"It is important that we as African trans, gender diverse and intersex people speak for ourselves" — Victor Mukasa
This statement by one of Trans & Intersex History Africa’s (TIHA) founders, Victor Mukasa, speaks to the rationale behind the TIHA project, the history of trans, gender diverse and intersex movements in Africa, and the importance of archiving our histories/herstories/theirstories.
“It is important that African trans, gender diverse and intersex people speak for ourselves because these are our experiences, these are our stories, these are our lives. It is our challenges, it is our joys, it is us. No other person can speak better for trans and intersex people than ourselves. And we have the ability and that is why we are doing it on the TIHA website because we can do this ourselves and we are able to collect our stories, with support. This is why we have to go back and look for all those that contributed, all those that experienced life in these identities. History gets distorted if those who experienced it are not the ones telling it. In order for us to get an authentic account of where we come from, we need to get it from the trans and intersex people themselves in Africa. When we do it ourselves then we own it because it is our life. We own it.“
“It is known worldwide that a movement without history that is documented and placed somewhere accessible, is a movement that works blindly. To have a vision we need to realise where we have come from. That is what gives us strength. The histories of trans and intersex people in Africa need to be documented and made accessible for this reason. That documentation is wealth to those who will come after us. That documentation, our histories, are the fuel that drives us. It is our pride, it is the torch that every time things get difficult we look back, see how far we have come, see what we did to come that far. It is important to show the resilience of people in Africa so that we have something that will energise those who come after. The pride they will have in their history will push them into preserving that and to fighting for every trans and intersex person who comes after.“
Supporting advocacy and movement building through archiving
We document events and important moments in a visual timeline as experienced and remembered by activists on the African Continent and within the African Diaspora.
As is the case worldwide, the anti-gender, conservative, TERF (trans exclusionary radical feminism) rhetoric continues to gain strength and influences government policies, law and public sentiment, which impacts trans and intersex people’s lived realities and their fundamental human rights. We believe that the Trans & Intersex History in Africa (TIHA) archival project can contribute to the efforts of organisations, specifically those who cannot publicise their work due to threat of financial and legal consequences (which includes one of our founding partners), to ensure that trans, gender diverse and intersex existence and lived experience is recorded. This record will play a part in ensuring the collaborative strength of the African movements in combating the anti-trans and anti-intersex sentiment on the continent and in the African diaspora.
The TIHA website acknowledges the existence of multiple movements, networks, groups and individuals and that the stories to be told are intersectional and carry various voices to form histories/herstories/theirstories. We are making a start with the information currently available but invite stories in whatever media to be submitted from across the continent and from the many places and voices not yet represented.
While we are in a continuous process of rethinking this important work, we invite you to engage with the information that the TIHA Timeline and Talk Shows present. Get involved! Reach out! You can list your organisation/group, share your stories through the Timeline or through the Talk Show by getting in touch with us. We particularly invite first person stories and can facilitate the sharing of these.
Are you looking for something specific?
There are different ways to access the information in the database of the Timeline. You can scroll through the entire chronological timeline of events, or filter the results according to a specific category or search by topic:
- CHRONOLOGICAL TIMELINE — Scroll through the entire timeline with all the entries in order of occurrence. You can filter according to categories to narrow down the results.
- SEARCH BAR — Search for specific words or terms that interest you. You can find the Search Bar in the menu in the top right of the home page.
- FAQs — Information about us, our project and future plans.
Include the story of your African trans, gender diverse and/or intersex organisation/group in our archive
There are many African organisations. groups and individuals who over the years have contributed in invaluable ways to the stories of the trans, gender diverse and intersex movements who are not yet included in our timeline.
We want to acknowledge and include all verifiable contributions.
Who are we?
We are a group of African activists who have all been actively involved in the early years of the trans, gender diverse and intersex movements in Africa and the African Diaspora. We are committed to preserving the his/hers/theirstories of the trans, gender diverse and intersex movements, communities, networks, organisations and individuals on the continent and in the Diaspora.
Partnership Agreement & Fiscal Host
In March 2023 The Trans and Intersex History Africa website (TIHA) and Gender DynamiX (GDX) signed a memorandum of agreement to formalise a partnership of alliance.
While you are here...
As we develop our website we will include a library of media including podcasts, sound clips, live interviews and discussions such as this video where Victor Mukasa talks to transfeminist activist, LeighAnn van der Merwe, about International Transgender Day of Visibility.
