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Diary of a Mad Kenyan Woman (http://madkenyanwoman.blogspot.com/2006/03/outing-heterosexuality.html) writes an essay entitled “Outing Heterosexuality” in which she discusses the inability of Africans to deal with any discussion on sexuality that is not limited to:

"…the missionary position sex-is-for-the-purpose-of-reproduction-only-and-any-other-type-of-sexual-activity-will-send-you-into-the-inferno heterosexuality. Did you get that? Homosexual, bisexual, transsexual, gay, queer, lesbian, transgender, cross-dresser and so on and as Judith Butler says, on and on have, exactly the same standing (I think there's a horribly dirth pun in there somewhere) as heterosexuality does."

She concludes that the reality is that your sisters, brothers, friends, colleagues, cousins, nephews, nieces, even your parents are all:

“…trapped in a prison more violent and restrictive than any physical restraint.”

Gukira (http://gukira.blogspot.com/2006/03/homosexuality-is-un-african.html) responds with a brilliant essay on “Homosexuality is Un-African” in which he:

“…argue(s) that histories of the term homosexuality and its cultural contexts cannot account for African conceptions of sexuality. I then examine the possible effects of legislating gender and sexual diversity by analyzing a section from Nigeria’s recent draft bill against homosexuality. Finally, I argue for an approach to sexual rights embedded in concepts of African diversity and hospitality.”

In the end we all loose from bigotry and gender stereotyping. As Gukira writes:

“Women heckle men, asking them to prove their masculinity. Men police men. Women police women. We police each other. We create gender prisons that demand narrow and stereotypical performances of gender.

Africans continue to threaten those who speak out against homophobia and defend the rights of homosexuals as the human rights that belong to us all. We seek liberty but demand prison for those who are different!”

The Voice of Somaliland Diaspora (http://waridaad.blogspot.com/2006/03/ikran-haji-daud-symbol-of-hope-for....) comments on the visit to the US of the Honourable Ikran Haji Daud Warsame, the first elected woman MP in Somaliland. He writes:

“In a society dominated by male chauvinism, it is a rarity to mention women who made history in our society, except a few. However, women, NOT MEN, have always remained the source of inspiration, hope, strength, courage and resilience for most Somalis, both men and women, for generations.”

He honours Ms Warsame and hopes that her presence will spell a new hope for Somali women.

Lagos based Nigerian blogger Ore’s Notes (http://orenotes.blogspot.com/2006/03/vagina-monologuesi-saw-this-last.html) posts on her visit to the Vagina Monologues and reports that the venue was packed out despite the early 6pm start.

“The vagina celebration ended with an exquisitely eloquent exhortation by Joke Silva to reclaim the dreaded c-word - cunt. As beautiful as she made it sound, I still hate the word! I shudder to type it. And reading it (especially on my blog) is even worse! And that’s because I cannot get away from the venom and hate behind the word when it’s hurled at women as the worst possible kind of insult. The argument that words (or people, for that matter) only have power over you when you permit them to, and that by 'reclaiming' the word you take away the sting, is a common one.”

Ore does not agree – “…a word that is borne out of such hatred and violence against women is not one I wish to reclaim or share.”

Kenyan Poet and blogger, Mshairi (http://www.mshairi.com/blog/2006/03/19/home-again) writes a beautiful poem which expresses her homesickness.

dreaming swift and magnificent
stand be still at the centre my heart
desires to ask the age-old keepers of the cosmic forests how long
the trees have been weeping tire not little
bird soon you will rest listen to the mighty
oceans sing this land of diamonds is yours mine ours
this land of gold is yours mine ours
this land of silver is yours mine ours I am the potent splendour of a rock clinging to the earth this is my world welcome
to my world

Freedom for Egyptians (http://freedomforegyptians.blogspot.com/2006/03/al-azhar-objects-movie-o...) comments on the recent visit of Prince Charles to Egypt, which coincides with the objection of the clerics of Al Azhar who want to ban an Egyptian film on Jesus.

According to the Middle East Online: A film due to be shot in Egypt on the life of Jesus Christ has stirred protests from the highest authority in Sunni Islam, the Al-Azhar institution in Cairo.

The Moor Next Door (http://wahdah.blogspot.com/2006/03/reflection-on-camus-albert-lalgrien.html) reflects on the role of Albert Camus in Algeria's war of independence. He concludes that Edward Said was right in saying Camus was against independence. But he wonders whether that makes Camus an "imperialist tool”.

“Algeria was his home and he was just as attached to it as any Muslim Algerian was and had his own views of it and how it should have been handled.”

* Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks,

* Please send comments to [email protected]