posted by Kellie Nguyen and Tanya B. Schwarz
The month of September brought several interesting and engaged discussions on the CIHA Blog. Our contributors talked about issues of oppression, religious conceptions of humanitarianism, and LGBT rights in Africa. We began with the Ujamaa Lecture Series, presented at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal. In a lecture titled, “Race, Religion, Politics and the Black Church’s Proclamation—The African American Church—No Longer Invisible,” Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright talked about African oppression and the Black Church, and advocated for the liberation of the oppressed and the oppressor. Rev. Canon Dr. Kapya John Kaoma, in his lecture, “Killing our Children’s Children—Earth-Theology, Humanitarianism and Lessons Yet Learnt,” questioned whether humanitarianism is a voluntary act or a moral duty. He said that religion calls for helping the poor and valuing all living creatures, whereas politics is often more focused on greed and power, worsening conditions that political approaches set out to solve. Dr. Duma Ndlovu gave the John Langalibalele Dube Memorial Lecture titled “Reconscientising South African Communities Towards Self-Reliance—A ‘Ghost Dance’ with John Langalibalele Dube and Steve Bantu Biko.” Dr. Ndlovu talked about Dube and Biko’s efforts to achieve dignity for black people in South Africa and their overarching goals of freedom for all peoples.
A piece by Ebenezer Obadare, titled “Ebenezer Obadare on Gay Rights, Same-Sex Marriage,” and originally posted by Naji.com, began our series on LGBT rights in Africa. Obadare called out LGBT rights opponents arguing that such rights do no harm to society. In the first response/discussion piece for a CIHA Blog discussion series titled, “Perspective on LGBT Rights In Africa” Lilly Phiri commended Obadare’s views, but argued that the recognition of different sexual identities must precede fighting for their rights. Michael Bosia then responded to Phiri, pointing to the neglect of certain topics, though he agreed with her goals: that we should empower all sexual minorities, providing them with the resources and communities they deserve. Cilas Kemedjio provided the final response, calling out LGBT opponents who try to justify their views culturally, saying suppression of sexual diversity is a staple of pre-colonial Africa. Kemedijo demanded for more active coalitions that bring about long-term change.
In early October, we continued to engage with issues related to black oppression in South Africa in Comrade Ekwealor Chinedu Thomas’ piece “How the White Beds were Laid in South Africa: Proving to be Black.” And, Rev. Canon Janet Trisk’s post on the Elmina Consultation—which called on the Anglican Communion to protect LGBT victims of violence—provided an interesting and promising alternative to cultural and religious defenses of anti-gay legislation and practices, which Cilas Kemedjio addressed in his September piece. We also re-posted Jason Hickel’s piece on “Why the New Sustainable Development Goals Won’t Make the World a Better Place.” Later in the month we will continue to address issues surrounding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and will have updates and news from the Blog’s workshop on “Rethinking the Origins of Humanitarian Action in Africa: Religion, Secularism, and the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970),” taking place at the University of Ghana-Legon October 18-20.