Homosexuality Not An Import

WITH a population of just close to two million, Namibia is home to over 300 000 white people, most of whom are Namibian by birth, while others immigrated or came to settle in the country from either South Africa or Europe for various reasons.

This means that more than 1,5 million of Namibia’s inhabitants are black or indigenous people, and most of them do not have any direct contact with their white counterparts. The question at hand is, did white people teach innocent black Namibians how to practise homosexuality as has been alleged before? The answer to this myth might be difficult to obtain, but the following might give an overview of the situation at hand and whether this should be blamed on the small number of whites of homosexual orientation.Take the Wernhil Park public toilet in the Windhoek’s city centre for example.It is mainly frequented by blacks, with a few whites who make use of it.Go to the Windhoek city centre on a Saturday morning or any day of the week during lunch hour and you will see them, young black male Namibians, most of them professionals, who appear to be macho.They will show no outward sign of having anything to do with homosexual activities, and most of them have girlfriends, perhaps as way of covering up or just to fit in with others, but come night time they will find excuses to get to their same-sex partners.Among adults there are those who have taken advantage of their positions, enticing young boys for sex in exchange for job offers.Kasoma Kashoongo (not his real name) has become very popular among young boys graduating from high school, in need of securing a career without tertiary education.Call this a carpet interview if you like, but Kasoma has put specific requirements in place to satisfy his selfish urge.Only boys with extra size are eligible for the job offers.A number of youths I know of did take advantage of their God-given gifts, and in a way sacrificed their manhood to sleep with Kasoma for the sake of establishing a career.But what started as successful job hunt developed into a habitual practice for an act they grew up to believe was immoral.The practice is very popular among the well-educated community, most of them married men.Take Zocks Moyo (not his real name) for example, now married for the past three years.His wife was transferred to the north, and in her absence, their bedroom has been turned into a male sex show.The practice has increased rapidly among young people of all ethnic groups, including the Oshiwambo-speaking males, who are perceived to be conservative.It is very difficult to judge people these days, everyone is trying out the new game.The Gaydar website, a world-wide adult site for gays and lesbians searching for soul mates, has over 200 Namibians signed up as members, 90 per cent of this figure from Windhoek alone.Critics say 40 if not 50 per cent of men are either gay, bisexual or they simply are not aware of their sexual orientation for lack of exposure, and for that they have to live within the principles of what community perceives as moral.Europeans might have introduced a few black people to homosexuality, but the fact that it is increasingly popular among blacks, makes this claim questionable, if it doesn’t even throw into disrepute Africa’s strong cultures and strict values.Fillemon Enkali WindhoekThe question at hand is, did white people teach innocent black Namibians how to practise homosexuality as has been alleged before? The answer to this myth might be difficult to obtain, but the following might give an overview of the situation at hand and whether this should be blamed on the small number of whites of homosexual orientation.Take the Wernhil Park public toilet in the Windhoek’s city centre for example.It is mainly frequented by blacks, with a few whites who make use of it.Go to the Windhoek city centre on a Saturday morning or any day of the week during lunch hour and you will see them, young black male Namibians, most of them professionals, who appear to be macho.They will show no outward sign of having anything to do with homosexual activities, and most of them have girlfriends, perhaps as way of covering up or just to fit in with others, but come night time they will find excuses to get to their same-sex partners.Among adults there are those who have taken advantage of their positions, enticing young boys for sex in exchange for job offers.Kasoma Kashoongo (not his real name) has become very popular among young boys graduating from high school, in need of securing a career without tertiary education.Call this a carpet interview if you like, but Kasoma has put specific requirements in place to satisfy his selfish urge.Only boys with extra size are eligible for the job offers.A number of youths I know of did take advantage of their God-given gifts, and in a way sacrificed their manhood to sleep with Kasoma for the sake of establishing a career.But what started as successful job hunt developed into a habitual practice for an act they grew up to believe was immoral.The practice is very popular among the well-educated community, most of them married men.Take Zocks Moyo (not his real name) for example, now married for the past three years.His wife was transferred to the north, and in her absence, their bedroom has been turned into a male sex show.The practice has increased rapidly among young people of all ethnic groups, including the Oshiwambo-speaking males, who are perceived to be conservative.It is very difficult to judge people these days, everyone is trying out the new game.The Gaydar website, a world-wide adult site for gays and lesbians searching for soul mates, has over 200 Namibians signed up as members, 90 per cent of this figure from Windhoek alone.Critics say 40 if not 50 per cent of men are either gay, bisexual or they simply are not aware of their sexual orientation for lack of exposure, and for that they have to live within the principles of what community perceives as moral.Europeans might have introduced a few black people to homosexuality, but the fact that it is increasingly popular among blacks, makes this claim questionable, if it doesn’t even throw into disrepute Africa’s strong cultures and strict values.Fillemon Enkali Windhoek