The Africa Regional Sexuality Resource Centre hosted a seminar, Understanding Human Sexuality, on December 2, at the University of Lagos. Organized in collaboration with the departments of Sociology and Community Health, the seminar was the second in a series of biannual seminars exploring historical and contemporary sexuality discourse in Africa.

Papers presented by a three-member panel of speakers addressed issues such as colonial influences on the construction of sexuality in Africa, patriarchal ideologies and sexuality, and cultural influences on sexual violence in Nigeria. The panelists agreed that resistance to open discussion on sexuality is still pervasive in numerous African communities, and much still needed to be done to foster open and healthy debates.

In his paper, "A Post-Colonial Scene: On Girls' Sexuality", Sanya Osha, a professor at the University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, argued that to fully understand contemporary attitudes towards sexuality, "One must take into account the history and legacy of colonialism, and the modes of socialization it fostered."

On the way forward, Otutubikey Izugbara, a teacher of social anthropology at the University of Lagos, called on everyone to utilize every available resource to interrupt the prevalent discourses and show that sexuality and sexual identities are not fixed categories.

Seventy guests, representing the academic community, non-governmental organizations, and the media, attended the seminar.