Gay Love Stories:BAMAKO. Love between men in every climate

[oneindachamber]

I agree with that intimate simply means you love that person but it doesnt mean you want to have sex with that person. Men show intimacy when ever you see your homie you aint seen for a long time. what do you do? you hug the man for god sakes that aint homo

[jimbearnh]

I like this guy

[diepiriye]

@jimbearnh Thanks.

[Spo1ledbratbaby1]

Gay assfreakahns!!!!!! WOW I knew I was right all along. They take it up the ass in assfreakah too!

[diepiriye]

@Spo1ledbratbaby1 I am not sure that this is the place for me to comment about your sex life. But, what I can say is that you are unsatisfied with your sex life and probably really unhappy with your gender identity. You probably see yourself as 'normal' but your angry words reveal that you are projecting some rage and see us as vulnerable enough for others to agree to stigmatize us. That's ok, sister, I understand you better than you've even tried to understand me. Won't you at least try?

[Spo1ledbratbaby1]

@diepiriye You have read into what I typed COMPLETELY wrong. I haven't bashed you my brotha. Re read what I typed. Thanks

[diepiriye]

@Spo1ledbratbaby1 Wow, I guess I must have read the opposite of what you meant because it sounded pretty homophobic and that's what I was responding to.

[Spo1ledbratbaby1]

@diepiriye We cool! muahz

[diepiriye]

@Spo1ledbratbaby1 We cool. Wow, I really have a foul mouth!?!

[Spo1ledbratbaby1]

@diepiriye naw...you good. much love for you

[Spo1ledbratbaby1]

@diepiriye As far as my sex life goes.. I am thoroughly satisfied. Thanks again

[pikebishop09]

Thanks much for this vid. Lovely and warm ... great good luck!

[diepiriye]

@pikebishop09 Thanks again. And this is special place that I'd like more people to know first hand.

[hyndm]

Hi, Just wondering if you had any thoughts on this article "WikiLeaks cables: Saudi princes throw parties boasting drink, drugs and sex" in the Guardian...

"Most of the prince's security forces were young Nigerian men. It is common practice for Saudi princes to grow up with hired bodyguards from Nigeria or other African nations who are of similar age and who remain with the prince well into adulthood. The lifetime spent together creates an intense bond of loyalty"

[wardbundle]

equally perverted is the AFFECTATION that you put on when you get around your homosexual friends! it's rediculous! you couldn't possibly be a samesex lover and just be a man.......nooooooooo you have to be little bitches who flit around and make girlie gestures!!! yes fucking rediculous!! but you don't get it! you just don't get it!!! that's ok! God will have mercy on the pathethic!!!

[diepiriye]

@wardbundle I am sorry that you are filled with such hate, and even worse that you perceive God as a punisher of sorts. I more perceive God through love and this helps me extend my compassion to fellow human beings. I don't see that much dividing me from other people on the planet, and certainly could not imagine that sexuality would make me feel more blessed or damned than another individual.

[wardbundle]

most queer men are sniping little, sarcastic me, they want perfection and that's why they migrate alone until they find other queers! these anti- social people put on all kinds of displays of false happiness, flitting around acting like teenage girs and even more femine than that!

That's ok....The Lord will FORGIVE you!

[diepiriye]

@wardbundle BTW, why are you so angry?

[wardbundle]

@diepiriye I am not angry....you are perverted! you don't realize it because it FEELS so natural to suck another man's cock, or put your cock into another mans's sweaty, hairy butthole! that is PERVERTED, sick and completely unnatural, the same way it is to abuse a child..it's called perverted!! it's disgusting display of the rejection of God's creation of a mutual love and sexual attraction for the opposite sex~ age appropriate of course! that's what is in my mind when I type such things

[diepiriye]

@wardbundle I pray for your happiness and health. May I offer you my most sincere appreciation for reminding me of why I struggle to spread peace in my everyday life, and that in the world around me.

