Publications

Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar Papers

The Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar Series is a discussion forum that seeks to expand and shape the discourse, thinking and action on sexuality, and to document sexuality from an African perspective. The papers below were presented at the seminars.

Between The Ideal and The Reality: Doing Sexuality Research in the Context of Public Policy in Nigeria
A presentation made at the 2008 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar with the theme: "(Wild) Love and Pleasure in the Cities: Addressing Sexual Health and Wellness in African Urban Areas". download

The City Girl and Sexuality in Yoruba Films: An Assessment
A presentation made at the 2008 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar with the theme: "(Wild) Love and Pleasure in the Cities: Addressing Sexual Health and Wellness in African Urban Areas". The paper assesses the presentation and representation of the city girl sexual life in selected Yoruba video films from the feminist perspective. download

Body Images, Beauty Culture and Language in the Nigeria, African Context
A presentation made at the 2007 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar, the paper examines perceptions of body and beauty in traditional and contemporary Nigeria African context as reflected in the relevant language and literature and against the background of Western perceptions and formulations. download

Food, Body and Sexuality
Presentations made at the 2007 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar with the theme: "Food, Body and Sexuality" in Cairo, Egypt in collaboration with the International Islamic Centre for Population Studies and Research, Al-Azhar University (IICPSR)" download

Forms and Dynamics of Marriage Relationships and the Sexual Health Needs of Married Partners
A presentation made at the 2006 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar, the paper examines sexual health needs of couples in the marriage institution in Nigeria. download

Sexual Health and Sexual Rights Within Marriage
A presentation made at the 2006 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar, the paper examines sexual health and rights within the marriage institution in Nigeria. download

Heterosexuality: Fuelling or Fighting the HIV/AIDS Pandemic?
A presentation made at the 2006 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar, the paper explores issues relating to heterosexist notions of masculinity, femininity and sexuality within the context of the HIV/AIDS pandemic currently being experienced in South Africa. download

African Writer’s Expositions of African Sexuality in their Story Lines
A presentation made at the 2006 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar in South Africa. download

When the Fruit-bearer Does Not Bear the Fruit
A presentation made at the 2006 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar, the paper explores the synergistic relationship of biological reproduction and cultural femininity. download

Femininity, Sexuality and Culture: Patriarchy and Female Subordination in Zimbabwe
A presentation made at the 2006 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar, the paper paper examines the interplay between Feminity, sexuality and culture within the Shona culture in Zimbabwe. download

“I never thought they do it too…!” Sexuality and the Disabled Body
A presentation made at the 2006 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar, the paper explores and describes the experiences of youth with physical disabilities and how they construct their sexual identities. download

Acceptance of Violence Amongst Female Learners in Rural High Schools of Kwazulu Natal
A presentation made at the 2006 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar, the paper explores the views of female high school learners in Kwazulu Natal province of South Africa about gender and sexual relations. download

Colouring Sexualities: How Some Black South Africans Schoolgirls Respond to ‘Racial’ and Gendered Inequalities
A presentation made at the 2006 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar, in South Africa. download

Empowering Youths Through Sexuality Education: The Challenges and Opportunities
A presentation made at the March 2005 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar, the paper examines the challenges being faced and opportunities that exist in using sexuality education as a tool for empowering Nigerian youths. download

Benefits of Sexuality Education For Young Persons in Nigeria
A presentation made at the March 2005 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar, the paper examines the benefits of providing young people with sexuality education. download

Sexuality Education in Nigeria: Evolution, Challenges and Prospects
A presentation made at the March 2005 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar, the paper examines the origin of the concept of sexuality education, how it evolved in Nigeria, and how well it is fairing. It identifies the prospects and challenges of sexuality education in Nigeria today by examining the relationship between sexuality and; society and culture, socio-economic status, ethics, communication, information, gender and the media. download

Sex Education: Do Our Teens Need It?
A presentation made at the March 2005 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar, the paper examines the debate on the provision of sexuality education to Kenya's young people. download

Delaying Gratification as a Beautiful Choice
A presentation made at the March 2005 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar, the paper examines the merits of indigenous approaches to teaching young people in Kenya about sexuality. download

Forms and Dynamics of Marriage Relationships and the Sexual Health Needs of Married Partners
A presentation made at the March 2006 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar, the paper examines the forms and dynamics of marriage relationships and the sexual health needs of married partners in the Nigerian society. download

Sexuality and the Marriage Institution in Islam - An Appraisal
A presentation made at the June 2005 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar, the paper examines the concept of sexuality within the institution of marriage. It posits that there is a prevalent practice of mixing or substituting Islamic precepts with cultural norms, which has led to erosion of Muslim women’s rights as granted under Sharia Law. download

Religion and Sexuality: Individuality, Choice and Sexual Rights in Nigerian Christianity
A presentation made at the June 2005 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar, the paper examines the teachings of the Pentecostal Church on sexual rights. download

Sexuality and Spirituality: Possible Bedmates in the Religious Terrain
A presentation made at the June 2005 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar, the paper explores sex and spirituality as presented by the three dominant religions in Nigeria and its implication for understanding human sexuality in Nigeria. download

Married Couples and The Expression of Sexuality During and After Middle Age
A presentation made at the June 2005 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar in Kenya, the paper is the author's reflection on marital life based on his experience counselling couples and individual married partners in Nairobi, Kenya. download

Marriage and Sexuality in the Indigenous Kenyan Film
A presentation made at the June 2005 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar in Kenya, the paper examines how sex and marriage is portrayed in locally produced films. download

Sexuality of Older Women
A presentation made at the September 2005 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar in South Africa, the paper discusses sexuality as related to ageing, menopause, the body, and power and gender inequity, to understand the ways in which they shape older women’s experiences of sexuality in a South African context. download

Sexuality and Religion in the Time of AIDS
A presentation made at the September 2005 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar in South Africa, this paper examines the development of sexual norms within Christianity, the challenge of AIDS, and the church's response. download

Sexuality and HIV
A presentation made at the September 2005 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar in South Africa, this paper examines the the connections between sexuality and AIDS in the South African society. download

Understanding Sexuality in the Yoruba Culture
A presentation made at the July 2004 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar, the paper examines the expressions sexuality in the Yoruba culture. download

Human Sexuality in Nigeria: A Historical Perspective
A presentation made at the July 2004 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar, the paper examines expressions of sexuality in Nigeria from a historical perspective. download

Patriarchal Ideology and Discourses of Sexuality in Nigeria
A presentation made at the December 2004 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar, the author examines the socio-cultural dynamics of sexual identity formation in contemporary Nigerian society. download

A Post Colonial Scene: On Girls' Sexuality
A presentation made at the December 2004 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar, the paper examines girls’ socialisation and its implications for the contemporary sexuality discourse in Nigeria. download