Sexual Orientation in Chinelo Okparanta Under the Udala Trees and Trifonia Melibea Obono’s La Bastarda

ABSTRACT

Sexual orientation plays an important role in the development of human behaviour and human personality. A person’s sexual orientation is a fundamental aspect of the person’s sexuality and identity. Many people identify themselves as having a certain sexual orientation based on who they are attracted to or fall in love with. Hence, several studies have been carried out to examine the concept of queerness and the general queer theory and how it is applied in literature. It is against this backdrop that this study aims to examine the concept of sexuality and its societal implications in Chinelo Okparanta’sUnder the Udala Trees and Trifonia Melibea Obono' La Bastarda, through the tenets of queer theory.Under the Udala Trees critiques the social forces that mandate heterosexuality and silence queer identities. The protagonist Ijeoma struggle to reconcile her desires with societal demands as she speaks to the broader issues of how heteronormativity is imposed and maintained in patriarchal societies. Through experience, Okparanta illustrates the immense pressure placed on individuals to perform heterosexuality, even when it is at odds with their authentic selves. In La BastardaObono powerfully illustrates the concepts of queer temporality and historicity, challenging the traditional narratives that prioritises reproduction and familial duty as the ultimate markers of a meaningful life. The characters refusal to conform to these norms critiques the societal pressures that seek to define individuals through a narrow, heteronormative timeline. The characters,Okomo and Marcelo embody a queer resistance that reshapes what it means to live authentically, offering an alternative to the prescribed paths that dominate their community’s expectation.Chinelo Okparanta’s Under the Udala Trees and Trifonia Melibea Obono’s La Bastarda both critically engage with the theme of sexual orientation through the lived experiences of their protagonists, revealing the complexities of queer identity in deeply patriarchal and homophobic African societies.