Jidenna: Homosexuality has always existed in Africa

Jidenna Mobisson, a Nigerian-American singer, says homosexuality has always existed in Africa, contrary to claims that gay relationships were brought into the continent as a European import.

The singer said this when speaking about sexuality and the African cultural symbols on Sway’s Universe, a popular talk show hosted by Sway Calloway, an American journalist and radio personality.

Jidenna made an example of a Ugandan clime and claimed there have been gay kings, graffitis portraying the practice of homosexuality, and different rights of passage where adherents of the same-sex ideology were thought to be more powerful.

“You hear these African leaders dressed in three-piece suits, got an iPhone, speaking in English and not their native tongue saying ‘it’s un-African to be homosexual. That was brought as a European import.’ It’s not true. It’s not true at all,” he said.

“In Uganda, the kingdom of Buganda at the time. Before Uganda, there was an openly gay king. If you go to Zimbabwe, you’ll see homosexual acts in the cave paintings. In different African communities, there were different rights of passage where homosexuals were thought to be more powerful.”

Jidenna, while speaking in the context of citizens indicted of cyber fraud in the US, had recently claimed that Nigerians are known for scamming because they are naturally smarter than people of other climes.

The singer also said ’85 to Africa‘, his recent album featuring Seun Kuti and Mr Eazi, was inspired by the highway across the Atlantic and his unexpected eviction from an Atlanta crib he had rented in the United States.