them fiercely

So that not of it is left in a Nigeria without the anti-gay police

Lets not make Nigeria's mistake

Pursuing integration only after Independence

Crushed beneath bigotry without license

Let us prepare for the sun

Because it will come

Because God is on our side

Because hard work pays off

Let us prepare for the sun

Now that it is okay to be rebellious and ruthless

Let us wrench our hearts and lives if we must

Let us make the most of this pressure, our madness

Let our colours bleed

And let the white in our flag flush through prisms

Let the clouds of our rain bless our tanks with water

And even if we must ourselves be drenched

Let our soil and tubers drink and be fattened with life

Because it will

Because fighting exhausts everyone

And our spectrum will burn

So lets face phobia, crush them fiercely

For the days of victory are not too far ahead

Lets prepare for the sun

For when victory will, it will come.

#inspired by a generation of LGBTI rights activists ruthless enough to break the rules, to say what we need to say, and do what we need to do.

The sand our mother

Have you seen the sand, our mother?
Have we seen how simple she is
Have we seen that every thing left her
And to her everything will return
Have we seen the grace with which she advances
From the huts of slums of simple men
To the platter of kings
Have we seen her in colour trapped in show glasses
Have we seen her court the nails and backs of princesses
Have we seen the sand our mother
Our rising to heights don't bother her
She knows we will return
Have seen her without her mask
Yet as she is the most masked
Have we the sand our mother
Rise, rise and become us
And everything we are scared to become

Homophobia and her arguments

Dear Africa,

 

The argument of homophobia is that the Nigerian custom and African tradition is not accepting of same –sex affection and does not has, has never or will ever condone it.  But for heaven’s sake, there is no such thing as ‘the Nigerian custom’ besides the brown uniformed public servants in charge of exports and imports of goods into Nigeria. Sexuality is neither a good, container nor vessel. It cannot genuinely be bought or sold by humans, nor can it be given or taken away.

There is also no such thing as ‘the African tradition’, because Africa does not have ‘the tradition’ to say that it is original, only or objective one. What is to say that African loins or hearts cannot naturally churn same-sex attractions, or non-conforming genitals or gender expressions?

Africa means us, the beautiful diverse realities that have the common ground of tolerance, and just tolerance. Beautiful realities like those of :the Azande people of Sudan whose ancient male warriors sought the affection of male lovers because the affection of their wives would neutralise their potency for battle; the Pangue tribe of Cameroun, where same-sex affection is an ancient tested and trusted charm for wealth creation; the Zvekumombe practice of teenage Zimbabwean shepherd boys who sought each others affection in the cold fields beneath the night’s stars; the 2000 year old painting of two male lovers sitting in the public glare of Zimbabwean state.

Africa means me, and the several interesting and diverse possibilities that I may want to explore academically, spiritually, financially, socially, emotionally, and more fiercely, sexually, when, how and with whom I may want to explore them.

Africa also means us, the little strands of hair that can’t make it neatly in the kinky bun. The realities and practices that are common, wide spread, secret and yet untalked about.

Africa, you know as well I do, that anyone who justifies homophobia is fiercely ignorant of you. Fortunately, they won't be for long. Odigonma. In faith, God blessing us, all that was hidden will come to light. You are rising like the phoenix. You and all the complex, yet beautiful things you stand for.

I love you still. Crazier by the day.

Warmly,

Nnanna.

Sexuality and jungle justice by Jaden Sodi

I still feel pains in my chest, like I am suffocating, losing my breathe, each time I remember the death of Ejiofor. He was a boy like me; innocent, free, bold, and handsome. He was equally peaceful, outspoken, with olive skin and pure brown eyes.

I met Ejiofor in my days at the university.  My roommate had just informed me of a very feminine guy that looks like me, though slim and quite extrovertive in nature. He told me that everybody believes that Ejiofor is gay – I didn’t know what that word meant. I know about ‘homo’ but not gay, the best I know is that ‘gay’ means to be happy and feeling upbeat. But his tone suggested that gay in this context means something awful, and should be excluded because it is alien.

The first I ran into ejiofor was at the hostel’s cafeteria where I had gone to buy noodles and soap. He kept staring at me, dimming his eyes and half smiling, as if he is mocking me, with his left brows pushed up. He was a beautiful boy, and I felt intimidated by his beauty. We never became friends until he helped me fought off a popular bully at the tap where I had gone to fetch water. He said to me afterwards ‘let your voice be as strong as you look’ and I have never forgotten those words.

