“Accused of a Sodomy Act”: Bible, queer poetry and african narrative hermeneutics

This article explores the role of poetry and narrative methods in African-centred queer biblical studies and theology. As a case in point, it presents a poem, titled “Accused of a Sodomy Act,” by Tom Muyunga-Mukasa, that was written as part of a queer Bible reading project with Ugandan LGBTQ refugee...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Muyunga-Mukasa, Tom Rogers (Author) ; Van Klinken, A. S. 1982- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Sheffield Institute for Interdisciplinary Biblical Studies 2021
In: Journal for interdisciplinary biblical studies (JIBS)
Year: 2021, Volume: 2, Issue: 2, Pages: 25-46
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Biblical studies / Feminism / The Humanities / Science of Religion / Poetry (term, motif) (Concept of) / Queer theory / Gender mainstreaming
IxTheo Classification:FD Contextual theology
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Description
Summary:This article explores the role of poetry and narrative methods in African-centred queer biblical studies and theology. As a case in point, it presents a poem, titled “Accused of a Sodomy Act,” by Tom Muyunga-Mukasa, that was written as part of a queer Bible reading project with Ugandan LGBTQ refugees. The poem is a contemporary re-telling of the gospel story about Jesus and the “woman caught in adultery” in the context of socio-political homophobia in Uganda. The poem is complemented by an autobiographical reflection by the writer, providing insight into his personal experiences of growing up as gay and religious in Uganda. This is embedded in a more general discussion, relating the poem to trends of life storytelling in African LGBTQ activism, and to established narrative methodologies in African theological and biblical studies scholarship. Overall, the article makes a methodological contribution, by foregrounding queer poetry and storytelling as innovations in African narrative hermeneutics that expand the established concern with gender and sexuality beyond a heterosexual framework, and that include the marginalised voices and experiences of LGBTQ people.
ISSN:2633-0695
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal for interdisciplinary biblical studies (JIBS)
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.17613/c9cr-mc50