I fantasized about my podcast for months. Technically, years. Ever since my live show, The Verastic Show stopped airing, I started thinking of other ways to have those conversations again, but it was the past several months that I really saw my podcast clearly. I knew what I wanted: I wanted to have authentic conversations — like the one I had with this openly-gay Nigerian man.
“I believe in asking the difficult questions, starting the uncomfortable conversations, proposing outside-the-box solutions, and of course, shaking tables. No, breaking tables.” Verbatim, these words are in the intro of the I Am African Podcast because they are exactly why I started this podcast.
And today, I had the pleasure of speaking with Edafe Okporo about his life as an openly-gay Nigerian man. Make no mistake, Edafe is not a gay rights activist, although he is understandably outspoken on the issue. However, he wants you to know more about him than the person he shares a bed with. For example, Edafe is 6’1″ and 205 pounds, and he describes himself simply as a speaker, an author, and a diversity expert.
Before Edafe moved to New York, he was a Pastor in a Redeemed Christian Church of God in Nigeria where he struggled with his sexuality. Eventually, he came out to the church, and while life was difficult then, it became unbearable when Nigeria passed the law against homosexuality. That was when Edafe found himself being attacked several times and had to flee to the United States for refuge.
Here’s the thing: As Africans, we know ourselves. We know the “sin” that we like and the one we don’t. An article I read stated that 94% of Africans do not approve of homosexuality. There are hindrances in the way of “approving” homosexuality, I get it – like culture, religion, personal preference, etc. This episode is not to convince you to suddenly love homosexuality. This is simply a conversation between two human beings, appealing to your human ears, to treat everybody as a body – a human body – because whether you agree with Edafe or not, he’s still a human being, worthy and deserving of every good thing humans can have.
Here’s the other thing: As Christians, we miss the mark too many times. Yes, I know not all who listen to this podcast are Christians, but this paragraph is specifically for the Christians. My Pastor always says it best, that our duties as Christians are to, “Love God, and love people.” Please listen, and be guided.
You can connect with Edafe Okporo on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. You can also find out more about him on his website where you can also pre-order his new book coming out in October, called Compassion Is Worth More.
Listen to episode 17 of the I Am African Podcast: A Conversation with an Open-Gay Nigerian Man
You can also listen at any and all of the following places: online, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Sticher, Google Play Music, Tunein, Spreaker, Blubrry, Digital Podcast, Deezer, Podchaser, and the Sono App (no link). If there’s a podcast player you prefer that isn’t listed here, let me know and I’ll see if I can submit my podcast there. But that’s not all! You can also find updates about the I Am African Podcast right here on Verastic. See for yourself.
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Wow! What an amazingly insightful podcast! Edafe smashed some tables for sure!! I thoroughly enjoyed this Podcast. The person that was going to fetch firewood has enough for a massive bonfire!
He is so right about the fact that the world seems to be so completely obsessed with what gay people do sexually but the same does not apply to heterosexuals. We cannot be judged or castigated for what we do in the privacy of our bedrooms. Rather we should be concerned with being good people that care for each other and treat each other with respect. Edafe is clearly educated and eloquently fights his corner, not just for gay rights, it seems, but for human rights in general. It is very sad that he had to leave Nigeria to be able to be freely vocal in his activism. Nigeria needs more people like this for change to ever be effected but Nigerians are far too entrenched in their beliefs or “what is right” to allow a soul like Edafe’s to flourish there. His comment about his relatives who have suddenly welcomed him back like the prodigal son is so telling of what we do in Nigeria, so so sad! money makes us lose our oh so judgmental minds!
Fabulous Podcast! Well done Vera!
This was a very insightful episode. I strongly believe that if we simply apply the golden rule of treating others (irrespective of race, religion, or sexuality) the way we want to be treated, the world would be a much better place.
That being said, I was somewhat offended (and slightly amused) about the ‘fish’ term. I mean isn’t it better to eat fish than shit? Anyway, thank you for another episode Vera.