When we think of African cultures, we often envision ancient rituals, warrior traditions, and vibrant communal life. What’s often overlooked—or deliberately erased—is the diversity of sexual and gender practices that existed long before colonial influence. One fascinating example is the Azande people of Central Africa (present-day Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic), whose historical warrior culture included openly accepted same-sex relationships between men.
Far from being marginalized, these relationships once played a key role in defining social and masculine identity among Azande warriors.
Who Are the Azande?
The Azande are an ethnic group known for their rich oral traditions, spiritual practices, and deeply structured societal roles. Much of what we know about their historical culture comes from British anthropologist E.E. Evans-Pritchard, who lived among them in the early 20th century.
His observations, while filtered through a colonial lens, provide rare documentation of same-sex intimacy and its integration into daily life—especially among warriors.
Warrior Bonds: More Than Brotherhood
Among the Azande, young men were recruited into warrior groups often led by older, more experienced fighters. It was customary—and socially acceptable—for these older warriors to take on younger male partners in relationships that were both emotional and sexual.
These younger partners, sometimes referred to as boy-wives, would live with the older men, assist with domestic tasks, and share a bed. In return, they received training, protection, and mentorship. Sexual intimacy was seen as part of this mentorship—not a taboo act, but a recognized social structure.
"The warriors said that the relations between them and their boy-wives were pleasurable and natural," noted Evans-Pritchard in his 1937 fieldwork.
A Cultural Practice, Not a Western Label
It’s essential to understand that the Azande did not use labels like “homosexual” or “gay.” These are modern Western constructs. Among the Azande, these same-sex relationships were not seen as identity-based, but role-based—closely tied to age, status, and communal duty.
Eventually, many of these men went on to marry women and start families. Their earlier relationships weren’t viewed as contradictory to their future heterosexual marriages. In fact, participating in such bonds was often seen as a step in the journey toward manhood.
Ritual and Social Function
While the relationships were intimate, they also had broader social functions:
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Mentorship and Training: Older warriors passed down knowledge and survival skills.
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Community Cohesion: These bonds helped create loyalty within warrior groups.
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Initiation into Manhood: Participation signified readiness to take on adult responsibilities.
Rather than being marginalized, these practices were part of the mainstream social order.
Colonial Erasure and Modern Misconceptions
Colonial rule brought with it Christian morality, Victorian values, and criminal codes that suppressed same-sex relationships. Practices like those of the Azande were labeled “unnatural” and gradually driven underground or erased from historical records.
Today, some African leaders invoke “traditional values” to justify anti-LGBTQ+ policies—ironically ignoring actual pre-colonial traditions that were far more accepting of sexual diversity than modern law allows.
Why This History Matters
Understanding the practices of the Azande—and many other African societies—challenges the myth that same-sex relationships are “un-African.” It reminds us that African cultures have long had their own ways of expressing love, bonding, and masculinity outside of Western norms.
These stories, once buried by colonial narratives, are now being uncovered by scholars, activists, and communities eager to reclaim a fuller picture of African heritage.
Final Thoughts
The Azande are just one example among many African societies where same-sex intimacy played an important cultural role. Rather than viewing these relationships through a lens of modern labels, it’s more accurate—and more respectful—to understand them within their historical, social, and spiritual contexts.
By exploring these hidden histories, we not only learn more about the past—we open the door to more inclusive conversations about gender, sexuality, and identity in the present.
Suggested Reading & Resources:
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Boy-Wives and Female Husbands: Studies in African Homosexualities by Stephen O. Murray & Will Roscoe
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A History of Homosexuality in Africa by Chantal Zabus
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Evans-Pritchard, E.E. – Witchcraft, Oracles, and Magic Among the Azande (1937)
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