At the University of Cape Town, a lecture by Kenyan Professor Patrick Lumumba as part of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party’s ten-year anniversary celebration sparked tensions.
LGBT Community Protests Lumumba’s Presence
The event drew protests from the university’s LGBT community, who found it unacceptable that a reported homophobe be allowed to speak on their campus. Lumumba has previously expressed homophobic sentiments and reportedly supported the repression of gay people in Uganda. His presence at the university, which prides itself on inclusivity, diversity, and commitment to transformation, ignited conflict between the LGBT community and the EFF, who had invited Lumumba to speak at the event.
Protests Outside Sarah Baartman Hall
As the lecture approached, both groups gathered outside the Sarah Baartman Hall in an attempt to out-sing each other. Waving rainbow flags, the LGBT protesters held posters with messages such as “Queer lives matter,” “Lumumba uyabhora” (Lumumba, you are annoying), and “Education cures homophobia.”
Concerns Voiced by LGBT Community
Micha Cerf, vice chairperson of Rainbow UCT, expressed concern about Lumumba’s past homophobic comments, stating that the queer community at UCT found it unacceptable for someone like Lumumba to speak on their campus. Cerf further highlighted the message they were trying to convey through their protest, which was that “queerness is African and homophobia is unAfrican.” Ling Sheperd of the Triangle Project criticized the university’s decision to provide a platform for a known homophobic person, calling it hypocritical given UCT’s claims of inclusivity and diversity.
Conflicting Signals
The situation becomes even more puzzling when considering EFF leader Julius Malema’s previous show of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. Not long ago, Malema draped himself in a pride flag in support of Ugandans, which raises questions about the motivations behind Lumumba’s invitation to speak at the event.
Lumumba’s Lecture Goes Ahead
Despite the tensions, Professor Lumumba’s lecture went ahead as planned, focusing primarily on the need for African unity in response to the historical and ongoing oppression of African people by larger powers. It is noteworthy that he did not address the issue of homosexuality or Uganda’s laws criminalizing it during his 40-minute speech.
Ongoing Struggle for Acceptance and Understanding
Although the EFF maintained that the event was a celebration and should be treated as such, the controversy surrounding Lumumba’s presence on the university campus underscored the ongoing struggle for acceptance and understanding of the LGBTQ+ community in Africa. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of continued dialogue and education to challenge preconceived notions and promote inclusivity for all.
