The BBC will air a provocatively titled debate tonight that asks if “homosexuality” is “un-African”. Amongst the programme’s guest speakers is Ugandan MP David Bahati, a proponent of the death penalty for those convicted of “aggravated homosexuality”.

Other panellists include former Botswana president Festus Mogae, who has argued for “tolerance” towards LGBTI people in his country since leaving office, and LGBTI activists from South Africa, Rwanda and Nigeria.

“We used that very deliberate title to force people to this kind of conversation,” said producer Ben Cashdan. “The question is: can you really say that homosexuality is not African? Because that’s exactly what Bahati argues.”

The debate, which was filmed in Johannesburg, South Africa, will be screened on BBC World News and aired on the BBC World Service both tonight and tomorrow.

This is not the first time that the BBC has asked if homosexuality is “un-African”. A very similar question was posted on the broadcaster’s website in 1999 with an accompanying poll. The article attracted a large number of comments from both homophobic and gay-friendly readers from around the world.

The BBC received heavy criticism last year after running an online debate entitled “Should homosexuals face execution?”

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