Tag: africa

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Interfaith Diversity Network Of West Africa

Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA) Cotonou Declaration 2026 Adopted at Regional Human Rights Conference Porto‑Novo, Benin | 23 August 2026

https://itdnowa.org/2026/08/26/cotonou-declaration-2026/

The Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA) has concluded its Regional Human Rights Conference and 10th Anniversary Celebration, held from 21–23 August 2026 in Porto‑Novo, Benin, under the theme “Faith, Dignity and Community Resilience.” Participants from eleven West African countries gathered to assess the realities facing LGBTQI+ persons, strengthen interfaith solidarity, and reaffirm the role of faith communities in advancing human dignity.

Country reports highlighted rising hostility, criminalization efforts, registration denials, and faith‑based discrimination across the region. Despite these challenges, the conference celebrated encouraging developments, including the Anglican Church of Ghana’s rejection of calls for criminalization, emerging civil society dialogue in Togo, and Benin’s open civic environment that continues to support inclusive organizing.

The conference concluded with the adoption of the Cotonou Declaration 2026, outlining ten priority commitments: expanding interfaith advocacy, promoting mental health and trauma‑informed care, advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights, strengthening leadership and community empowerment, protecting civic space, mobilizing sustainable resources, engaging regional and international human rights mechanisms, promoting inclusion and justice, ensuring representation of trans, intersex, and disabled persons, and advancing language justice and mentorship.

“Faith must be a source of dignity, not discrimination. As IDNOWA marks ten years, we renew our commitment to building a West Africa where every person can live free from fear and exclusion,” said Davis Mac‑Iyalla, Executive Director of IDNOWA.

The Declaration was endorsed by IDNOWA and partner organizations including PORSH, EVAB, ACJESPN, ASAJ‑Bénin, GAIC, AGIR International, Key Watch Ghana/Intersex Movement of Ghana, Center for Youth Empowerment Health Advocacy Initiative (Nigeria), GNRC, GIN‑SOGIE, Orange Initiative (Nigeria), TFAM Global, FRRN, and Pan Africa ILGA.

Media Contact: interfaithdiversitynowa@gmail.com
www.idnowa.org

COTONOU DECLARATION 2026
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COTONOU DECLARATION 2026

Interfaith Diversity Network Of West Africa

Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA) Faith, Dignity and Community Resilience Porto-Novo, Benin Republic | 21–23 August 2026

Preamble

We, the representatives of the Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA), drawn from eleven countries—Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo—gathered in Porto-Novo, Benin Republic, from 21–23 August 2026 to commemorate the Network’s tenth anniversary and participate in a regional conference under the theme “Faith, Dignity and Community Resilience.”

Over the course of three days, participants reflected on the realities facing LGBTQI+ persons and organizations across West Africa, shared experiences of resilience and resistance, and explored the role of faith, community care, and human rights advocacy in promoting dignity, inclusion, and social justice.

Country reports highlighted specific concerns, including escalating risks in Nigeria; legislative threats in Ghana; bureaucratic restrictions in The Gambia; hostile social environments in Mali and Burkina Faso; registration denials in Togo and Liberia; increasing religious homophobia in Benin; legal ambiguity and social stigma in Sierra Leone; intensifying criminalization efforts in Senegal; and aggressive enforcement of anti-LGBTQI+ laws in Cameroon.

Positive Developments

The conference acknowledged encouraging developments across the region, including:

  • The rejection by the Anglican Church of Ghana of calls for the criminalization and imprisonment of LGBTQI+ persons, recognized as a significant outcome of sustained interfaith engagement.
  • Emerging dialogue opportunities between civil society actors and stakeholders in Togo.
  • The relatively open civic environment in Benin that continues to enable organizations to operate and engage communities.

Regional Trends

Recurring trends identified across member countries include:

  • Closure or deregistration of organizations under anti-LGBTQI+ laws and policies.
  • Denial of organizational registration and declining funding opportunities.
  • Homelessness arising from family rejection.
  • Growing unemployment linked to workplace discrimination.
  • Housing discrimination against LGBTQI+ persons.
  • Increasing faith-based hostility and exclusion.
  • Limited access to mental health and psychosocial support services.

Commitments and Priority Actions

We, the participants of the Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA) Conference, commit ourselves to the following priorities and actions:

1. Strengthen Interfaith Advocacy and Religious Solidarity

Sustain and expand interfaith engagement across member countries, engage progressive faith leaders, document violations, and amplify faith-based voices that promote inclusion, dignity, justice, and human rights.

2. Promote Community Care, Healing, and Wellbeing

Advance initiatives that address trauma, strengthen resilience, challenge harmful narratives, and expand access to mental health and psychosocial support for LGBTQI+ persons and other marginalized populations.

3. Advance Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)

Promote cross-country dialogue, faith engagement, and support for faith champions advocating for inclusive, rights-based, and evidence-informed approaches.