[wardbundle]

well, with queer men, there is no love involved....ok, they just meet and fuck! so STOP trying to peddle your crazy shit about love on here!!!! and pleaseeeeee stop with the girlie affectation! your're a man and men don't speak like that, I guarntee you didn't do that in Junior High! you would have your ass beat in a second!!! you have practised and practised this way of being for years while hanging around other queer boys and men..... Stop using the word Gay, because it means exhuberant!

[diepiriye]

@wardbundle I really have little to say to you because it's obvious that you're not interested in dialogue. In the event that you open your mind to hearing another way of thinking, then please feel free to contact me. For now, just pray for your Lord for the happiness and health of all humanity, and that one day we may know world peace where individuals do not need to try to step on others just to make themselves feel bigger.

[jebjerism]

@Diepiriye... I feel for soul. I recommend you read what Jesus Christ said about the end-time. Do you know that meaning of your name? Do you? I bet you dont because no gay bears that Godly name. I bet if you dont change from this attitute of 'gay', you will go to hell.

[diepiriye]

@jebjerism I am afraid that I cannot take your effort to express compassion seriously at all. WHen you say that you feel for my soul, then how it is that you can then threaten me with going to hell? Effectively, you are spreading the hell that you feel here on Earth. WHy not embrace difference around you as expressions of your God's love, since God is everywhere. God is also in me, and that's the only truth your bible tells you. I know my name and value all life and find love regardless of fear.

[nicksum29]

@diepiriye You have just expressed Christ's Love more clearly than any Christian I have ever met. Please don't listen to jebjerism. He's just scared.

[diepiriye]

@nicksum29 Thanks for that! It helps to hear sane voices especially here on the net where it seems like all the meanies and crazies come out more than anyone genuinely interested in dialogue.

[nicksum29]

@diepiriye hee-hee. You're right. And they make one so angry that one begins to act like a meanie, too!

[suddenlyitsobvious]

Really great to hear your PERSONAL perspective on a country I know very little and your experience with men. Ah, if "gays" could talk more in this openminded, observant and relaxed way, and stop obsessing about either frivolous things or propagandistic themes like "the epic fight against heteronormative oppression..." I thought your linking your experience back to the western gay marriage theme was a glorious observation.

[diepiriye]

@suddenlyitsobvious Thanks you. I am glad that this is also a space where we can open each other's minds through dialogue. I have had a very exciting time learning about the places I have lived through knowing gay men just like me. We are everywhere, and that just shows me that there is something mysterious that we are meant to show humanity.

[cassidy50501]

dis guy sucks GOD wtf

[GarugaXXX]

this dude look just like jon...

[bahasajawi]

@GarugaXXX

ye ke bukan teratakpakwok raje kelawak si hidung belang macam bendera pkr

[gaysenegalais]

GREAT Analysis. Wish more African Americans brothers and sisters would travel more in Africa and experience first hand the realities and cultural diversity of the continent. I am a Senegalese "gay" man that reside in the US and constantly having to explain my "world" as a continental African/muslim man who loves men. Anyway BRAVO to you and all the very best.

[diepiriye]

@gaysenegalais Merci bien!

I literally cried the very first time I lay eyes up Africa's shores shortly before we landed in Dakar. The feeling was overwhelming, and each time I return to Africa, I am more and more convinced that the experience would be so healing for so many African-Americans who feel so wounded by feeling so alienated in the world. I think that every Black person in the Diaspora must visit Africa. And the Sahel region is so far from our imaginations of the continent.

[voltaire11]

I'm glad I ran across your video. An interesting story from a brave man. Bonne courage, as the French say!

[diepiriye]

Merci bien!

[agent9752]

The more you travel around the world, the more you find relationships between men friends and women friends are more intimate, affectionate, and more physical (not necessarily sexual) than in the US, especially when you leave the sphere of societies ruled by Christianity, Islam, or Judaism.

Interestingly, it tends to be the more 'westernized' people in those places who adopt the more negative attitudes toward accepting people who have a different sexuality.

