Rowland Jide Macaulay (second from left) is joined by (from left) Chris Hanson, Brenda Harrison, and Louie Crew.

Homosexuality Does Exist in Nigeria

By Rowland Jide Macaulay

[Ed. Note: The following presentation was originally delivered at the Changing Attitude worship service in London on October 14, 2003.]

My name is Rowland Jide Macaulay. I was born to Nigerian parents. I have a good understanding of our 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: the fear of being caught, the fear of sin, of commitment of an abomination. I grew up with a lot of guilt in my heart, I often prayed for forgiveness, sanctification and purification.

I spent my teenage years in Nigeria, where I first experienced my sexuality, although in great fear: the fear of being caught, the fear of sin, of 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, a 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, how great a child I was, homosexuality was not part of the culture.

Homosexuality is considered 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.

And without a doubt, this testimony in the forum in which it is being delivered will have repercussions . . . 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.

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 a different sexuality.

The prohibition of homosexuality in Nigeria is not only confined to the letters of the legislation but is also denied as prevailing within the culture. [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 traditional values.

Parents in Nigeria will seldom accept their son or daughter is homosexual. It is commonly said, "I would 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 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 believes that homosexuality defies the country's rich culture, and the practise of it will cause the individual to be ostracised.

Finally, the ultimate tenet of the Bible is love. It is my hope that this issue is debated with this in mind.

We - are - all - in - this - together. Thank you.

The Rev. Rowland Jide Macaulay is an ordained Christian minister and a poet. His writings from Nigeria and the United Kingdom may be found on his Poetry Upfront website.