Decoding conspiracy thinking at the nexus of sexuality, Freemasonry, and the occult.

In this book, anthropologists Rogers Orock and Peter Geschiere examine the moral panic over a perceived rise in homosexuality that engulfed Cameroon and Gabon beginning in the early twenty-first century. As they uncover the origins of the conspiratorial narratives that fed this obsession, they argue that the public's fears were grounded in historically situated assumptions about the entanglement of same-sex practices, Freemasonry, and illicit enrichment.

This specific panic in postcolonial Central Africa fixated on high-ranking Masonic figures thought to lure younger men into sex in exchange for professional advancement. The authors' thorough account shows how attacks on elites as homosexual predators corrupting the nation became a powerful outlet for mounting populist anger against the excesses and corruption of the national regimes. Unraveling these tensions, Orock and Geschiere present a genealogy of Freemasonry, taking readers from London through Paris to francophone Africa and revealing along the way how the colonial past shapes present-day anxieties linking same-sex practices to enrichment.

About the Author

Rogers Orock is assistant professor of Africana studies at Lafayette College. He is a coeditor of Elites and the Politics of Accountability in Africa. Peter Geschiere is professor emeritus of the anthropology of Africa at the University of Amsterdam and Leiden University. He is the author of several books, including Witchcraft, Intimacy, and Trust: Africa in Comparison, also published by the University of Chicago Press.

Reviews
"This captivating comparative ethnography of the predilections of the power elite in Cameroon and Gabon reveals that power is an ever-evolving concept, constantly reimagined through the creative and innovative approaches of those who seek it. Orock and Geschiere demonstrate how individuals adeptly adapt and embody a blend of material and mystical technologies of secrecy and sexuality, extending their influence in ways that manifest power and fuel conspiracy." * Francis B. Nyamnjoh, University of Cape Town *
"A true tour de force, this excellent book charts new territory in African studies, queer theory, and beyond. In addition to providing a brilliant decoding of the conspiracy triangle, Orock and Geschiere offer fascinating sub-stories and the first sustained account of Freemasonry in Africa. I wouldn't be surprised if this book became required reading for queer studies in Africa." * Charles Piot, Duke University *



Book Information
ISBN 9780226835846
Author Rogers Orock
Format Hardback
Page Count 240
Imprint University of Chicago Press
Publisher The University of Chicago Press
Weight(grams) 454g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 20mm