Guest Author 
Oscar. H Blayton
Bunmi Adekunle
CareTaker 
Aba Boy
Dave O'Cube
Don Thieme
Edward Echwalu
Emmanuel.K. Bensah
Ella Romanos
Charles E.
Mojolaoluwa Caxton-Naibi
Anthony Kila
Misi A.
Nzingha Smith
K A-T
Pamela Stitch
Paul Usungu
Sokari Ekine
Samantha Ofole-Price
Tomas Ernst
Augustine Pius Thliza
Thomas Gowans
Ugo Daniels
Veronica Henry
Vic 
Oluwole Akindutire
Xcroc 
William J. Zick
Brothers on the Down-Low
Muti This**Back by popular demand **
For those of you who do not know what “down-low brother” means, it is a term of art used to describe African-American men who live a heterosexual life to the outside world but are underground homosexuals. These men come in different personality meaning businessmen, thugs, blue collar workers and teenagers. The secret of their homosexual life is kept private from their unsuspecting wives and girlfriends.
Ordinarily another man’s chosen sexual behavior would not be the center of discussion, however, there is a growing concern about how this clandestine activity has caused a drastic increase in the rate of HIV infection among black women.
Watch the movie and answer one question - “What would you do if you were the wife?”
pamelastitch | Jun 29, 2007 | Reply
misi,
when is the movie coming out. By the way, the down low syndrome is all over the world - african americans are at least talking about the problems, unlike in Africa where people are hiding and doing what they are doing…….
What will i do if i were his wife? I will be upset? Angry? definitely go get myself tested, distrustful…but i cannot be with him any longer because he has a need that i as a woman cannot fill. If it is not kevin again after sometime, it will be another man.
Personally, i believe people should be more open about their sexuality, if na man you like good, na woman you like good, na pain you like …ehm me i no fit talk about that one. But there is a need for openess about sexuality.
Most importantly, regardless of who you DO, wrap, protect and protect some more….
take care,
pammy
Misi | Jun 29, 2007 | Reply
I agree with you Pammy, it is probably common among different races too. But it is just so selfish and unfair, unfair to the women in their lives, and the kids they bring into the world. It’s like they are having their cake and eating it…not right.
Also more people need that WRAP YOURSELF message.
Bi FAN | Jul 1, 2007 | Reply
i got here 4rm the blogville idol page!u guys are the official sponsor right?nice website!
hmmm…Down low brother…i wouldnt find it funny if i found out my bouyfriend was one!
Dilly | Jul 1, 2007 | Reply
misi,
I would really like to watch this movie. When is the movie coming out?
This should be a must see movie for every sister out there.Sisters out there should be very alert and watch out for the tell tale signs of this disgusting and sinful act which is becoming rampant among the men of the younger generation.I can’t even imagine myself in this situation!!
Donald Thieme | Jul 3, 2007 | Reply
If I were the wife, I think that I would use an old rusty knife. I would have to make it slow and painful.
Ugo Daniels | Jul 3, 2007 | Reply
LOL@ Donald Thieme,that’s called murder oo, not even manslaughter…LOL!
Misi | Jul 3, 2007 | Reply
So what would you do Ugo?
Misi | Jul 3, 2007 | Reply
I think I would probably do the same, Donald considering has caused me a slow death too.
Ugo | Jul 3, 2007 | Reply
Aarrgh, Misi, so you’ll kill the man too. But, does that solve the problem. At the very least, it brings you fleeting respite. Though, i don’t advocate homosexuality, neither do i condemn it. I’m more on the fence when it comes to how someone wants to run his/her sexual life.
HIV can be gotten through so many ‘avenues’ Sex, whether homo or hetero can lead to HIV.
Donald Thieme | Jul 3, 2007 | Reply
Ugo: Well, it might be that the man survives. He would be talking in a high-pitched voice, though.
Ugo | Jul 3, 2007 | Reply
Lol at Donald!
Misi | Jul 3, 2007 | Reply
LOL you are too funny, Donald.
Akin | Jul 4, 2007 | Reply
@Don,
It is the balls that give the high-pitched voice not the schlong.
I can’t really compute this playing both sides thing and as Madonna said in Body of Evidence - once her man started a sexual affair with another man, she could no more complete.
I feel seriously sorry for the partner who finds out that their mate is bedding on the “greener” grass on the other side of the fence - it is not easy to take up a knife to the issue, it a betrayal that cannot be understood as an onlooker.
However, I am concerned about the impression that homosexual behaviour by bisexuals is the indicator of HIV in black women except if what is being implied is a lot more black guys are naturally bisexual and exploiting both ends with unsafe sex.
I do not think we have enough evidence to allow these assertions to stand than them being mere opinions.
Donald Thieme | Jul 4, 2007 | Reply
@Akin: I agree with you about the sampling. It seems to me that the percentage of “down low” brothers contracting AIDS is inflated because many of those who escape infection may never confess their homosexual trysts to their wives at all. It is contracting AIDS that forces these brothers to come out of the closet.
pamelastitch | Jul 4, 2007 | Reply
personally, i feel the main issue is a betrayal of trust rather than the fact that one partner is having sex with someone of the same sex.
How do you move on from there? I know i will not bother. We can remain friends if there is something worth remaining friends over but i doubt it.