4. Build Knowledge, Capacity, and Community Empowerment

Utilize expertise within the Network and among partners to strengthen scriptural literacy, self-preservation, leadership development, and civic participation.

5. Protect Civic Space and Support At-Risk Organizations

Foster collaboration among organizations facing deregistration, closure, or restrictions; strengthen institutional sustainability; and pursue legal remedies, strategic litigation, and protective interventions where necessary.

6. Strengthen Strategic Partnerships and Resource Mobilization

Collaborate with legal experts, human rights organizations, technical partners, and allies across Africa and beyond to increase impact, visibility, technical support, and access to sustainable funding.

7. Advance Equality Through Advocacy and Accountability

Advocate for protective laws and policies, engage regional and international human rights mechanisms including CEDAW and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), monitor state commitments, and demand accountability for implementation.

8. Promote Inclusion, Dignity, and Justice in All Spaces

Affirm that religion must never be used as a tool of exclusion, discrimination, or violence; encourage responsible digital engagement; support inclusive faith practices; and ensure linguistic and regional inclusion, particularly for Francophone communities and other underrepresented groups.

9. Ensure Inclusion Within the Network

Intentionally include transgender persons, particularly trans men, intersex persons, LGBTQI+ persons with disability, and other underrepresented groups in leadership, programming, and decision-making structures.

10. Commit to Language Justice and Mentorship

Accelerate language justice initiatives to ensure that no one is left behind, and promote mentorship and intergenerational dialogue as essential tools for knowledge transfer, leadership development, and community resilience.

Conclusion

As we commemorate ten years of the Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa, we reaffirm our commitment to building societies where faith and human dignity coexist, where diversity is respected, and where every individual can live free from fear, discrimination, and exclusion.

Adopted in Porto-Novo, Benin Republic, on this 23rd day of August 2026.

Signatures

Signed by:

Davis Mac‑Iyalla Executive Director Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA)

  1. Priorities on Rights and Sexual Health (PORSH)
  2. Espoir Vie Ane-en-cill Benin (EVAB)
  3. Association pour la Conscientisation de la Jeunesse et l’Entraide de Socialité de Porto-Novo (ACJESPN)
  4. Alliance pour la Solidarité et l’Aide à la Jeunesse du Bénin (ASAJ-Bénin)
  5. Groupe d’Actions pour l’Inclusion Communautaire (GAIC)
  6. AGIR International
  7. Key Watch Ghana / Intersex Movement of Ghana
  8. Center for Youth Empowerment Health Advocacy Initiative, Nigeria
  9. Global Network of Rainbow Catholics (GNRC)
  10. Global Interfaith Network (GIN-SOGIE)
  11. Orange Initiative for Improved Mental Health & Rights, Nigeria
  12. The Fellowship of Affirming Global Ministries (TFAM)
  13. Flourish Rights and Resilience Network (FRRN)
  14. Pan Africa ILGA

FRENCH

DÉCLARATION DE COTONOU 2026

Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA) Foi, Dignité et Résilience Communautaire Porto-Novo, République du Bénin | 21–23 août 2026

Préambule

Nous, les représentant·e·s du Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA), provenant de onze pays — Bénin, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Gambie, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sénégal, Sierra Leone et Togo — réunis à Porto-Novo, République du Bénin, du 21 au 23 août 2026, pour commémorer le dixième anniversaire du Réseau et participer à une conférence régionale sur le thème « Foi, Dignité et Résilience Communautaire ».

Pendant trois jours, les participant·e·s ont réfléchi aux réalités auxquelles sont confrontées les personnes et organisations LGBTQI+ en Afrique de l’Ouest, ont partagé des expériences de résilience et de résistance, et ont exploré le rôle de la foi, du soin communautaire et du plaidoyer pour les droits humains dans la promotion de la dignité, de l’inclusion et de la justice sociale.

Les rapports nationaux ont mis en lumière des préoccupations spécifiques, notamment l’escalade des risques au Nigeria ; les menaces législatives au Ghana ; les restrictions bureaucratiques en Gambie ; des environnements sociaux hostiles au Mali et au Burkina Faso ; des refus d’enregistrement au Togo et au Liberia ; une homophobie religieuse croissante au Bénin ; une ambiguïté juridique et une stigmatisation sociale en Sierra Leone ; des efforts de criminalisation intensifiés au Sénégal ; et une application agressive des lois anti-LGBTQI+ au Cameroun.

Évolutions Positives

La conférence a également reconnu des avancées encourageantes dans la région, notamment :

  • Le rejet par l’Église anglicane du Ghana des appels à criminaliser et emprisonner les personnes LGBTQI+, considéré comme un résultat significatif d’un engagement interreligieux soutenu.
  • L’émergence de nouvelles opportunités de dialogue entre acteurs de la société civile et parties prenantes au Togo.
  • Un environnement civique relativement ouvert au Bénin, permettant aux organisations d’opérer et d’engager les communautés.

