What’s life like for LGBTQ people in Tanzania? Let’s take a look at some of the key equality indicators.Is homosexuality legal in Tanzania?The Tanzanian penal code makes it illegal for there to be sexual conduct between men - offenders are punished with prison terms up to twenty years.Are there anti-discrimination protections in place for LGBTQ people in Tanzania?
No. There are no protections from discrimination on the basis of sexuality.Is there Marriage Equality in Tanzania?No. There is no legal recognition of same-sex relationships.What’s life like for LGBTQ people in Tanzania?
With a population of around 55 million, Tanzania is one of the economic powerhouses of East Africa but remains a socially conservative country.Anti-gay rhetoric has been on the rise in Tanzania since President John Magufuli’s election in 2015. However, things seems to be getting worse for LGBTQ people in Tanzania. One of the key drivers of increased homophobia in recent years is the influence of American evangelical christians.Homophobia is systemic, and LGBTQ people are persecuted and prosecuted. There are reports of social media being used to identify LGBTQ people. There are also reports that health services that support LGBTQ people have been forced to close – accused of promoting homosexuality.
What’s the history of homosexuality in Tanzania?
Prior to colonisation and the spread of Christianity and Islam in Tanzania, same-sex sexual activity was accepted and commonplace among numerous modern-day Tanzanians ethnic groups, including the Swahili people, the Maasai people, and the Kuria people, among others.The Swahili people referred to gay men as ‘shoga’. Traditionally, shoga men performed ceremonial roles – such as drumming and playing music at marriages and other festivals. The term ‘basha’ was used to describe an older man who pay shoga – younger men – for sexual services. The relationship between a basha and a shoga could be an ongoing relationship. The basha would most likely also have a wife and children, but would pay for a shoga to satisfy him sexually.Societal acceptance and tolerance of same-sex activity and same-sex relationships quickly disappeared after the arrival of the Europeans. Laws punishing homosexuality were enacted, and over time homophobia has become deeply ingrained in the population.
