Boy-Wives and Female Husbands: Studies of African Homosexualities Paperback – March 2, 2001

An enlightening book presenting an extremely wide variety of narratives about non-heterosexual relationships in traditional and modern African cultures. The editors provide a superb introduction, presenting different approaches and definitions and then let the anthology entries each speak for themselves. Worthwhile reading in either the context of studies of sexuality or of African history and culture.

The writing is very academic and dense (by design) at points, however, this book is an absolutely fascinating read that details homosexuality across Africa.

a bit messy but good condition.

especially in light of legal situation in many african countries, where lesbian and gay people are being prosecuted and often incarcerated

Perfect condtiton.

I read the 2001 paperback of the originally 1998 book. It was edited by two US anthropologists/activists. The title should have read "Studies in Sub-Saharan Homosexualities". It features some dozen authors, virtually all of which seem to be Westerners also. Which may not make it easier to convince those who say that "African homosexualities" are a colonial invention. However, the content makes it clear that the colonialists' influence had been rather in the reverse, downpressing African homosexualities and brainwashing the new generations of the installed African elite. The term "homosexuality" is Western of course. Coined by an Austrian in Germany in the 19th century, melting Greek and Latin, describing a Western concept. (Which is also true for the term "heterosexuality".) Of course anywhere, you will find humans who fall in love and / or engage in sexuality which may be transcribed as homosexuality by the Western gender concept. There are many differing gender concepts in Africa, however, some of which get mentioned in this book, others not. Read for example  When Men Are Women: Manhood Among The Gabra Nomads Of East Africa  or  Male Daughters, Female Husbands: Gender and Sex in an African Society , both books NOT describing homosexualities.The book uses contemporary and colonial sources (such as colonial court cases against "homosexualities".) as well as studies in anthropology. For a more authentic grasp on the material, more African sources themselves would have been more helpful. Probably a matter of availability. Still, some African authors could have shed a more thorough light on certain concepts. Especially old colonial sources are bound to be vague and of the not quite overstanding kind. Elaboration on concepts is something else than these compilation listings in a nut shell.Still, this book offers a nice updated and important Western entry into the subject matter. (There were German collectors and publishers of the entire world's "homosexualities" in the early 20th century). Can't wait to read some African perspectives some day.This book covers more (Black) African peoples NOT than it does.However much or little this book may be flawed, for the time being one shouldn't engage in a denial argument without having read this one.You may be interested in  Islamic Homosexualities: Culture, History, and Literature , the newer  African Intimacies: Race, Homosexuality, and Globalization  and the much, much older German  Das Geschlechtsleben der Naturvölker. .

Here is a book with oral histories and folklore tales from ethnographers that went to Africa. The book is an eyeopening one into the sexuality aspect of Africans often challenging theories of sexuality. It is an excellent book to answer to the question of How & Why Does Same Sex Sexual Behavior Varies Cross Culturally? It was writing an essay on this topic that got me to this book, I have always wanted to know about this issue since there has been a lot of denial from African colleagues but once I have read the first few pages of the book that 'denial' and "shh" feelings that exist within many Africans, was brought to light. The same smoothness and revelation is experienced throughout the book. The book seperates Africa into four regional sections to illustrate the diversity of African culture within that vast continent. It is very easy to read and simple too. If you are a book worm, you will love this one. It is the book for History, Anthropology or Gender Study students or those with interest in the above mention + Sexuality. The book now occupies a special place in my selective collection, get one too, I am sure there will be no regrets!

Garbage.

Although the title includes the work "African", this book is only concerned with sub-Saharan Africa. (Presumably the authors considered that homosexuality in North Africa is already fairly well known.) Madagascar is not included.The authors show that both same-sex eroticism and gender variance were widespread in traditional African societies. Although the subject is difficult to study, because there is not much written evidence from before the period of European influence, and European influence (especially Christianity) has destroyed or distorted much of traditional African society, enough evidence remains to provide the basis for a book-length work. Several things are clear. First, what we can loosely call "homosexuality" was present throughout Africa. Second, it was generally accepted by traditional societies. Third, traditional African "homosexuality" usually differed, sometimes substantially, from homosexuality in modern western culture:. It also differed from one traditional culture to another, which is why the authors use the word "homosexualities" in the title.What in the west we call "homophobia" does not appear to have been present in traditional African societies until Christianity was introduced, and it is abundantly clear that contemporary homophobia in Africa has its roots in Christianity, not in Africa.This is the first serious study of the subject and, like most ground-breaking studies, it is probably far from complete. There must be plenty of scope for those familiar with particular societies to deepen our knowledge.

The myth that homosexuality was brought to the African continent by Arabs or Western colonial powers is here shattered by the detailed and thorough research which shows that it was a long-standing part of the African culture. The book divides into five parts, each covering an area of the sub-Saharan continent and puts another lie in the throat of the dictator Mugabe who persists in his wrong-headed and duplicitous attitudes. It is not an easy book to read as it is more of a Sociological treatise, but the details are illuminating of an often-hidden and even more often denied social activity--esp. given the open hostility of US Black Churches ton the issue!

This is a very informative book about Homosexuality in Africa in past times

Informative. Helpful in overcoming ignorance.