Tag: statement

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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

Intersex Awareness Day

Interfaith Diversity Network Of West Africa

Statement by Nana Davis Mac-Iyalla 

As an intersex person rooted in West Africa and committed to the pursuit of dignity, inclusion, and truth, I issue this statement to mark Intersex Awareness Day—not as a symbolic gesture, but as a call to action.

Intersex people have always existed. Across our continent, our bodies have been part of sacred cosmologies, our lives woven into the ancestral fabric of our communities. Yet today, many intersex children and adults across West Africa continue to face silence, shame, and systemic harm. Non-consensual surgeries, social exclusion, and theological erasure remain widespread.  

This is not our tradition. It is the legacy of colonial medicine and imported dogma—forces that taught us to fear what we once honored.  

As Executive Director of IDNOWA, I affirm that intersex rights are human rights. We must end medically unnecessary interventions on intersex infants. We must protect intersex people from discrimination in healthcare, education, and religious spaces. And we must ensure that intersex voices are not only heard, but centered in the policies and movements that shape our lives.  

Our advocacy is not a Western import. It is a reclamation. A return to the wisdom of our ancestors who understood that life is not binary, and that the divine is not limited by rigid categories of male or female.  

We call on governments, faith leaders, educators, and civil society across West Africa and the diaspora to join us in this work. Let us build coalitions that honor bodily autonomy. Let us create spaces where intersex people can live openly, safely, and with pride. Let us teach our children that difference is not a defect—it is a gift.

To all intersex people: you are not alone. You are not broken. You are not a mistake. You are sacred.

This Intersex Awareness Day, we do not ask for permission to exist. We assert our right to thrive.

Blog, Press

Statement by the Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA) to Mark International Day Against  Homophobia (IDAHOBIT 2025)

Interfaith Diversity Network Of West Africa

On the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) 2025, the Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa (IDNOWA) stands in solidarity with LGBTQI+ individuals across the region and globally. This year’s powerful theme: “The Power of Communities,” reaffirm our commitment to fostering inclusive and affirming spaces within faith-based communities and beyond.

In West Africa, where LGBTQI+ individuals often face profound discrimination, stigma, and violence, the strength of supportive communities is not just a comfort, but a lifeline. IDNOWA recognizes the vital role that faith communities can play in either perpetuating or dismantling harmful narratives. We believe that true faith is rooted in love, compassion, and justice, values that must extend to all members of our human family, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

However, we cannot ignore the stark realities faced by LGBTIQ+ communities in our member countries. The likes of Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Togo and others, such as:

  • Criminalization and Legal Persecution: In several West African nations, same-sex relationships are criminalized, leading to arrests, imprisonment, and severe penalties. This creates a climate of fear and forces LGBTIQ+ individuals to live in hiding, denying them basic human rights.
  •  Violence and Discrimination: LGBTIQ+ individuals are frequently subjected to physical and verbal violence, harassment, and discrimination in various settings, including families, schools, workplaces, and public spaces.
  • Lack of Access to Essential Services: LGBTIQ+ people face significant barriers in accessing healthcare, education, and other essential services due to
  •  Religious Intolerance: Misinterpretations and weaponization of religious texts fuel prejudice and hatred towards LGBTIQ+ individuals. This results in social ostracization, family rejection, and the denial of spiritual support.
  •  Increased Anti-trans Sentiment: There is a growing wave of hateful rhetoric and legislation targeting transgender people specifically.
  •  State-sanctioned Voilence: In some member countries, law enforcement participates in the harassment and assault of LGBTIQ+ individuals. This can include extortion, unlawful arrests, and physical violence.

“The Power of Communities” underscores the transformative potential of collective action. IDNOWA is dedicated to building bridges of understanding and acceptance within religious institutions, challenging discriminatory ideologies, and promoting dialogues that affirms the dignity and worth of every person.

IDNOWA calls on religious leaders, policymakers, and community members to join us in embracing the power of communities to create a world where everyone can live with dignity and respect. We must challenge harmful narratives, promote inclusive policies, and build bridges of understanding across lines of difference.

For this IDAHOBIT 2025, let us renew our commitment to building communities where love triumphs over hate, and where every person is celebrated for who they are.

Together, we are unstoppable.

Together, we are the power of communities.

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

#IDAHOBIT2025

#ThePowerOfCommunities