[diepiriye]

I am afrad that as Americanization takes stronger and stronger hold here, people will label any same-sex intmacy as gay. SO just like two boys growing up in AMerica who eventually learn that being nice to each other is not cool, then boys here will start to stay away from one another for not wanting that label, and wanting to be seen as modern. I certainly wish it were the other way around.

[agent9752]

@ dipriye:sadly,I think you're right. I also wish it were the other way around.

[TreblePop]

You should put on a shirt.  You can't help talking and acting like a girl. But you can put on a shirt quite easily.

[diepiriye]

Hmmm, I am not sure where you're coming from, but it seems that you'd have a major problem with anything I did or said, and however I did it- shirt or not. You should get out more....a shirtless man won't even make people flinch in most parts of the world. Where are you? Mars? And why would I "help" talking like I do? Oh, because of PEOPLE just like YOU- and your kids, who will go to school and repeat what YOU say.

[TreblePop]

@diepiriye -

1. You posted a video on youtube.

2. People post their opinions regarding your video.

3. Some will post opinions with which you disagree.

4. Deal with it - or disable commenting, instead of crying like a little girl.

[diepiriye]

@TreblePop

1. Thanks for your insight. I am new at this, and had no idea that people would post hateful comments out of spite. I had no idea that people would post comments without considering what they were saying.

2. Crying like a girl? I wish more boys learned to cry. That way byt he time boys grew up to be men, they would be more in touch with their feelings, and stop saying things like "Boys don't cry." Boys should learn to cry and not feel ashamed of it. Dig it!?!

[carabiche]

do not mislead people. Homosexuality can be a very dangerous topic in some places through africa. you can get yourself kill, period nothing romantic about it be realistic.

[diepiriye]

That's absolutely true. I certainly do not want people to see my story and forget about Uganda, for example. But we all should also consider that there are few places were queer people live as free, first class citizens, even though there are places with relatively more rights than others. I turn on the news on any given day and our very personhood is under attack!

[Nestoba]

I pass that Bamako also, anything is possible there. One has to be careful to avoid being stranded or have your passport stolen!

[babamari]

respect to you, brother.

stay brave and loyal till death to your truth.

[diepiriye]

Thanks!

[gluebox]

yes its very interesting u bring about the story of male intamacy in W.africa, i have experienced that except amognst senegalese men when i was in italy for four mnths, i had several close friends, its nothing to sleep with each other in the same bed..nothing sexual but def intimate, or the holding hands or touchin thing, its a very caring feel to it...deinatley interesting that african essence..reminds me of a book a recently red boy wive and female husbands, africans were never THAT CLOSED

[diepiriye]

Yes, I have that book! Fascinating isn't it.

[mikeemeka1111]

What's the purpose of this rubbish?

[diepiriye]

If it serves no purpose for you, then it's rubbish. But, rest assured, folks seeing this video have made a huge deal about it. If it's not for you, then fine....but believe that men and women around you are in some ways considering these ideas. YOU are certainly free t leave it alone.

[mikeemeka1111]

Whatever. Good luck to u.

[fragileth1ng]

Dude, are you by any means Ijaw??

I'm from Kalabari, a kingdom under the Ijaw tribe. Your name means gift in my language only it is spelled as Diyeprịye. You wear the pride of an Ijaw man so well, I'm almost wishing I was straight!

Don't mind the homophobes...rather, heterosexist. I hate the term "homophobe" because a phobia could be rational. They are too lost in their clouds.

I understand that intimacy thing. It is easy to be gay in Nigeria because of it, but have to keep it hush hush.

[diepiriye]

Hmmm,

I am almost shamed to meet another Ijaw man who thinks of so many things. Yes, my dad is from Nemebe, but I was born and raised in America, but very clear n my identity. Happy to exchange with YOU!

[bowwowcousin]

be a strong black man please dont have kids... how can you have kids and show your son how to be a man when you act like a girl

[diepiriye]

HOMOPHOBIA. See the resemblance.

[bowwowcousin]

confused

[Darkbison7]

Being a man is more than beating your chest, watching football, and scratching your crotch. Many gay men are far better role models than some of these heterosexual men who terrorize countries, rape women in Darfur, and sell drugs to children. Do you disagree?

