Johannesburg - It's been nine years since James Obi fled his home country of Nigeria after being subjected to forced exorcisms, violence, arrest, imprisonment and homelessness because of his sexual orientation.
Obi says his life took a complete turn when his family uncovered that he was gay, and life after that was arduous to navigate through, particularly with no one wanting to be associated with him.
The author explained that his family, the villagers, and everyone else who knew him held the notion that he was possessed by demons, something they needed to cast out.
He lived a life of vilification before managing to get to South Africa, where he was able to start a new life.
Obi takes The Star through his abominable experiences, from being physically abused to starting on a clean slate in South Africa and the birth of his book, “Clear Water”.
"My family somehow found out that I am gay, and I went through an exorcism. We started discussing it on a family level, and that didn't work out. I had to go through an exorcism. It is a tradition where they take you to the river because they somehow believe that if you an LGBTQI person, you are possessed by demons. So that's the idea they have.
"They took me to the river and said we are going to make a real man out of you. I was taken to the river, assaulted, and beaten. It happened at midnight, and the goats were slaughtered, and the blood was sprinkled on me for an exorcism.
"When they were done, they said, ‘everything is fine now, you are not gay anymore. Everything is fine’," Obi said.
He says his family was caught between loving him and not loving him, and also caught up in societal norms because they could not come out openly and express their love for him.
They were also in danger because withholding information about knowing someone was gay was a violation of the law, which they did not want to risk.
"The Act says if you know someone and you refuse to report them, you are going to get seven years of imprisonment.
"I prayed and fasted with my whole heart. I did what was supposed to be done.
"I was praying for God to change me. If society said you have to because at one point they asked who is my girlfriend. I remember having issues with my siblings. One of my brothers said, ‘if you don't stop this life you are living, you are not really my brother’," he said.
Obi recently launched his book “Clear Water” to tell the tale of his life in the hope that someone might draw inspiration from it.
Speaking about his book, he said: "My book has a certain element to it which can help anybody or everybody who is searching and has been hurt, regardless of what way. The book offers hope to all who are forced to flee their places of origin because of violence and persecution."
Obi’s life has been on an upward trajectory, and he has gotten his hands on programmes that also help others that have had similar experiences in other countries.
He says he wants to create a space where people can express themselves without being judged or vilified.
The Star