Our friendship blossomed through the years, and we always travel and return back to campus on the same day, together. This caused a huge strain on my friendship with my roommates, but it never bothered me because with Ejiofor, I felt whole. He taught me things that empowered me and made me bolder: Your life is a story and you are a blank page, write a story that will be remembered for good things. They can never beat you if you beat them first.

Ejiofor made me accept myself the way I am. It was from him that I heard the word ‘Gay Activist’ for the first time. He used to say ‘I am an activist for things that are authentically a part of me, things that arise from my relationship with the world around me’. He never kept quiet in the face of bullying or any sort of intimidation or inequality. He was loved and hated at the same time but he never let it bother him. He knew things like who is sleeping with whom in the hostel.  During hall meetings, he would nudge me to speak up and be bold, because ‘you have the same valid right as any other student present at the meeting’, and if I don’t speak, he would pull my ears after the meeting and call me a ‘silly boy’, but he loved me and cared about me, and I never wanted to miss a day without him.

After one of our exams in 2009, he told me that would be travelling to Enugu to visit a certain macho guy he met on facebook. He promised to come back with gifts and gists. That was the last time I heard from or saw him. When school resumed, his family came and packed his things and his mother told us that he was killed by armed robbers on his way to Enugu. I cried and could not be consoled. It was his cousin, a church boy, who came to preach to me about heaven and damnation in hell who told me that Ejiofor was lynched by some guys at Enugu for being gay, for his perceived sexuality. He told me that they tore his clothes, dragged him around the streets naked and heavily beaten, and he died on the way to the hospital. That was when I stopped mourning and got angry. I was angry with his family for lying, for not seeking justice for a promising yet wasted maleness, inadvertently promoting jungle justice and group conformity. I was angry at the society for destroying a life that they should be protecting, for being so self-destructive, shallow-minded, and blindly religious. I was angry with my country, culture, church, myself, and everyone around me. The effect this had on me:  it made me more conscious of the society, more conscious of the preachers and their preaching, more rebellious towards anti-gay statements, and group conformity – which scares the skin off me, because it is often a prelude to cruelty towards anyone who does not want to join the big parade.

With Ejiofor, I had learned to have a mind that bear no grudges, that retains nothing. But his passing left a huge vacuum in my heart and I began to feel open and ignore what makes me unique. I began to feel like I was just a yawn.

Just like Ejiofor, Akinnifesi Olumide Olubunmi was also lynched by some angry youths at Ondo for his perceived sexuality. The gory pictures of Akinnifesi’s bloodstained body, broken skull, and lifeless body made me lose my appetite, and my caged anger began to unleash itself. A helpless young man, Akinnifesi, lost his life, just like that and nothing looks bad about it. Everybody is going about their lives like nothing really happened. Instead his death has incited excitement in people. Some took it upon themselves to condemn his killing on social media, while others chose to uphold his killings as a well deserved act. If homosexuality is a sin, what about Adultery? What about our thieving politicians that steal from us and still brainwash us to keep voting for them? What about our under-aged girls forced to marry men old enough to be their grandfathers, all in the name of culture and religion? What about the innocent young man who will probably spend the rest of his life in jail for a crime he did not commit, because his witness has been bribed? What about our failed education system and power sector? What about our unemployed youth who will end up turning to crime as a means of survival, because he does not have a godfather who could help get him a job? What about thousands of youths that died during the last immigration test in Nigeria? I could go on and on and you could say that I am angry. But of course, yes, I am angry. The late playwright, Esiaba Irobi said ‘Revolution does not start in the head. It starts in the stomach, with hunger and starvation, with marasmus and kwashiokor’ , and I believe that we need a revolution or something like that. We need to go back to our roots and get educated. We need to ask the right questions and mind our individual businesses. We need to understand that love is love and it is divine and natural. We need to know that having a moral objection towards someone’s sexuality is like telling someone how to clean his house. We need to understand that freedom is not dictated but is a right that is for all mankind irrespective of sex, sexuality, gender, belief, or race. We need to know that there is really no difference between the bully and the victim; that life is without variety if different is bad. We are with shadows only when we stand in the light. Normal is living and letting others live and feel comfortable, as long as they are not harming mankind. We need to be real and awake.

I cannot on my own, get justice for Ejiofor, Akinnifesi, Aluu 4 victims, and others who have lost their lives to mob action and group conformity, but I can start by speaking about it, writing about it, acting about it. I will never do anything unless I believe in it, and I believe that tolerance and acceptance and love are what feeds the society and makes it healthy. We are responsible for the definition of our lives and beauty, not the society. We need to be brave enough to let others be their true selves, and positive enough to let others offer their separate gifts to the society. If you can never turn down good food because you love life, then never turn down someone’s natural-ness.