Tendances Régionales

Les participant·e·s ont identifié plusieurs tendances récurrentes dans les pays membres :

  • Fermeture ou radiation d’organisations en vertu de lois et politiques anti-LGBTQI+.
  • Refus d’enregistrement et diminution des opportunités de financement.
  • Sans-abrisme dû au rejet familial.
  • Chômage croissant lié à la discrimination en milieu professionnel.
  • Discrimination en matière de logement.
  • Hostilité et exclusion croissantes fondées sur la religion.
  • Accès limité aux services de santé mentale et de soutien psychosocial.

Engagements et Priorités

Nous, participant·e·s à la Conférence IDNOWA, nous engageons à poursuivre les priorités et actions suivantes :

1. Renforcer le Plaidoyer Interreligieux et la Solidarité Religieuse

Soutenir et étendre l’engagement interreligieux, mobiliser des leaders religieux progressistes, documenter les violations et amplifier les voix de foi qui promeuvent l’inclusion, la dignité, la justice et les droits humains.

2. Promouvoir le Soin Communautaire, la Guérison et le Bien‑être

Développer des initiatives qui abordent les traumatismes, renforcent la résilience, contestent les récits nuisibles et élargissent l’accès au soutien psychosocial et à la santé mentale.

3. Avancer les Droits et la Santé Sexuelle et Reproductive (DSSR)

Encourager le dialogue transnational, l’engagement religieux et le soutien aux champions de la foi qui défendent des approches inclusives, fondées sur les droits et les preuves.

4. Renforcer les Connaissances, les Capacités et l’Autonomisation Communautaire

Mobiliser l’expertise du Réseau et de ses partenaires pour renforcer la littératie scripturaire, l’auto‑préservation, le développement du leadership et la participation civique.

5. Protéger l’Espace Civique et Soutenir les Organisations à Risque

Favoriser la collaboration entre organisations confrontées à la radiation ou aux restrictions ; renforcer la durabilité institutionnelle ; et poursuivre des recours juridiques, des litiges stratégiques et des interventions protectrices lorsque nécessaire.

6. Renforcer les Partenariats Stratégiques et la Mobilisation des Ressources

Collaborer avec des experts juridiques, des organisations de droits humains, des partenaires techniques et des alliés en Afrique et au-delà pour accroître l’impact, la visibilité et l’accès à un financement durable.

7. Promouvoir l’Égalité par le Plaidoyer et la Redevabilité

Plaider pour des lois et politiques protectrices, engager les mécanismes régionaux et internationaux tels que la CEDEF et l’Examen Périodique Universel (EPU), surveiller les engagements des États et exiger la redevabilité.

8. Promouvoir l’Inclusion, la Dignité et la Justice dans Tous les Espaces

Affirmer que la religion ne doit jamais être utilisée comme outil d’exclusion, de discrimination ou de violence ; encourager un engagement numérique responsable ; soutenir des pratiques religieuses inclusives ; et garantir l’inclusion linguistique et régionale, en particulier pour les communautés francophones.

9. Assurer l’Inclusion au Sein du Réseau

Inclure intentionnellement les personnes trans, en particulier les hommes trans, les personnes intersexes, les personnes LGBTQI+ en situation de handicap et d’autres groupes sous‑représentés dans le leadership, la programmation et la prise de décision.

10. S’engager pour la Justice Linguistique et le Mentorat

Accélérer les initiatives de justice linguistique et promouvoir le mentorat et le dialogue intergénérationnel comme outils essentiels de transmission des connaissances, de développement du leadership et de résilience communautaire.

Conclusion

À l’occasion du dixième anniversaire du Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa, nous réaffirmons notre engagement à construire des sociétés où la foi et la dignité humaine coexistent, où la diversité est respectée, et où chaque individu peut vivre sans peur, discrimination ni exclusion.

Adopté à Porto-Novo, République du Bénin, ce 23 août 2026.

Signatures

Signé par :

Davis Mac‑Iyalla Directeur Exécutif Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA)

  1. Priorities on Rights and Sexual Health (PORSH)
  2. Espoir Vie Ane-en-cill Bénin (EVAB)
  3. Association pour la Conscientisation de la Jeunesse et l’Entraide de Socialité de Porto-Novo (ACJESPN)
  4. Alliance pour la Solidarité et l’Aide à la Jeunesse du Bénin (ASAJ-Bénin)
  5. Groupe d’Actions pour l’Inclusion Communautaire (GAIC)
  6. AGIR International
  7. Key Watch Ghana / Intersex Movement of Ghana
  8. Center for Youth Empowerment Health Advocacy Initiative, Nigeria
  9. Global Network of Rainbow Catholics (GNRC)
  10. Global Interfaith Network (GIN-SOGIE)
  11. Orange Initiative for Improved Mental Health & Rights, Nigeria
  12. The Fellowship of Affirming Global Ministries (TFAM)
  13. Flourish Rights and Resilience Network (FRRN)
  14. Pan Africa ILGA
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Opinion: LGBTQ+ Erasure Is a Form of Violence — Faith Leaders in Africa Must Not Be Silent

julianathomeblog

Published on MAMBA Online.com

Queer spiritual leader Nana Davis Mac-Iyalla says faith leaders must confront LGBTQ+ erasure in Africa.

