Eddie Ombagi

Becoming Queer, Being African: Re-thinking an African Queer Epistemological Framework Eddie Ombagi A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. January, 2019 Epilogue In 2013, Lasse Lau organized a Queer Geography workshop in Beirut. The edited collection Queer Geographies came out of this meeting. In his essay, A Hands Routine, Omar Mismar (2013, 26) maps the holding and unholding of hands of two gay lovers, while in the car roaming the streets of Beirut. ‘He is driving and I am sitting next to him, sometimes I reach to his side and put my hand in his, other times he reaches to my side and puts his hand in mine. We roam, we talk, and we look. Holding hands becomes a risk, a secret act, fun for being dangerous. We hold and unhold, depending on where we are, who is next to us, and what is next to us. The holding is interrupted: by a traffic light, a higher adjacent car, a rose seller, a beggar, a delivery boy, a passer- by, a heated conversation, a jealous gaze... As a translucent gay space, the car is vulnerable and exposed. The city and its people become a threat. ‘Revolt’ does happen every once in a while by keeping the hold even when everything around us (and everything we learned and internalized) tells us not to. We could say it is a form of resisting. We contribute to the interruption of our hand holding as much as everybody out there does. The cause for unholding might be internal: a conversation, a dispute, a sweaty hand... The routine is by no means consistent. It depends on our mood and how alert we are to the outside even when encountering the same threats. It seems that we are threatened by everything and nothing simultaneously.’ This telling of the holding/ unholding of hands is so thorough in showing the complexities of occupying, inhabiting and claiming spaces. In this dissertation, I am here deliberate in my use of this form in my writing. ii Declaration I declare that this thesis is my own unaided work and it has not been submitted before for any degree or examination at any other university. It is submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. ---------------------------------------------------- Eddie Ombagi, January 2019, Johannesburg. iii Acknowledgements It is impossible to imagine this thesis without the immense support, considerable amount of time and a ridiculous generosity of spirit of one person. When I first sent in my concept note to the department and she agreed to supervise me, she gave me comprehensive notes on it and asked that I meet her in her office the next day. I was still in Kenya and I hadn’t even been accepted at Wits! When I reported, she gave her all; sending me books and materials, introducing me to people who, rightly so, she knew would be immeasurably indispensable to me, and offering me opportunities for conferences and fellowships. She would open her office, home and her heart for me when this process would sometimes seem difficult. She has taught me to stop being ‘defensive’ in my writing, and to always ‘think-as-you-write’; processes which I am yet to fully learn. Danai, I would never wish for this process to be any other way, and I hope this thesis makes you proud. To the wonderful people who started as respondents to my work and have become good friends, thank you for letting me read your lives and share in your experiences. My life, personal and scholarly, has been made richer by your presence. I owe great gratitude to the department of African Literature for embracing me wholeheartedly. Isabel Hofmeyr, thank you for that email that gently asked me to apply for the scholarship that saw me in South Africa. My ancestors have never stopped praying for you and they never will. Bhekizizwe Peterson and Dan Ojwang, how nice it has been knowing you. I remember when I first presented my proposal in the department in late 2015, and how gently but firmly you guided me. Thank you. Pumla Gqola, where should I start? We met in Kenya way before and do you remember that first class when you saw me and you were like, ‘I know you!’ You have been everything. All I can say, and I have told you before; you are fifty shades of awesomeness. Mrs. Merle Govind, I know you don’t know this but you have been a pillar. Whenever you are mad at me, that’s when I know I am wrong. Thank you for everything. Grace Musila, I know you are coming to the department, thank you for the first time we met in Nairobi, the conversations over dinner and the help you have given me. I am especially grateful to my second home, the THInK family. Eric Worby, thank you for letting me do what I do. Your generosity and spirit has been pure joy to me. To Shireen Ally, Zen Marie, Ahmed Veriava and Peace Kiguwa y’all have been amazing. What can I say about my colleagues at THInK? Hlengiwe, my personal person. Shibu, my rock, soul mate and Tequila fairy. Lord knows what we’ve been through. Refiloe, my all-time cheer leader and bosom buddy. Palesa, God I don’t know how to say this right, you bring sunshine to my life. You are just everything that is good and pure. Mpho and Shir’a, you are simply fine human beings. To many more fun times. To Adebayo, Dylan, Malindi, Taz, Ayodele, my life is much richer with you in it. The Humanities Graduate Centre at Wits has been a home for me all through this process. I remember being introduced to Dr. Linet Imbosa the first day I arrived and she was, and still iv remains, like a mother to me. Felix Mutunga, thank you for showing me the ropes on my first day at Wits and to the many times we shared in Braam or Hillbrow (you know what I mean) and in Swaziland. Jane, Anne, Janet, Femi, Natasha, Simbarashe, thank you so much. I have made many friends while at Wits. I have been extremely lucky to have friends who are my cheerleaders; Muchiri Githiria, Luicer Olubayo, John Karuitha, Wycliffe Ouma and Michael Mugaba have been a constant in my life. All I can say is thank you and the next tequila is on me. I cannot forget the friends I have met at PiG, the postgraduate club at Wits. The club has always been a refuge for me when this process was daunting. Were it not for you, I would be done with this PhD a year ago. To all of you, you know yourselves, thank you very much. Cheers! There have been people who always checked on me, ensured that I was on track and who, despite time and distance, were available when I needed help. Evan Mwangi, thank you for everything. The emails, calls and texts kept me going. You have been with me for long that I cannot remember. Please let us have that coffee! Keguro Macharia, thank you for always urging me to ask why. For always demanding of me to ask but? You have been, and still are, an inspiration. Neo Musangi, I can never forget the day you took me to my first fieldwork site. As the youngins say, I am a stan! Kitche Magak, Jack Ogembo, Gilbert Rotich, I hope I have made you proud. To the NIHSS, who awarded me a graduate scholarship, thank you. You made my life so much easier and my research so much enjoyable. My folks! Edward and Priscilla, I am eternally grateful for your patience and grace. Your advice, love and care have kept me going. The long distance calls were always an event for me. You don’t have to worry no more, I am done! My brothers Frank and Brian, I appreciate your constant support. Brenda, my darling little sister, you are always a ray of sunshine in my life. Your messages were a source of inspiration. I love you all and I am proud and happy to be part of your lives. Finally, I would like to acknowledge that parts of Chapter Four in this thesis have appeared as an article titled ‘Nairobi is a Shot of Whisky: Queer Ob(Scenes) in the City’ in the Journal of African Cultural Studies and parts of Chapter One and Five will appear in the 2019 issue of Social Dynamics journal. Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my readers, Prof. Helen Strauss, Prof. Hugo Canham and Dr. Henriette Gunkel for their keen eye, meticulous thoughts and critical insights in this thesis. Asante sana! v Dedication To the young, curious and foolish For whom no topic is taboo. vi Table of Contents Epilogue................................................................................................................................................... ii Declaration ............................................................................................................................................. iii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................ iv Dedication .............................................................................................................................................. vi List of Figures ......................................................................................................................................... ix Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... x Chapter One ............................................................................................................................................ 1 1.0 …in the beginning: An introduction. ....................................................................................... 1 1.1 (First); Mapping the Kenyan Terrain ......................................................................................

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