In recent months, social media platforms in Africa have been flooded with alarming reports of men claiming their genitalia have disappeared or shrunk after a simple handshake. The phenomenon, which has been reported in countries such as Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal, has sparked widespread panic, leading to violent attacks on individuals accused of being responsible. According to DataCheck, a fact-checking organization, these claims are part of an urban legend that has been circulating in Africa for decades.
One such incident was reported in New-Bell, Douala, where a video published on a Facebook page called Bonjour Douala showed a crowd chasing a man accused of stealing a person's genitalia. The page had nearly 35,000 followers at the time of the incident. Similar cases have been reported in Gagnoa, Côte d'Ivoire, and Dakar, Senegal. In these cases, the alleged victims claim that their genitalia disappeared or shrunk after a handshake with the accused.
The alleged victims often report that the incident occurred after a seemingly innocuous interaction, such as a handshake or a casual touch. In some cases, the accused are foreigners, which has led to xenophobic tensions. Junior, a 19-year-old from Dakar, Senegal, claims that his genitalia disappeared after a handshake with his former football coach. He reported the incident to the police, but the matter was eventually settled out of court.
Anthropologist Julien Bonhomme, who has studied the phenomenon, says that these rumors have been circulating in Africa since the 1970s. In his book, "Les voleurs de sexe. Anthropologie d'une rumeur africaine," Bonhomme notes that the rumors have appeared in over a dozen African countries, often in cycles of intense activity followed by periods of relative calm. According to Bonhomme, the rumors can lead to violent outbreaks, resulting in several deaths.
Another expert, Jean-Jacques Mandel, has also studied the phenomenon, which he refers to as the "sex shrinkers" or "voleurs de sexe." Mandel notes that the rumors gained traction in the 1990s, particularly in West Africa. He cites an article from the Burkinabé newspaper Sidwaya, which reported on the lynching of alleged sex thieves in Ouagadougou in 1997.
Despite the widespread reports, there is no concrete evidence to support the claims of disappearing genitalia. In many cases, the alleged victims have been found to be exaggerating or fabricating their stories. In the case of the New-Bell incident, the police investigation found no evidence of foul play, and the alleged victim eventually retracted his statement.
The consequences of these rumors can be severe, leading to violent attacks on innocent people and reinforcing xenophobic stereotypes. According to the Platform of African Fact-Checkers Francophones (PAFF), which has been tracking the phenomenon, the rumors are a classic example of an urban legend that has taken on a life of its own. As the rumors continue to spread, it is essential to separate fact from fiction and to promote critical thinking and skepticism.
Key points
- The rumors of disappearing genitalia have been circulating in Africa for decades, with reports dating back to the 1970s.
- The phenomenon has been reported in multiple African countries, including Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal.
- There is no concrete evidence to support the claims of disappearing genitalia, and many alleged victims have been found to be exaggerating or fabricating their stories.