Across West Africa, a dangerous pattern continues to repeat itself: communities that do not fit dominant cultural or religious expectations are pushed into silence. Their stories are ignored, their contributions dismissed, and their humanity questioned. This is not a passive oversight. It is a deliberate act of erasure — and it is one of the most powerful tools used to justify discrimination and harmful legislation.

At the Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA), we see the consequences of erasure every day. We work with people whose lives have been shaped by silence imposed on them by family, community, and state. We work with faith leaders who are pressured to deny the existence of sexual and gender minorities within their own congregations. And we work with young people who have never heard a single message affirming that they, too, are created in the image of God.

Why Erasure Happens

Erasure is rooted in fear — fear of diversity, fear of truth, and fear of losing control. When a society pretends that LGBTQ+ people do not exist, it becomes easier to pass laws that harm them. When religious leaders deny the presence of LGBTQ+ members in their congregations, they avoid confronting their own biases. When governments erase entire communities from public discourse, they avoid accountability.

Erasure is not only political. It is spiritual. It tells people that God has no place for them. It weaponizes faith against the very people faith is meant to uplift.

The Impact of Erasure

The consequences are profound and far‑reaching:

  • Psychological harm: People internalize the lie that they are unworthy of love, dignity, or belonging.
  • Historical distortion: Future generations inherit a false narrative that denies the diversity that has always existed in African societies.
  • Social vulnerability: Invisible communities are easier to target with violence, discrimination, and punitive laws.
  • Broken faith communities: When religious spaces exclude, they fail in their moral duty to protect the vulnerable.

At IDNOWA, we believe that erasure is a form of violence — a slow, suffocating violence that destroys lives long before any law is passed.

How We Fight Back

Recognition is not a privilege. It is a right. And IDNOWA’s work is grounded in restoring that right through interfaith solidarity, education, and advocacy.

1. We amplify the stories that others try to silence

Through trainings, dialogues, and public advocacy, we create platforms where LGBTQ+ people of faith can speak for themselves — with dignity and authority.

2. We build interfaith alliances that challenge harmful narratives

Our network brings together Christian, Muslim, and traditional leaders who understand that faith must never be used as a weapon. Together, we challenge the misuse of scripture and cultural rhetoric that fuels discrimination.

3. We document our history and our present

IDNOWA produces research, reports, and community‑based documentation to ensure that our stories are preserved. If we do not write our own history, others will erase it.

4. We train leaders to respond to harmful legislation

Across the region, we equip activists, clergy, and community leaders with the tools to advocate safely and effectively in hostile environments.

5. We create spiritual spaces where everyone is welcome

Our interfaith rituals and pastoral care models affirm that every human being is sacred. No one should be forced to choose between their identity and their faith.

A Call to Action

Erasure thrives in silence. Recognition grows in solidarity.

Faith leaders, policymakers, and community members must choose which side of history they want to stand on. Will we allow fear to dictate who is worthy of dignity? Or will we embrace the truth that diversity is not a threat, but a gift?

At IDNOWA, our answer is clear: We will not allow any human being to be erased. Not in our communities. Not in our faith spaces. Not in our region.

We are here. We have always been here. And we will continue to stand, speak, and advocate until every person — regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or faith — is recognized as fully human and fully deserving of love, justice, and belonging.

Davis Mac Iyalla is a queer spiritual leader and openly gay traditional chief in Ghana, with deep roots in faith-based advocacy and interfaith engagement. He is a humxn rights defender committed to advancing dignity, inclusion, and justice for LGBTQI+ communities across Africa. Davis serves as Executive Director of the Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA) and is the Africa Coordinator for Africa GNRC (Global Network of Rainbow Catholics). He writes and speaks in his own capacity.

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Heated Rivalry among LGBTQ People in West Africa

Interfaith Diversity Network Of West Africa

By Nana Davis Mac-Iyalla

Introduction

The LGBTQ struggle in West Africa is not only against oppressive laws and hostile societies but also against internal fractures that weaken our collective power. Rivalries within the movement—between organizations, leaders, and even communities—have become a pressing challenge. As someone who has lived, worked, and fought in this space, I believe it is time to confront these divisions head-on. Our liberation cannot be delayed by ego, competition, or mistrust.

The Roots of Division

– Funding Politics: International donors often unintentionally fuel rivalry by favoring certain organizations over others. This creates hierarchies where some groups thrive while grassroots activists are left scrambling for survival.  

– Leadership Ego: Too many leaders see themselves as the “face” of the movement, forgetting that no single person can embody the diversity of LGBTQ lives in West Africa.  

– Strategic Disagreements: Some advocate for bold visibility, others for cautious survival. Both strategies are valid, but when they clash without dialogue, they breed resentment.  

