Chibados
Chibados (or quimbandas)[1] are third-gender people, born male, who lived most often as women. They were found among the cultures of the Ndongo and other parts of what is today Angola. They were first described in the west by the Portuguese.
Chibados were involved as "spiritual arbiters in political and military decisions" and also performed
Jesuits described how chibados lived as women and were able to marry other men with no social sanctions. Instead, "such marriages were honored and even prized."[4] Chibados made up a separate caste and elders referred to themselves as "Grandmother."[5]
Queen Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba had over fifty chibados in her court.[6] The chibados were said to be used by Nzinga as concubines.[3]
As the Portuguese gained more control in Africa, colonial laws introduced and increased homophobia.[7]
References
Citations
- ^ Sweet 2003, p. 55-56.
- ^ Sweet 2003, p. 56.
- ^ ISBN 9780814712658.
- ^ Das Wilhelm 2008, p. 227.
- ISBN 9780821442982.
- ^ Das Wilhelm 2008, p. 230.
- ^ Tendi, Blessing-Miles (28 March 2010). "African Myths About Homosexuality". Nehanda Radio. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
Sources
- Das Wilhelm, Amara (2008). Tritiya-Prakriti: People of the Third Sex. GALVA. ISBN 9781450080576.
- ISBN 9780807862346.