Intersecting identities: Matolino’s limited communitarianism and its implications for LGBTQ+ in African communities

Abstract

In many African communities, identity is profoundly intertwined with communal values and ethics. Individuals strongly associate with families, clans, tribes, or ethnic groups to shape their identity and belonging. Identity is a reciprocal relationship between the individual and the community, grounded in equality and mutual understanding. Bernard Matolino’s limited communitarianism offers a unique lens for understanding the balance between these communal values and individual rights. It underscores the importance of balance between them, forming a profound theoretical foundation for exploring LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual, queer, plus) rights in African society. LGBTQ+ individuals in African communities face various challenges from communal values and diverse sexual and gender identities. Recognising this diversity underscores the significance of individualised identities in the collective narrative. This article delves into the ethical complexity intersecting these identities, highlighting instances where LGBTQ+ individuals grapple with conforming to communal values at the cost of their rights and authentic identities. It highlights the tension between societal norms and individual autonomy, intensified by the discourse on cultural relativism and universal human rights in Matolino’s framework. It aims to comprehensively examine whether limited communitarianism accounts for the rights and complexities of LGBTQ+ individuals while seeking a balance between communal and individual identity dimensions. It acknowledges intricate challenges in this intersection and seeks paths toward harmonising communal values, individual rights and LGBTQ+ identities in African society. The primary goal is to contribute to the discourse on identity, ethics and human rights in African communities, aspiring to inform more inclusive and equitable approaches to African identity and rights.