Nigerian Gay Activist Bisi Alimi Poses For Blanck Magazine; Reveals Homose-xuality Can Be Accepted In Nigeria |
Nigerian UK based gay activist, Bisi Alimi in a recent interview with Blanck Digital Magazine speaks on an array of things from his experience so far to whether he misses Lagos.
Bisi says Homose-xuality can be accepted in Africa as Africans are neither idiots nor senseless.
“Since I left Nigeria in 2007 I have never been back, it’s not a safe place for me. It would be sheer foolishness on my part to go back to Nigeria after the failed attempt on my life or the ever ending run-ins I had with the police. It is one thing to be a maytr and another to live to fight another day and I think I would rather want to live so I can keep fighting.
Bisi says Homose-xuality can be accepted in Africa as Africans are neither idiots nor senseless.
“Since I left Nigeria in 2007 I have never been back, it’s not a safe place for me. It would be sheer foolishness on my part to go back to Nigeria after the failed attempt on my life or the ever ending run-ins I had with the police. It is one thing to be a maytr and another to live to fight another day and I think I would rather want to live so I can keep fighting.
Do you think homose-xuality can be accepted in an African society?
Yes I do. I do because Africans are not idiots or senseless. It really angers me when in the discourse of accepting se-xual orientation and gender identity that Africans are liken to some dangerous species. History in Europe as regards LGBT people is not that far away. I mean homose-xuality was decriminalised in the UK just over 50 years ago. It is important to note that Nigeria was just coming out of colonial rules when Britain was decriminalising homose-xuality. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not making a case for homophobes in Nigeria or Uganda or any other part of Africa. What I am saying is, the question that generates a sense of hopelessness as regards LGBT rights in Africa is only playing to the irrational discourse that Africans are not rational people. We know that contrary is the case.
It is important to understand the impact post colonial religious movement is having on the continent. Yes, homose-xuality will be accepted in Nigeria if we stick to the positive narrative of same se-x relationships. If we step up the game and let Africans remember the basis of the African society, one built on the principles of “umbutu” and not on greed as perpetrated by religious entrepreneur who are constantly ruining the continent with the support of their politicians, who disregards democracy and the wish of the people.
It is not only homose-xuality I see being accepted on the continent, I see good governance coming on as well. I see the people’s wishes coming true. I see respect for women and girls. I see the end of marriage rape and child marriage. I see education becoming a right and not a privilege. I see healthcare being people orientated and I am see an Africa like David Diop said in “Africa”, a continent “Whose fruit bit by bit acquires the bitter taste of liberty”
It is not only homose-xuality I see being accepted on the continent, I see good governance coming on as well. I see the people’s wishes coming true. I see respect for women and girls. I see the end of marriage rape and child marriage. I see education becoming a right and not a privilege. I see healthcare being people orientated and I am see an Africa like David Diop said in “Africa”, a continent “Whose fruit bit by bit acquires the bitter taste of liberty”
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