Gay rights in Africa
A group of prominent African writers has signed a letter condemning 'in the strongest possible terms the murder of Mr David Kato, the Ugandan gay rights campaigner'. The signatories 'state emphatically that homosexuality is neither a sin nor a social or cultural construct. Noting that 'homosexuals are human beings like everybody else,' the letter calls for all 'violence against gays and people deemed to be gay in Africa' to cease forthwith.
We the undersigned condemn in the strongest possible terms the murder of Mr David Kato, the Ugandan gay rights campaigner (Report, 4 February). We wish to state emphatically that homosexuality is neither a sin nor a social or cultural construct. It is a biological given. Homosexuals are human beings like everybody else. Scientific research has been helpful in clearing the fog of ignorance entrenched by some religious texts in regards to homosexuality. Our opinions of homosexuality must change for the better, just as our opinion of slavery has changed, even though it was endorsed by those same religious texts. All violence against gays and people deemed to be gay in Africa must cease forthwith.
We call on the government of Uganda to find and prosecute all those involved in the murder of Mr Kato, including the newspaper that called for the hanging of gays. We also call on African governments to learn from the South African example by expunging from their laws all provisions that criminalise homosexuality or treat homosexuals as unworthy of the same rights and entitlements as other citizens. African states must protect the rights of their citizens to freedom and dignity. Homosexuals must not be denied these rights.
Wale Adebanwi: University of California, US
Diran Adebayo: Writer, UK
Jide Adebayo-Begun: Writer, Nigeria
Kayode Adeduntan: University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Biola Adegboyega: University of Calgary, Canada
Shola Adenekan: Editor, The New Black Magazine, UK
Pius Adesanmi: Carleton University, Canada
Akin Adesokan: Indiana University, US
Chimamanda Adichie: Writer, Nigeria
Faith Adiele: Writer, US
Joe Agbro: Journalist, Nigeria
Anthony Akinola: Oxford, UK
Anengiyefa Alagoa: Writer, UK
Ellah Allfrey: Deputy editor, Granta Magazine, UK
Alnoor Amlani: Writer, Kenya
Ike Anya: Public health doctor and writer, UK
Bode Asiyanbi: Writer, Lancaster University, UK
Sefi Atta: Writer, US
Lizzy Attree: University of East London, UK
Damola Awoyokun: Writer, UK
Doreen Baingana: Writer, Uganda
Igoni Barrett: Writer, Nigeria
Tom Burke: Bard College, US
Brian Chikwava: Writer, UK
Jude Dibia: Writer, Nigeria
Chris Dunton: National University of Lesotho, Lesotho
Ropo Ewenla: Artist, Nigeria
Chielozona Eze: Northeastern Illinois University, US
Aminatta Forna: Writer, UK
Ivor Hartmann: Writer, South Africa
Chris Ihidero: Writer, Lagos State University, Nigeria
Ikhide R Ikheloa: Writer, US
Sean Jacobs: New School, US
Biodun Jeyifo: Harvard University, US
Brian Jones: Professor emeritus, Zimbabwe
Bassam Kassab: Writer and movie producer, US
Martin Kiman: Writer, US
Lauri Kubuitsile: Writer, Botswana
Zakes Mda: Ohio University, US
Colin Meier: Writer, South Africa
Gayatri Menon: Franklin and Marshall College, US
Valentina A Mmaka: Writer, Italy/South Africa
Jane Morris: Publisher, Zimbabwe
Joseph Sndanni Mwella: Advocate of high court, Kenya
Mbonisi P Ncube: Writer, South Africa
Iheoma Nwachukwu: Writer, Nigeria
Onyeka Nwelue: Writer and filmmaker, India/Nigeria
Fred Nwonwu: Writer and Journalist, Nigeria
Nnedi Okorafor: Writer, Chicago State University, US
Ebenezer Obadare: University of Kansas, US
Juliane Okot Bitek: Writer, Canada
Tejumola Olaniyan: University of Wisconsin, US
Ngozichi Omekara: Trinidad and Tobago
Akin Omotosho: Actor and filmmaker, South Africa
Kole Omotosho: Africa Diaspora Research Group, South Africa
Samuel Sabo: Writer, UK
Ramzi Salti: Stanford University, US
Namwali Serpell: Writer, Harvard University, US
Brett L Shadle: Virginia Tech, US
Drew Shaw: Midlands State University, Zimbabwe
Lola Shoneyin: Writer, Nigeria
Wole Soyinka: Nobel laureate for literature
Olufemi Taiwo: Seattle University, US
Ngugi wa Thiong'o: University of California, US
Kola Tubosun: Writer, Fulbright Scholar, US
Uzor Maxim Uzoatu: Writer, Nigeria
Abdourahman A Waberi: Writer, US /Djibouti
Binyavanga Wainaina: Writer, Kenya
Ronald Elly Wanda: Writer& lecturer, Marcus Garvey Pan-Afrikan Institute, Uganda
Kristy Warren: University of Warwick, UK
Cornel West; Princeton University, US
Swahili version
Mauaji ya David Kato - Mwanaharakati wa haki za wapenzi wa Jinsia moja nchini Uganda. Sisi tuliosaini hapo chini, tunashutumu vikali mauaji ya David Kato, Mwanaharakati wa haki za wapenzi wa Jinsia moja nchini Uganda. Tunasisitiza kuwa mapenzi ya jinsia moja sio uovu wa aina yoyote, katika tamaduni zetu.
Hili ni jambo linalotokea kimaumbile na wapenzi wa jinsia moja ni binadamu tu sawa na wengine. Utafiti wa sayansi umesaidia kuondoa kasumba hii mbovu iliyowekwa na baadhi ya vitabu vya dini juu ya wapenzi wa jinsia moja.Lazima tubadilishe maono yetu na mawazo tuliyonayo juu yao ili tuboreshe uhusiano uliopo.
Lazima uhasama na chuki iliyopo dhidi ya wapenzi wa jinsia moja iangamizwe kabisa.
Tunatoa wito kwa serikali ya Uganda kuwafungulia mashtaka wote waliohusika katika mauaji ya David Kato pamoja na gazeti hilo lililotoa wito wa chuki na mauaji ya wapenzi wa jinsia moja.
Pia tunatoa wito kwa mataifa mengine ya Afrika yajifunze kutoka kwa serikali ya Afrika Kusini na kuondoa tamaduni zinazoakandamiza wapenzi wa jinsia moja na kuwanyima haki zao za kibinadamu sawa na wananchi wengine. Mataifa ya Afrika yanawajibu wa kulinda haki na uhuru wa raia wao. Na wapenzi wa jinsia moja pia lazima wapewe haki hizi.
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* This letter first appeared in The Guardian.
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