SUPPRESSION AND SURVIVAL OF QUEER CHARACTERS IN TENDAI HUCHU’S THE HAIRDRESSER OF HARARE AND CHINELO OKPARANTA’S UNDER THE UDALA TREES

This project explores the theme of suppression and survival of queer characters in Tendai Huchu’s The Hairdresser of Harare and Chinelo Okparanta’s Under the Udala Trees. Both set in Zimbabwe and Nigeria, the novels confront the cultural, religious, and political forces that marginalize non-heteronormative identities in African societies. The study examines how queer characters navigate environments marked by homophobia, societal expectation, and institutional repression. Dumisani’s covert existence and eventual ostracization in The Hairdresser of Harare, alongside Ijeoma’s journey from silence to self-assertion in Under the Udala Trees, reflect different strategies of survival in oppressive contexts. Drawing on queer theory and postcolonial perspectives, this analysis highlights the complex interplay between personal identity and societal norms. This study argues that these narratives not only expose the realities of queer suppression in Africa but also celebrate the resilience of queer individuals who assert their right to live and love freely despite enduring stigma and resistance.