– Colonial Legacies: Language and cultural divides—Anglophone vs. Francophone, Christian vs. Muslim contexts—make regional solidarity harder to sustain.  

The Cost of Rivalry

Every time we fight among ourselves, governments and religious extremists gain ground. Rivalries:  

– Undermine credibility, allowing opponents to dismiss us as fragmented.  

– Drain energy that should be directed toward resisting criminalization and violence.  

– Alienate younger activists, who see infighting instead of inspiration.  

Example of Constructive Work: IDNOWA

The Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA) demonstrates how unity and collaboration can counteract rivalry.  

– IDNOWA has consistently advocated against rising anti-LGBTIQ legislation, emphasizing that human rights are universal and must protect all individuals.  

– In Ghana, IDNOWA engaged with the Centre for Religion and Public Life to explore inclusive pastoral care for marginalized people, especially LGBTQ communities. They presented documented evidence of human rights violations to parliamentarians, strengthening the case against the anti-gay bill.  

– By building bridges across faith traditions and national borders, IDNOWA shows that solidarity is possible even in hostile environments. Their work is a reminder that collaboration, not competition, is the path to progress.  

Toward a Movement of Solidarity

We must remember: our enemy is not each other. Our enemy is the system that criminalizes love, denies healthcare, and silences our voices. To move forward:  

– Build Accountability: Leaders must be held accountable to the communities they claim to represent. Transparency in funding and decision-making is non-negotiable.  

– Center the Marginalized: Trans people, lesbians, bisexuals, and grassroots activists must not be sidelined. Their voices are essential to a truly inclusive movement.  

– Regional Networks: We need stronger cross-border alliances to resist divide-and-conquer tactics. West Africa’s LGBTQ struggle is interconnected; Nigeria’s fight is Ghana’s fight, Sierra Leone’s fight, and beyond.  

– Collective Vision: Let us unite around shared goals: decriminalization, healthcare access, protection from violence, and dignity for all.  

Conclusion

The heated rivalries among LGBTQ people in West Africa are real, but they are not insurmountable. They are symptoms of growth, of a movement finding its voice under immense pressure. But if we allow them to fester, they will become obstacles to liberation. Our future depends on solidarity, humility, and courage—not just against external oppression, but against the divisions within.  

Liberation will not come from donors, governments, or charismatic leaders alone. It will come when we, as LGBTQ people in West Africa, choose unity over rivalry, and collective struggle over personal gain.

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Becoming Whole: Why Spiritual and Sexual Identity Development Must Be Fought for Together

Interfaith Diversity Network Of West Africa

By Nana Davis Mac‑Iyalla

Across West Africa and throughout the diaspora, I have witnessed a truth that too many institutions still refuse to name: our spiritual lives and our sexual identities do not grow on separate branches. They are intertwined roots of the same human tree. When one is starved, the whole person suffers. When one is nourished, the whole person rises.

For LGBTQ+ people—especially those raised in deeply religious environments—this truth is not theoretical. It is lived in our bodies, our prayers, our silences, and our rebellions. It is lived in the long nights when we try to negotiate with a God we were taught to fear, and in the bright mornings when we finally meet a God who loves us without condition.

The Violence of Forced Fragmentation

Too many of us were taught that to be spiritual, we must amputate our sexuality. That to be faithful, we must lie about who we love. That to be accepted, we must shrink ourselves into theological closets built by other people’s fears.

This fragmentation is not accidental. It is a tool of control.

When a society demands that LGBTQ+ people choose between their faith and their identity, it is not protecting morality. It is protecting power. It is preserving a hierarchy where some bodies are deemed holy and others are treated as theological mistakes.

But we are not mistakes. We are not contradictions. We are not spiritual exiles.

We are whole.

The Courage of Integration

The journey toward integrating spiritual and sexual identity is not easy. It requires unlearning shame that was never ours. It requires confronting religious leaders who weaponize scripture. It requires rebuilding a spiritual home from the ground up—brick by brick, truth by truth.

But integration is also liberation.

It is the moment a lesbian woman in Ghana prays in her own language and realizes God never stopped listening. It is the moment a bisexual man in Nigeria stops apologizing for existing. It is the moment a queer youth in the diaspora discovers that their ancestors walked with spirits long before colonial doctrines arrived.

Integration is not about choosing between God and self. It is about refusing to believe they were ever in conflict.

Why Activism Must Embrace Both

Activism that focuses only on sexual rights but ignores spiritual trauma is incomplete. Activism that celebrates pride but avoids the wounds inflicted by churches, mosques, and temples leaves our people half‑healed.

We must build movements that understand:

  • Sexual identity development is a journey of truth-telling.
  • Spiritual development is a journey of meaning-making.
  • Both are essential to human dignity.

When we create spaces where LGBTQ+ people can explore both without fear, we are not just supporting individuals—we are dismantling systems that depend on our silence.

A Call to Faith Leaders

To my fellow faith leaders across Africa and the diaspora: neutrality is no longer an option. Silence is not compassion. Ambiguity is not pastoral care.

