Defying a Myth: A Gay Sub-Culture in Contemporary South Africa

Abstract

This paper addresses contemporary proclamations of Zuluness among a sub-group of gay Zulu men in South Africa through an inter-disciplinary methodological approach. Against the socio-historical manifestations of the myth of homosexuality as un-African, this paper addresses the reconciliation of Zuluness and Gayness among members of a particular gay Zulu sub-culture. The re-interpretation of traditional Zulu ethnicity and African/Zulu culture among gay Zulu men in contemporary KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) offers new insights into the fluid and flexible constructions of contemporary African ethnicities and suggests that Zulu essentialism is being challenged. I argue that there are three main pillars upon which Zulu gay men in the KZN region primarily build their Zulu ethnic consciousness: firstly, the linguistic variety of isiNgqumo which derives its lexicon from an ancient isiZulu, secondly, the belief in the power of the amadlozi [ancestors] and lastly, the adherence to the traditional custom of ukuhlonipha [to show respect].