HOMOSEXUALITY AND TRAUMA: A PSYCHOANALYTIC STUDY OF CHINELO OKPARANTA’S UNDER THE UDALA TREE AND TENDAI HUCHU’S THE HAIRDRESSER OF HARARE

ABSTRACT

Homosexuality, from its inception, has been an unaccepted venture in the African society. This essay examines homosexuality and the traumatic experiences that come with it. Hence, this study will focus on examining how the traumatic experiences (psychological, emotional, sociological. and physical) affect a homosexual negatively. It makes use of the qualitative research method to carry out the textual analysis of the novels because it helps unveil the feelings, perception, and attitudes that both writers have towards the issue of homosexuality. Chinelo Okparanta and Tendai Huchu demonstrate the artistic depiction of homosexuality and trauma in an African society. 8 Several characters in the novel suffer varying degrees of trauma which affects their relationship with others. For example, Ijeoma suffers rejection, guilt, and stigmatization as a result of her sexual orientation. Dumisani also goes through the same as a gay character in a Zimbabwe society which makes him to live a pretentious life (not true to himself and society). This study concludes that Chinelo Okparanta and Tendai Huchu uses their novels to demonstrate the several traumatic experiences of homosexuals in an African society and the impact it has in all areas of their life.