The question that shocks! “Are you a homosexual?”

 I was on my way to a friend’s house to ask for her camera when I came across a female acquaintance of mine from school. She was doing something only ladies know how to do best: getting hair done at  a saloon. Ever the gentleman, I walked to this harem and greeted the entire fold before engaging in some midday banter with my friend. I asked her why she didn’t invite me to the saloon and a shade of surprise appeared on her face. She then asked me if I was a homosexual. And I wondered what the hell?

                Since the publication of a list of supposed Cameroonian homosexuals made headlines in 2006, homosexuality has become a subject of conversation amongst Cameroonians. However the absence of a public and open debate about the issue not forgetting an openly gay individual has left Cameroonians without a rather vague understanding of the entire situation of homosexuality. Consequently people concoct their own definitions based on the sparse information culled from popular legends about the concept. In this foray of confusion and coupled with the machocentricity of our society, some people find accusing fingers pointed at them. The some people here are metrosexuals. 

            The Oxford Advanced Learners’ Dictionary defines a metrosexual and I am quoting ‘as a heterosexual man who lives in a city and is interested in things like fashion and shopping.’ You must have noticed that the word ‘heterosexual’ is coloured blue, that is because it is so coloured in the dictionary. But generally speaking, metrosexuals are defined as heterosexuals who HAPPEN to have feminine tastes like fashion, shopping, manicures, pedicures, wearing earrings and grooming. Despite this unambiguous indication that metrosexuality has nothing to do with one’s sexual orientation, it is not uncommon for metrosexuals to be the target of homophobic jabs and curiosity. A lazy explanation for this can be the redundant machoness of our society and the  underconsideration of anything feminine. But no, that is the lazy explanation. Think about it for while and you might stumble on this explanation. The synonymy between metrosexuality and homosexuality in our society results from the our unassuaged voyeurism with regards to homosexuals. We don’t condone homosexuality yes but we do want to put a face to this orientation and until this fantasy of our common sub conscientiousness is fulfilled, the cheapest, most available and tangible replacement is the metrosexual. To most, metrosexuals are deputising for homosexuals and until the latter dare show their faces in public, the former will just to bear the brunt of our society’s curiosity, prejudices and homophobic regards. 

                   Where does all this leave metrosexuals? Well, it can instill fear. it can lead to self – censorship. But from what I see, African and Cameroonian metrosexuals aren’t afraid to explore their feminine side despite the odds stacked against them.