Africa must not follow alien Western practices

Lazarus Sauti

Africans must not just gracelessly follow practices unfamiliar to them because people from the West approve of them.

Not all western practices are good for our continent dubbed the cradle of humanity and at the same time not all are bad. But, homosexuality is an alien practice that is being smuggled in Africa and it is not good for this moral-endowed continent.

Bar few Africans, the fact that most African countries are refusing to be morally raped is worthy celebrating. It is not wise for our political leaders to acknowledge homosexuality and the West should not force Africans to accept it.

The West must realise that all men are created equal and borrowing from George Orwell (1945), all animals are equal.

Thus, one has to respect and honour others' cultures, beliefs and tradition that have been formed beyond a couple of centuries for recent psychology findings.

Frankly, homosexuality is a social ill that is a product of other social ills; it is immoral and destroys the spirit and soul in a way that leads to physical and spiritual death.

Ultimately, making it legal leads to the moral degeneracy of our African society as a whole.

It is also naive for Africans to accept same sex marriages as constitutional when the demand is made by Westerners and yet those same Westerners detest polygamy and call Africans backward for recognising it.

The Chinese eat dogs and the West is quick to disapprove. Yes, it is within their right to do so, just as it is within our rights to unanimously reject homosexuality.

Homosexuality is “un-African”. Africans believe in strong family values based on love between men and women. Thus, homosexuality is a product of Western liberal splendor, decay and decadence.

The late J.M. Kariuki, a Kenyan populist Member of Parliament, called homosexuality “that vice for which we Africans have no name”.

Kariuki is not the only reasonable voice to denounce homosexuality. Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe was right when he said homosexuality degrades human dignity.

He said: “Homosexuality degrades human dignity. It’s unnatural, and there is no question ever of allowing these people to behave worse than dogs and pigs.

“If dogs and pigs do not do it, why must human beings? We have our own culture, and we must rededicate ourselves to our traditional values that make us human beings…What we are being persuaded to accept is a sub-animal behaviour and we will never allow it here.”

The key part of President Mugabe’s quote is that homosexuality is not part of African culture and it has been perniciously imported.

Similarly, Ugandan Member of Parliament David Bahati has been the main force behind the proposed Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill, submitted in October 2009.

“It is un-African because it is inconsistent with African values, of procreation and of the belief in the continuity of family and clan,” Bahati said.

He added, “Same-sex relationships compromise population growth on the continent.”

Following his heart, Jacob Zuma, the President of South Africa once said that homosexuality was  a “disgrace to the nation and to God” before he was forced to change his stance and apologise unreservedly.

At least all African leaders can agree on one thing and that is homosexuality is unAfrican and should not be approved.  

As usual, the western media is fast spreading the notion that Africa is a dark continent and undemocratic because African leaders refuse to legalise homosexuality.

The influence of western media and the bias of their leaders should never be accommodated.

Africa is an independent continent. As such, threats like pulling back funding for African countries that criminalise homosexuality should be treated as such – threats.

Africans should not follow this western culture of tolerating gays because it is unGodly.

 It is critical to remember what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah. God kills everyone in Sodom and Gomorrah. This was because some homosexuals lived there.

Meanwhile, since homosexuality is a social ill, Africa and her citizenry needs alternative ways of assisting homosexuals.

Instead of advocating for legalising homosexuality and recognising it as a human right, Africans need to advocate for better counseling, parenting and fighting to provide citizens with greater opportunities so they do not have to engage in homosexuality, whether for fun or for selling their bodies.

Furthermore, to continue preserve our values and totally ignore approvals of homosexuality, African policy makers should formulate clear policies that preserve the moral fabric of society and preserve the family as the basis of society.

Social commentator Collence Chisita said: “African way of life dictates that existence and reproduction of life sit at the core of human society.

“This means that men and women should have children, thereby creating a community and continuity.

“As such, these beliefs do not have room for homosexuality because the practice has no room for reproduction and continuity of the human race.”

Consequently, homosexuality should remain a deviation in many African communities. Enacting laws that recognises homosexuality should not be tolerated since Africa’s distaste of homosexuality is not just based on traditional cultural practices but on Biblical teachings.      

Up with hope, down with homosexuality!