Vagina Monologues is about freedom!

Feb 23, 2005

SIR— I wish to place the furore over the aborted play, <i>Vagina Monologues</i> on one side and offer a different perspective to the whole saga.

SIR— I wish to place the furore over the aborted play, Vagina Monologues on one side and offer a different perspective to the whole saga.

First of all, everywhere this play has been staged, it has met with resistance. Whether it in the US, Germany, Pakistan, Kenya, the DRC, Egypt or South Africa, the play has attracted considerable resistance. Women’s sexuality is a source of tremendous discomfort and fear around the world. Patriarchal states would do anything within their power to silence women that want to openly discuss their sexuality and bodily integrity — an issue that lies at the centre of women’s oppression and subordination.

Thus, the only difference between those countries listed above and ours is that despite the discomfort, the fundamental right of freedom of expression prevailed. In Uganda this right did not prevail and by banning the production, Uganda joined the ranks of countries like China in gagging its citizenry.

Baseless accusations have been levelled against the activist organisers of the play. That they are sacrificing moral standards for money. Ministers Nsaba Buturo of Information and Tim Lwanga of Ethics and Integrity owe Ugandans an explanation for their double speak, double standards and dishonesty.
It is necessary to consider some of the arguments levelled against the staging of the play.

The Media Council ruled against the title of the play and cited several scenes from the play that involved “unnatural sexual acts” which in their view, “offends Uganda's policies and laws.” But the Media Council should answer a simple question: Doesn’t murder, robbery and witchcraft offend Uganda’s policies and laws?

How come the council has not banned the thousands of plays that are variously staged with scenes of murder and witchcraft? The truth is that the excuse of lesbianism offered a convenient justification for the Media Council to snuff out a play that the Government was extremely uncomfortable with.
Vaginas and their violation are topics that government and society would rather sweep under the carpet than openly discuss.

Presumably, the Media Council finds women's sexuality more offensive than murder and witchcraft. But if this is the case, the Media Council owes it to the Ugandan public to explain why they have used kid gloves with publications like the Red Pepper and Entango but treated the Vagina Monologueswith an iron hand.

Could it be because it is women (and not men) talking about their vaginas? “Vagina” is not a dirty, vulgar word; it is the biological name for a part of the body of more than half of Uganda’s population. To all those celebrating the banning of the Vagina Monologues, we want to sound a word of caution. More is to come.

Sylvia Tamale
Makerere University

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});