[diepiriye]

Of course I agree. I grew up having to defend this fact, but eventually just resolved to live as an example. These words are hard for people to hear, so much so that folks actually HATE gay people, yet they cannot explain why. They are uncomfortable and would rather exclude us than include us. Chest beating is more familiar to folks and those who don't are frightening to those sorts of people. What's worse is that I meet plenty of those folks in these so-called liberal schools.

[Darkbison7]

Its a sad society, when people are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns, than two men holding hands.

[diepiriye]

Incredibly well said. I'd like to quote you on my blog- it's an interesting image, then, of two men holding guns. Any two men, in any context, holding guns. Cops. Soldiers. Guards. Urban warriors. Crips & Bloods. All Acceptable. Holding hands- questionable.

Interestingly, here in India, more men hold hands than guns. Africa used to be like that before US guns flooded the markets. The guns came with Coca-cola & a whole lifestyle.

Still, I feel self-conscious about holding hands in public.

[Darkbison7]

its not mine, so feel free to use it. Check my youtube page for a link to my blog. it has my 19-page exhaustive essay wreaking havoc on the opposition to legal same sex marriage. Its mostly based on US laws, but many of the concepts are universally applicable.

[gluebox]

in alot of tradditional african ways as long as u had kids thats all that mattered, being masculine or feminine was not a requirement..we all know that you can "act" like a man and have some fucked up kiDs, see it everyday right here in the big USA grow up to be BOYS..but yup thier dadd were not actin like "girls" get it TOGETHER

[dejiariyo]

well i think yu being listen to another fela.....fela stood for pan africanism and as i am concerned gayism is not part of africanism.most of what fela stood up was anti western things now u being gay is not africans.

most of yu claim you africans but am sorry ur accent says it all...u just a disgrace to what africa really stood for..i know we gonna have another set of fools like you who will wanna have a right to sleep with animal cos they want freedom...freedom my ass

[diepiriye]

OK, there are gay people all over Africa. Born, raised, live, die- whole lives in Africa. If you don't know about it, then you simply don't know your own world.

Animals? I'm not even gonna go there. Bye.

[dejiariyo]

ur accent is not african its quite obvious,if yu have not travelled to the west possibility yu will be gay is so low...all this attitude are copied from the west and yu know it

[diepiriye]

Luckily the gays in Africa are quickly learning how to deal with your lot, so voices like yours will get squashed by people who believe in liberty and freedom and supporting one another instead of just creating false divisions. Clearly, Fela asked all of us to stand up...but all you can do is try to strike others down. That's so f*cking weak of you.

[dejiariyo]

hey why are you using fela songs in something like this?well we have reported it to youtube cos fela never stood for rubbish like this

[diepiriye]

Fela stood for freedom and even looking at your channel, you like your women as bitches and your men as thugs. So, where's the freedom in that. Fela stood for so much more than that and it is distasteful for you to even leave hateful comments here, especially in his name. Fela is all of ours, not just yours and his power has inspired me to be myself- you cannot take that away, and I wish you felt it to...wish you felt as free as he did and fought for us.

[Rhubaru]

This thing (woman?) teaches at a school a friend of mine goes to, it's disgusting.

He teaches at one of the top schools on Earth and he's not goddamn fired yet. FORTUNATELY these videos have started to circulate around the staff and parent of the students. I'd only give him a couple of days left at the place.

It's really really gross. I don't think my parents would even let me go to a school with staff like that. Not a suitable thing for children to see, especially middle school students

[diepiriye]

Turns out you were right...I've been asked to move on to bigger and better things. Your comments initially hurt, and I do think that you intended to bruise. But I am surrounded by so much love that I am blinded to hate. I wish that you, too one day know this feeling of joy that comes from creating good in the world and not hate. I understand that you take joy in this, so I leave your comments for all the world to see.

[diepiriye]

Who are you? You're obviously very influential in the AES school,and since you know who I am, why not unmask yourself and all these people you supposedly know. I am bold enough to be me, but are you bold enough to be you?

