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As the Primates' Meet
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My name is Rowland Jide Macaulay, born to Nigerian Parents; I am an ordained minister and a poet. I have a good understanding of the culture and traditional values, the expectation of an African child and the African family. Tolerance remained at an angle to cultural expectations and homosexuality is not one that is accepted, in Africa, especially in Nigeria. I spent my teenage years in Nigeria, where I first experienced my sexuality, although in great fear, fear of being caught, fear of sin, commitment of an abomination, I grew up with a lot of guilt in my heart, I often prayed for forgiveness, sanctification and purification. I grew up with my father who is a Christian leader and I must assure you he is a fine man, learned man and a very good father, we love each other so much, but the culture and tradition of my tribe, the Yoruba tribe, meant that no matter how successful I become, great a child I was, homosexuality is not part of the culture. Homosexuality is a foreign or alien act; homosexuality is what happens to other people’s children or activities associated with occultism. I was married and divorced with a child before I was 26 years old. The marriage broke down based on my confession of the truth, that I am gay. By this time I was in fear that I will lose my life and my family. For many years, I kept a low profile but not without a troubled heart. I lived my life in pretence. I lived a double life, safeguarding any revelation of my sexual orientation. It became a secret that will haunt me for many more years. I was outed at my local Pentecostal church, I was outed amongst heterosexual friends, it became a revelation at work. This is painful and difficult for me to deal with, it was even more painful to deal with my family, as they are embittered towards me. I felt cornered. Having no one else to turn to, I turned to the Lord, only then did I make peace with him and began to understand my pain and anguish was for a reason. I understood that I was to be the voice for those who suffered similar predicament. My purpose at this present time is to reach out to other gays and lesbians suffering persecution, to offer some hope and to let them know they are not alone. And without a doubt, this testimony in the forum in which it is being delivered will have repercussions, the extent of which I am not aware. However, I stand strong in my faith and belief that as a child of God all will be well. It is not my intention to be a martyr, but simply to stand up and be counted and to highlight that I am ready to persevere, to speak up and pay the price for what I believe. It has been acknowledged that more and more same-sex loving Nigerians both at home and abroad suffer immense prejudice, due to the cultural belief and lack of education about sexuality and tolerance towards people with different sexuality. The prohibition of homosexuality in Nigeria is not only confined to the letters of the legislation but also denied as prevailing. There is a continuous attempt to deny or refuse to acknowledge, that gays and lesbians make up a significant part of the population. Homosexuality, as far as Nigeria is concerned, is an abuse of the traditional values. Parents in Nigeria will seldom accept their son or daughter is homosexual. It is commonly said, “ I will rather have the corpse of my child than accept him or her to be homosexual”. Steps are often taken to seek counselling, prayers, exorcism, casting out of the evil and binding the spirit of homosexuality in an attempt to remove what is seen as a curse. The prevailing view of churches in Nigeria is that homosexuality defies its rich culture and the practice of it makes the individual an outcast. Finally, the ultimate tenet of the Bible is love. It is to be hoped that this issue is debated with this in mind. We - are - all - in - this - together. Thank you. |
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