If your theology cannot hold the fullness of LGBTQ+ lives, then it is your theology—not our existence—that needs transformation.

A Call to Our Communities

To my LGBTQ+ siblings: your journey is sacred. Your questions are holy. Your desire to belong—to God, to community, to yourself—is not a weakness but a sign of your spiritual strength.

You do not need to choose between your faith and your identity. You deserve both. You were born for both.

Becoming Whole Is an Act of Resistance

In a world that profits from our fragmentation, wholeness is revolutionary. Every time we claim our sexuality and our spirituality in the same breath, we disrupt centuries of oppression. Every time we refuse to hide, we expand the possibilities for those who will come after us.

This is the work. This is the calling. This is the liberation we are building—one integrated life at a time.

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Spiritual Violence Against LGBTIQ People in West Africa

Interfaith Diversity Network Of West Africa

By Nana Davis Mac‑Iyalla

Across West Africa, many LGBTIQ people are not only fighting for their human rights—they are fighting for their spiritual survival. As an activist, a ceremonial leader, and someone shaped by both African tradition and global faith communities, I have witnessed how deeply spiritual violence wounds our people. It is a form of harm that is often invisible, yet its impact is profound and lasting.

Spiritual violence happens when religion, culture, or sacred authority is used to shame, silence, or erase LGBTIQ identities. It appears in sermons that condemn us, in families who pray for us to “change,” in traditional leaders who deny our place in ancestral narratives, and in laws justified by distorted interpretations of scripture. It is the quiet violence of exclusion, the loud violence of public humiliation, and the structural violence of institutions that refuse to see our humanity.

What makes spiritual violence particularly painful is that it strikes at the core of who we are. In West Africa, spirituality is not a separate part of life—it is woven into our birth, our names, our families, our communities, and our understanding of purpose. When someone tells an LGBTIQ person that they are “not of God,” they are not simply expressing an opinion; they are attempting to sever that person from their cultural and spiritual roots.

Yet the truth—our truth—is older and deeper than these harmful narratives.

Long before colonial laws and imported doctrines, African societies held diverse understandings of gender and sexuality. Our ancestors honoured people with unique spiritual gifts, including those whose identities did not fit rigid categories. Many LGBTIQ people today continue to carry that same spiritual depth, resilience, and calling. We are not outsiders to African spirituality; we are part of its living history.

As Executive Director of the Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA), I have seen how reclaiming our spiritual dignity transforms lives. When LGBTIQ people hear affirming messages from faith leaders, when they encounter rituals that honour their existence, when they learn that their identity is not a curse but a gift—something shifts. Hope returns. Healing begins.

But healing cannot happen without truth‑telling.

We must name spiritual violence for what it is: a misuse of sacred power. No scripture, no tradition, and no deity calls us to harm one another. The weaponisation of religion against LGBTIQ people is not faith—it is fear. And fear thrives where knowledge is absent.

This is why our work is urgent. We must continue to educate, to challenge harmful narratives, and to create spaces where LGBTIQ people can reconnect with their spirituality without shame. We must support faith leaders who are courageous enough to stand for inclusion, even when it is unpopular. And we must remind our communities that human dignity is not negotiable.

As we approach IDNOWA’s 10‑year anniversary and our Human Rights Conference this August, I am reminded of how far we have come—and how far we still must go. Our movement is growing. Our voices are stronger. Our stories are being told. But the struggle continues, and we cannot do it alone.

Spiritual violence may be powerful, but so is our resilience. So is our truth. So is our collective determination to build a West Africa where every person—regardless of sexuality, gender identity, or faith—can live with dignity, safety, and spiritual belonging.

Our liberation is not a question of if, but when. And together, we are bringing that “when” closer.

Nana Davis Mac‑Iyalla

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Statement: The Power of Visibility in the Fight for Inclusion and LGBT+ Human Rights in West Africa  

Interfaith Diversity Network Of West Africa

Visibility is not a luxury—it is a lifeline. In West Africa, where LGBTQ+ individuals are often forced into silence by religious dogma, cultural stigma, and punitive laws, being seen is an act of resistance. It is also an act of truth. Visibility affirms that queer Africans exist, contribute, lead, and love. It challenges the myth that LGBTQ+ identities are foreign or shameful. It reclaims ancestral wisdom that once honored diversity before colonial doctrines taught us to fear it.  

Today, visibility is more urgent than ever. We are witnessing a troubling rise in religious and traditional homophobia, often weaponized by national parliamentarians who act not as protectors of their people, but as instruments of repression. These lawmakers—some emboldened by Western collaborators who export anti-LGBT+ ideology—are pushing harsh legislation that criminalizes identity, advocacy, and even compassion. Their goal is not morality—it is control. Their method is fear.  

In this climate, the work of the Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA) is not only relevant—it is indispensable. IDNOWA stands at the intersection of faith, tradition, and justice. We engage religious and cultural leaders in dialogue, educate communities, and amplify the voices of those who have been silenced. We do not import activism—we reclaim it. Our work is rooted in African values of Ubuntu, dignity, and spiritual resilience.  