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1950
1950s to Late 1970s — Carnivals: A Safe Space for Travestis, Cross-Dressers and Queer Performers, Mozambique
While cross-dressing, queerness, homosexuality, and all forms of LGBTIQ+ identities... -
1975
1975 — Military Coup Ends Carnival Festival, Mozambique
In the early 1970s, Mozambique was still under colonial rule.... -
1982
1982 — Founding of the Phoenix Society, An Underground Network of Trans Women, Transsexuals, Transvestites and Crossdressers During Apartheid, South Africa
South Africa’s first gender-focused group, the Phoenix Society, was established... -
1992
1992 — Commencement of the Births and Deaths Registration Act, South Africa
The Births and Deaths Registration Act, Act 51 of 1992... -
1994
1994 — First Printed Media Reference to The Travesti, Côte d’Ivoire / Ivory Coast
In the Ivory Coast, the Travesti* was a prominent group,... -
1998
1998 — Documentary Focused on Gender Diversity, “Woubi Chéri”, Featured at International Film Festivals, Côte d’Ivoire / Ivory Coast
Featured in international film festivals in 1998, the documentary, Woubi... -
2000
2000 — The First African Intersex Organisation, Intersex Society of South Africa, Formed by Sally Gross, South Africa
Anti-Apartheid and intersex activist, Sally Gross founded the Intersex Society... -
9 February 2003
9 February 2003 — Zimbabwe Unwittingly Represented by a Trans Woman at the Cricket World Cup, South Africa
South Africa hosted the 2003 Cricket World Cup, and on... -
9 September 2003
9 September 2003 — Parliamentary Hearings on the Alteration of Sex Description and Sex Status Act, South Africa
On the 9th of September 2003, a group of organisations... -
3 March 2004
3 March 2004 — Founding of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), Uganda
3 March 2004 — Founding of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG),... -
15 March 2004
15 March 2004 — Alteration of Sex Description and Sex Status Act, South Africa
Following on from the parliamentary hearings on 9 September 2003,... -
2005
2005 — Intersex Rights Included in Legislation for the First Time Worldwide, South Africa
The Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act,... -
2005
2005 — Fondation du Collectif Arc-En-Ciel (CAEC), Maurice / The Rainbow Collective Founded, Mauritius
2005 — Fondation du Collectif Arc-En-Ciel (CAEC), Maurice / The... -
May 2005
May 2005 — South Africa’s First Gender Diversity Awareness Workshop Hosted, South Africa
In May 2005, Liesl Theron, then a member of the... -
July 2005
July 2005 — Gender DynamiX (GDX) Founded, South Africa
Gender DynamiX (GDX), the first registered South African-based organisation and... -
July 2005
July 2005 — Trans and LGBTQIA+ Activist, Victor Mukasa, Sues Government, Uganda
July 2005 — Trans and LGBTQIA+ Activist, Victor Mukasa, Sues... -
25 February 2006
25 February 2006 — Trans Kenyan Receives Asylum in Canada, Kenya
On 25 February 2006, Kenyan-born Biko Beauttah arrived in Canada... -
31 October 2006
31 October 2006 — Trans Burundian Refugee Receives Asylum in South Africa, Burundi/South Africa
On 31 October 2006, Alexandra Rubera was granted asylum in... -
2007
2007 — Gender Dynamix (GDX) Becomes First African Organisation to Become a Member of WPATH, South Africa
South Africa’s Gender DynamiX (GDX) was the first African organisation... -
February 2007
February 2007 — Gender DynamiX Holds Trans-Awareness Training with The Inner Circle (TIC), South Africa’s First Queer Muslim Association
In February 2007, Gender DynamiX (GDX) held a trans-awareness workshop... -
May 2007
May 2007 — ILGA Establishes an Affiliate Pan African Organisation — Pan Africa ILGA, South Africa
In May 2007, the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA)... -
2007
2007 to 2022 — Strategic Action Litigation (SAL): Legal Advocacy for Intersex Persons in Kenya
Between 2007 and 2022, legal advocacy for intersex person in... -
July 2007
July 2007 — House of Rainbow and Gender DynamiX Reach Out to Nigerian Trans Women, Nigeria
July 2007 — House of Rainbow and Gender DynamiX Reach... -
2007
2007 — Formation of Rainbow Identity Association (RIA), Botswana
2007 — Formation of Rainbow Identity Association (RIA), Botswana Skipper... -
August 2007
August 2007 — IAAF Requires Gender Verification Tests for Botswana Athlete
Gold medallist Paralympian, Tshotlego* Morama (now Paul Morama) from Botswana...