The global Aids epidemic exposed the deficiency of our knowledge about the complexity and variety of sexual behaviour. As a result, there has been an impressive increase in research activities aimed at responding to this discrepancy. In Africa this has meant that the study of sexuality is mainly conducted in relation to HIV infection. One of the major consequences of this is that sex becomes de-eroticised to an act devoid of meaning and as a result, sex is studied apart from its sensorial power. The challenge of sex research is to understand the ways that societal factors organise sex and sexuality. It is important to note that sex is, above all, about the senses, and many times people engage in sex for pleasure. If we do not pay due attention to the pleasurable and sensorial aspects of sex we will continue producing deficient knowledge about sexuality. Read full article.
By Rachel Spronk

Naana Otoo-Oyortey; the Technical officer on Gender and Rights at the International Planned Parenthood Federation, shared her views on sexual pleasure and fantasy in Africa with the ARSRC Director. Read full article.

Professor Charles Ngwena, director of the Masters programme on Reproductive and Sexual Rights at the University of the Free State, South Africa, chatted to the ARSRC Director, Dr Richmond Tiemoko about the programme and his views on the precedence of African pleasure and fantasy in Africa. Read full article.