HOMOSEXUALITY AND TRAUMA: A PSYCHOANALYTICAL READING OF CHINELO OKPARANTA’S UNDER THE UDALA TREES

Abstract

In the recent times, African writers seem to engage in hot debate on whether homosexuality is African, alien or of western import. Scholars who project it as unAfrican validate the inhuman treatment meted out on the victims. In Nigeria, the law prescribes 14 years imprisonment for the offenders. Some religious sects go as far as sanctioning death for the victims. However, the fact remains that whether homosexuality is unAfrican or not seems immaterial as the practice speedily makes waves and continues to stare us in the face in the wake of the 21st century. The need to evaluate, analyze and look for proactive measures to cure the malady since the Nigerian law frowns at it becomes exigent. This research analyzed the causes of homosexuality, the homophobic attitudes of the society and its traumatic effects on the victims using Okparanta’s Under the Udala Trees. The resercher found out that the homosexuals are traumatized in Nigeria as a result they let out negative behaviour such as infidelity in marriage and frictional interrelationship with negative consequence. This research goes ahead to proffer psychoanalytical principles as its theoretical framework as well as lending its measures as solutions to the menace since it goes against the societal norms.