IDNOWA’s presence reminds the region—and the world—that inclusion is not a Western agenda. It is a human imperative. It is a return to truth. As anti-LGBT+ forces grow louder, we must grow more visible. We must show that queer Africans are not outsiders—we are part of the continent’s story, its spirit, and its future.

To every LGBTQ+ person in West Africa: your visibility is sacred. Your existence is not a threat—it is a gift. And to those who seek to erase us: we will not disappear. We will organize, educate, and rise. Because visibility is not just about being seen—it is about being free.

Signed, 
Nana Davis Mac-Iyalla 
Executive Director
 Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa 
(IDNOWA)  

Blog, Press

Sitting Tall: Gay Chief Davis Mac Iyalla’s Queer Leadership in the Heart of Ghana

Interfaith Diversity Network Of West Africa

Article by Nompilo Gwala – Mamba Online.com

Davis Mac Iyalla, a queer spiritual leader and out gay chief in Ghana, embodies defiant visibility and ancestral wisdom in equal measure

Ghana’s Parliament has reopened debate on one of Africa’s toughest anti LGBTQ+ bills, just a year after the previous version expired without presidential assent.

The reintroduced Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill seeks to raise prison terms for same sex intimacy and criminalise “promotion” of queer rights.

Yet even as legislators press ahead, a very different story is unfolding in the fishing town of Yamonransa on the country’s Cape Coast.

There, Nana Kwaku Gyasi, Chief Davis Mac Iyalla, who is also Executive Director of the Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA), is teaching that visibility itself can be an act of love.

“I came out the day I was born”

Mac Iyalla rejects western notions of a single, dramatic “coming out.”

“I came out to the world the day I was born,” he tells MambaOnline. “My concept of coming out is about speaking out, using your voice to challenge injustice.”

That conviction first catapulted him into headlines a quarter century ago, when he confronted the Anglican Church of Nigeria over its homophobia.

Today he carries the same fire into Ghanaian life, defiantly testifying before Parliament against the anti-LGBTQ+ bill and preaching inclusion from pulpits across West Africa.

Chosen by the ancestors

Three years ago, Mac Iyalla was lifted onto a traditional palanquin (also known as a litter, used to carry chiefs, kings, and other important figures during ceremonies and festivals) and installed as Amankorehen (development chief) of Yamonransa.

Some rival chiefs tried, literally, to topple him; the palanquin collapsed and tabloids declared that “the gods had rejected” a gay chief.

The activist tells a very different story: “I was chosen by the ancestors,” he says. “If homosexuality were truly a taboo, I would never have been allowed to sit on the stool.” (In Ghanaian chieftaincy, the stool is not just a seat but a central symbol of leadership and authority.)

His stool still stands. So do his community projects: youth apprenticeships, widows’ micro grants and IDNOWA’s dialogue circles that bring imams, pastors and traditional priests to the same table.

Chief Davis Mac Iyalla being carried on a traditional palanquin used during ceremonies and festivals

An out gay chief changing hearts at village level

While urban activists tweet and rally, Mac Iyalla works face to face with local “gate keepers”, chiefs, queen mothers and clan elders whose word shapes daily life.

“Most people don’t care about my sexuality,” he explains. “They care about the development I bring.”

That pragmatism is paying off. Elders who once kept silent now greet him publicly; church women volunteer at IDNOWA food drives; parents ask how to protect queer children rather than punish them.

“Changing attitudes takes time,” the chief says, “but conversations have begun, and that is huge for West Africa.”

Faith without fear

For Mac Iyalla, queer joy is inseparable from spirituality. IDNOWA’s credo is simple: “All humans are born free and equal.”

Founded in 2016, the network spans 11 West African countries, equipping clergy and activists to confront religiously framed homophobia with scripture, history and Ubuntu ethics.

Last September, Mac Iyalla preached in the Netherlands, urging Christians to “reshape the world by speaking out against all forms of injustice.”

A message to queer African youth

“You are not a taboo. You are not ‘un-African’. Same sex love existed on this continent long before colonial missionaries,” Mac Iyalla asserts.

“If God and your ancestors are with you, no weapon fashioned by anti gender movements will succeed.”

He urges young people who feel safe enough to “take the risk and be counted,” while reminding them that leadership also happens quietly, in classrooms, clinics and marketplaces where queer Africans already serve.

Why this story matters

Mac Iyalla’s journey does not erase Ghana’s political peril, but it illuminates a parallel reality: LGBTQ+ Ghanaians are farmers, teachers, chiefs and prayer leaders. They are “everywhere,” as he likes to say, and in many cases they are thriving.

In a season when anti queer rhetoric dominates headlines, Chief Davis Mac Iyalla stands as living proof that African tradition can coexist with and celebrate queer identity. His life invites us to imagine a future in which ancestral stools make room for every kind of child born to the continent.