[BLACKMENAREFAILINGUS]

GREAT VIDEO HOMMIE!

[diepiriye]

@BLACKMENAREFAILINGUS Thanks!

[adorabledarl]

i thot iwas gonna hate u at first but listening to u i like u 4rm a west african sistah xxx

[diepiriye]

Thanks sis, and I appreciate that you gave me the benefit of the doubt.

[OBparamour]

I've observed that men of all cultures tend to bond together more so than women. This isn't a new phenomenon, even the Roman men preferred the companionship of other males to women.  As a woman, I've often felt that heterosexual men would have no interest in us at all if it wasn't for the fact that we have a vagina.

[diepiriye]

Yeah, think about football!

[SpringRain101]

I'm not sure what women you are talking about, but women in certain cultures,(not all because I can't generalize here), bond just as well as gay men.Very well especially if its a homogenous relationship. I have met dominican and puerto rican women with similar cultures to that of africa, and I find them very understanding, easier to bond with and open, because of the cultural similarities between us, than I would expect my white female counterpart.

[diepiriye]

I really wonder how it is in America. The element of competition seems to reign at times amongst any gender. I agree that Euro culture has this distance, but American style machismo is catchy and people more and more don't like to share too much of themselves it seemed to me- not in the way that people cooperate.

[nubian377]

haha that is not true. Its not just because of the vagina. Its the curvature, the voice, the fact that you women are inherently different, yet we still have a connection, its the chemistry, its the differences in opinion, the physical weakness, the emotional comfort provided by a woman, the gentleness and grace of a woman and so many more.......those are the things, i as a man find compelling. The vagina is just a plus.

[diepiriye]

Certainly hope I didn't mock women in this- because I adore women. But it is fishy how easily men can be like women, and vice versa (I know some seriously rough sisters, too). At a certain point I am starting to believe that we are all capable of loving anyone as long as it's the right one!

[luvholder517]

You need help, nigerians are cultured and nice dont take it as anything more than just that!

[diepiriye]

Well, I've long since learned that there are gay-identified Nigerians (other than me). We all need help because many of us struggle(d) with our families, and as you probably know, it's important for one to fell love, comfort and acceptance from family above all. Rejection from family can feel like having your soul murdered, and people whose souls are murdered cannot be happy. Luckily my family embraces me deeply.

[urbangold1]

It's interesting you talked about how friendship is different with the Nigerians you came across. I'm African and I've found that the friendships I've formed in the diaspora with locals are more like the relationships I'd have with acquaintances back home.

I find a lot of my friendships here are superficial ... they're just not deep enough...

Hope you have a merry Christmas and a prosperous new year! I've enjoyed your videos.

[diepiriye]

Even before I left America, I found people very guarded...and my family relatively emotional and expressive in ways that are only exceeded in Africa. And of course my life in different parts of Asia has exposed me to many ideas about friendship, personal space, nudity, and emotional closeness/vulnerability. Perhaps this is another reason that I left America. Nonetheless, with my folks I feel very fulfilled.

Please enjoy the close of this year and all the best for the next.

[adihsar]

Boundaries, personal space, public perception, labels and boxes are such a North American way of life. On a crowded bus everyone will squeeze into themselves attempting to have as little contact with the person next to them as possible. Whereas in Kenya people hop in matatus and sit on people's laps- men on men, men on women, women on women...it's not sexual it's practical and communal. I love it and I love you. I really enjoy your vids. I can't wait to step my world travel game up!

[SpringRain101]

OMG! you are so right about that. I took a trip to nigerian in december 2006, first time in 11 years and I was surprised by the sight. Boys, men, held hands when walking in public.But to me it was nothing sexual at all. In America people would just quickly read into that and try to conclude that they are gay because they holding hands, but in this case, it was nowhere close to that. The public never looks down on it.

[safire718]

I love that fact that you are a citizen of the world..nice vid.

[redfootwalking]

Hey there! great topic, nice shoulders too. :)