Draft:History and Evolution of Transgender people in Nigeria

This article addresses the history of transgender people in Nigeria prior to pre-colonial, colonial, post colonial and the modern day Nigerian society.

The history of transgender people in Nigeria is quite limited, with no outright documentation that speaks to their existence prior to pre and post colonial time. However, there have been some distinctive cultural practices that has somewhat proven that gender nonconformity has also been part of the Nigerian society. Some ethnic groups saw men braiding their hair and adorning their bodies with make ups while others had roles that were not gender specific. This however does not speak to the existence of trans identifying persons in pre colonial Nigerian society.

the Hausa- Fulani ethnic group in Northern Nigerian recognized Yan Daudu - a group of transvestite men who were an integral component of the Hausa - Fulani religious culture found in Kaduna and amongst Bori subculture in present day Kano Within the south-eastern part of Nigeria is the Igbo society with gender neutral pronouns and names. Also was Area Scatter, a gender nonconformist local entertainer whose voice and acoustic sound once entertained eastern Nigeria .These historical examples suggest a nuanced understanding of gender that existed prior to colonial influence. Transgender individuals were not necessarily marginalized; instead, they often held specific roles and were valued members of their communities.

Colonial/Religious Influence

During the colonial era in Nigeria, which lasted from the late 19th century until gaining independence in 1960, British rule had a profound impact on African most especially Nigeria societal structures, including gender norms and roles. The colonial administration imposed Western ideologies and legal frameworks that often clashed with existing indigenous practices, affecting the understanding and recognition of diverse gender identities. For instance, laws targeting sodomy and non-normative gender expressions were implemented, contributing to the stigmatization of transgender individuals. The Yan Daudu in the North were never deemed as taboos not until the advent of Islamic religion and its teachings accompanied by Sharia Law that were mostly adopted from Islamic religious books gotten from Mosaic works. Within the Igbo society, the practices of nhanye”- “male daughters” and “igba ohu”- “female Husbands “ which was a gender neutral practice where women assumed the roles of men by marrying wives for the purpose of procreation and linage continuity will later considered as a taboo practice. In the case of nhanye, a father who does not have many sons may request that his daughter remain in his compound as a son to ensure that her father’s lineage remains protected Other abolished cultures were the masquerade cultures that often the non-binary nature of Nigerian and African deities.