La musica LGBTQIA+ nell’Africa lusofona. I casi di Angola e Capo Verde

Abstract

In Portuguese-speaking African countries, LGBTQIA+ rights are at best poorly protected and often not tolerated at all. This essay aims to explore the role of music in conveying messages of social commitment to LGBTQIA+ rights in Angola and Cape Verde, two countries that are at the opposite ends of the spectrum of choices with regard to democracy and individual rights. The research was conducted within the framework of Human Rights Art regarding marginalised groups such as the LGBTQIA+ community, and was informed by the theory of coloniality. The research aimed to reconstruct the artistic and musical environments of the two countries by analysing songs that are considered significant for LGBTQIA+ issues and by conducting interviews with Angolan activists. The research showed that transgender musicians such as Titica have enjoyed enormous success in the Angolan Kuduro scene, sparking strong polarisation within Angolan society. In contrast, Cape Verde’s higher level of tolerance has succeeded in keeping low polarisation in the debate on LGBTQIA+ issues.