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The power of sex: some reflections on the Caldwells' ‘African sexuality’ thesis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 December 2011

Suzette Heald
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Résumé

Cet article consiste en une série de réflections sur la sexualité en Afrique de l'Est, formulées en réponse aux théories avancées par J. C. Cadwell et ses collaborateurs. L'article soutient que leurs points de vu ne réussissent pas à saisir la manière dont les restreintes et restrictions sexuelles forment la base de l'ordre moral dans les sociétés de l'Afrique de l'Est. Leur modèle d'un système sexuel africain distinct insiste trop sur la descendance d'une facon qui méthodiquement n'attribue pas assez d'importance au mariage et réduit les cultes ancestraux à avoir pour seule préoccupation la reproduction et la continuité de la lignée. En contraste, cet article suggère, en renvoyant aux Gisus d'Ouganda, que leurs croyances ancestrâles dans leurs formes générates sont associées avec l'ensemble des régies de conduite visant à établir un mode de vie social correct, et que celles-ci ne sont pas basées sur la lignée mais sur la sexualité et son contrôle. Vu sous cet angle, la plupart des cultures de l'Afrique de l'Est peuvent être étiquetées “des cultures de respect”, par le fait qu'elles considèrent leur ordre social comme étant enraciné dans le respect, un respect qui implique de la déférence, une attention aux convenances indiquées, et avant tout de la retenue. Ces règies de conduite rendent la sexualité problématique. Cet article se tourne ensuite vers le pouvoir sacré attribué au coït même. Ceci est adressé en examinant la métaphore du mélange des sangs qui est largement utiliséé pour parler des rapports sexuels en Afrique de l'Est. La dernière section de cet article prête attention au contraste entre la consanguinité et l'alliance et l'idée que l'union entre l'homme et la femme sert de prototype pour des rapports contractuels.

Type
The meanings of sexuality
Information
Africa , Volume 65 , Issue 4 , October 1995 , pp. 489 - 505
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 1995

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