Until that day arrives, he will keep doing what chiefs are meant to do: build, protect and speak the truth. And that, in itself, is queer joy.

Blog, Press

Statement by the Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA) on Ghana’s Upcoming Elections

Interfaith Diversity Network Of West Africa

Statement by the Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA) on Ghana’s Upcoming Elections on 7th December 2024

As Ghana approaches its general elections on 7th December 2024, the Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA) calls for a peaceful, inclusive, and transparent electoral process that upholds the dignity and rights of all citizens.

A Call for Peace and Unity
We urge political parties, candidates, and their supporters to prioritize peace and refrain from rhetoric or actions that may incite violence, division, or hatred. Ghana has long been a beacon of democracy in Africa, and it is imperative that this legacy is upheld during this critical period.

Respect for Human Rights
Elections should not be a platform for the marginalization of vulnerable groups, including women, youth, and LGBTQI+ individuals. We call on all stakeholders to promote messages of inclusion, unity, and respect for diversity. Hate speech, stigmatization, and the use of homophobia as a political tool have no place in a democratic society.

Fairness and Transparency
IDNOWA appeals to the Electoral Commission, security agencies, and all relevant authorities, to ensure that the electoral process is free, fair and transparent. Citizens must feel confident that their voices will be heard and their votes counted without intimidation or fear.


Engagement with Religious and Community Leaders
As an interfaith organization, we emphasise the role of religious and community leaders in fostering dialogue and encouraging peaceful coexistence. Let us use our platforms to unite communities rather than divide them.

Encouraging Civic Responsibility
We encourage all eligible voters to exercise their right to vote responsibly and without coercion. Participation in the democratic process is a cornerstone of active citizenship and a vital step toward shaping a more inclusive and equitable society.

Our Commitment
IDNOWA remains committed to promoting peace, human rights, and inclusion across West Africa. We stand ready to collaborate with civil society organizations, government agencies, and international partners to ensure a peaceful electoral process in Ghana.

Together, let us strive for an election that reflects the values of justice, equity, and respect for all.

Signed
Mr. Davis Mac-Iyalla
Executive Director
Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa.

Blog, Press

Liberia Methodist Church resist inclusion and diversity

Interfaith Diversity Network Of West Africa

Anti-homosexual protests storm Liberia United Methodist Church

Original story by Gloria Wleh from https://dubawa.org/anti-homosexual-protests-storm-liberia-united-methodist-church/

Liberia is a highly religious country with a Christian majority of 85% of the 5.2 million population. 

Article 14 of the Liberian Constitution provides for the “freedom of thought, conscience and religion and no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment thereof except as may be required by law to protect public safety, order, health, morals, or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.”

Some Christian denominations practised in Liberia are Lutheran, Baptist, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, United Methodist, African Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zionists, and several Pentecostal churches.

An American-based Christian organisation called Set Free Alliance said the Methodist is the largest Christian denomination in Liberia.

The Methodist church is almost everywhere in the world and was derived from John Wesley‘s teachings, which posit that salvation must produce holiness of heart and life. 

At its most recent 2020\2024 general conference held in the U.S., the United Methodist reached a decision, removing from its Book of Discipline all language that restricts or singles out non-heterosexual people for disparate treatment, effective upon the close of the conference on May 3, 2024.

The church also made its clergy free to preside over same-sex marriage or union ceremonies where they are legal. The church said they are also equally free to choose not to do so. The church says it remains neutral and inclusive, saying, “Sexuality is God’s good gift to all persons.”

Since then, the United Methodist Church in Liberia has been characterised by claims and counterclaims of homosexuality being adopted in the church of Liberia.

Barely a few months after the conference, in June this year, a protest was staged against same-sex marriage in the Methodist church in Nimba County by people believed to be members of the church. The aggrieved members claimed the Resident Bishop of Liberia, Samuel Quire, is gay, and he is trying to infuse same-sex marriage in the church.

Also, on Oct 13, 2024, a simultaneous protest occurred in two United Methodist churches in New Georgia and 72nd communities. The protestants alleged that Bishop Quire suspended their pastors and replaced them because of their stance against homosexuality. They also alleged that a gay wedding was officiated by the bishop on that same day, at one of the churches.

In response on Oct 14, 2024, Bishop Quire said the allegation of him officiating a gay wedding came from the New Georgia branch but was false.  

He stressed that the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church would not conduct any weddings or ordination of homosexuals.

Bishop Quire explained that two of the pastors of the New Georgia branch and a clergyman of the 72nd were suspended because they disobeyed the church’s book of discipline. He said he could not reveal their exact offenses because they were administrative decisions.

The bishop said the pastors rejected the suspension letters and decided to continue pastoring their different churches, which disrupted their churches’ services.

He said the “United Methodist Church of Liberia is not a gay church, nor will it ever adopt such an identity.” He added, “They firmly uphold the definition of marriage as the sacred union between one man and one woman– nothing more and nothing less.”