Misi | Jul 8, 2007 | Reply
@ Pamela
I am sorry but I can never be friends with him. I do not need that sort of friendship, someone who betrayed me after goodness-knows how many years of marriage. If I can’t trust him in marriage, a bond stronger than friendship, how can I trust him as a friend…NO WAY!
pamelastitch | Jul 8, 2007 | Reply
MISI,
that is the reason i ended my comment with “but i doubt it”. But you are right.
take care pammy
pammy
Pammy | Jul 10, 2007 | Reply
BBC NEWS
‘Taboo’ story takes African prize
The Ugandan writer who won the Caine Prize for African Writing with a story about lesbianism, often a taboo topic in Africa, says she is “very excited”.
Monica Arac de Nyeko beat four other finalists to get the $20,000 (£10,000) prize for her story Jambula Tree.
It is about a relationship between young girls in a country where homosexuality is illegal.
“I’m not a lesbian but I do think it’s a difficult subject, like… writing about Uganda’s history,” she said.
She’s taking on a theme that Africans have been in denial about
Publisher Becky Ayebia Clarke
The Caine Prize, announced in Oxford on Monday night, is considered a major award in African creative writing.
Jambula Tree was described as “witty and mischievous” by the judges.
Her publisher Becky Ayebia Clarke said when she first read the story she thought “how brave” Ms Arac de Nyeko was to take on the subject.
“In Africa these are not the kind of stories we’re allowed to tell. She’s taking on a theme that Africans have been in denial about - a theme about same-sex love.”
‘Walls’
“The Jambula Tree is about the relationship between two young girls in a very complex social setting in a community which does not look kindly at that relationship,” Ms Arac de Nyeko told the BBC’s Network Africa programme.
There are a lot of difficult things that I think we need to talk about and not build walls of huge emotion
Monica Arac de Nyeko
“It’s a combination of struggle and the power to dream and love,” she said.
“There are a lot of difficult things that I think we need to talk about and not build walls of huge emotion so that they’re almost impassable.”
She said the jambula tree signified various things in the story.
“First of all the jambula tree is where you have the neighbour who has been stealthily watching the two girls - their relationship unfold - over a significant amount of time.”
While, the small fruit from the tree represents breasts.
“Jambula in this story is also an image for breasts… they’re teenagers so they could well be mosquito bites, in this case jambulas.”
Praying
The Caine Prize can be given to an African writer who has been published on the continent or elsewhere.
The prize also includes a month as “writer in residence” at a US university.
During her acceptance speech, Ms Arac de Nyeko said the prize was a “very exciting time for Ugandan fiction” and that she would immediately call her sister.
“I’ll get on the phone and get my sister to stop praying - because she’s been on her knees probably for a very long time,” she said.
Monica Arac de Nyeko was born in 1979 in northern Uganda - the scene of one of the world’s longest civil wars.
The other writers on the shortlist were:
* Uwem Akpan (Nigeria) - My Parents’ Bedroom
* EC Osondu (Nigeria) - Jimmy Carter’s Eyes
* Henrietta Rose-Innes (South Africa) - Bad Places
* Ada Udechukwu (Nigeria) - Night Bus
Last year, South Africa’s Mary Watson was the seventh winner of the Caine Prize.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/6285252.stm
Published: 2007/07/10 10:41:07 GMT
© BBC MMVII
candy | Jul 29, 2007 | Reply
If I were his wife, I would be on my way to prison for you know what!!!!
Yetta | May 23, 2008 | Reply
Is there anyway I can rent or purchase this movie. When is it coming out????
ruffy | Jun 4, 2008 | Reply
First of all, the statistic at the end of that trailer is ridiculous.. it says that down low dudes are men who sleep with men and keep it secret from their world and that 70% of their girlfriends have contracted HIV as a result… If these men are hiding, then we dont know who they all are, and if we dont know who they all are, then we cant know what percentage of their women have HIV or how they contracted it..
Let’s not let some inaccurate bullShyt statistic feed people’s already warped homophobic thinking.
Misi | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
@ruffy, do you agree that the problem exist s(even though not as high as 70%) but to some extent? Also your argument “If these men are hiding, then we dont know who they all are, and if we dont know who they all are, then we cant know what percentage of their women have HIV or how they contracted it” can be countered with: “once these women contact HIV and their only partner was their husband/boyfriend then it becomes obvious who the culprit was (perfect). However in an imperfect scenerio the woman might know which brother it is from. Also whichever way prior to that happening since these brothers are on downlow there is no way of knowing who they are.
love | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
Has Brother on the down low come out if so what channal can i watch it on or is it in the movie store. I think this is somehting that is very educational for are sistas and on a need to know bases
keisha cox | Jun 8, 2008 | Reply
I just wanted to comment on some of these intelligent comments that i have just read. The way some of you are acting is that he chose this type of lifestyle, this is not a lifestyle that anyone would choose, a lifestyle full hiding who you really are because of the hate and violence that others in some cases use towards you. No one knows what kind of life that you have to live unless you are living it. I agree its not fair to the wife or the girlfriend who has to go through this but its nothing compared to what the brother is going through. And as for as the comment of the rusty knife, the good thing about it is there is now what is called HATE CRIMES laws that will put you away for many years and who knows while your in prison you probably will learning what downlow brother really means, oh by the way i am one of those that your downlow brothers gets with on the downlow its a lot more noticeable with me because i am white.