Numerous children’s books on sex education have been taken out of Tanzanian classrooms because they allegedly violate “cultural and moral standards” in this nation in East Africa where homosexuality is illegal.
The nation’s education minister, Adolf Mkenda, told journalists on Monday from Dodoma, the nation’s capital: “we are prohibiting these publications from schools and other educational facilities because they are antithetical to cultural and moral values.”
A series of American graphic novels with millions of copies published worldwide, “Diary of a Wimp: Greg Heffley’s Logbook,” is among the works that have been banned.
The government did not explain why it was focusing on this teen-focused “diary,” but it did assure that checks were being made to make sure it had been taken out of public and private school libraries.
In addition, a textbook on sex education and publications that reference LGBTQIA groups were listed among the first batch of “inappropriate” materials by the minister.
Samia Suluhu Hassan, the nation’s leader, warned student leaders this week to be cautious of “imported cultures” from other countries. She instructed them, “If you are Tanzanian, live as per our customs.”