In this episode of exploring African masculinity, we ask a fundamental question: how do we think about it?
This episode introduces key ideas and frameworks that shape how masculinity is understood — from hegemonic masculinity to plural masculinities — and why these tools matter when navigating conversations about identity, culture, and change.
Rather than offering answers, this episode focuses on building a way of thinking — one that helps us question assumptions, recognise patterns, and better understand the forces shaping masculinity across African contexts.
Key themes:
- What masculinity is (and isn’t)
- Why theory matters
- The influence of culture, history, and power
- How ideas about masculinity are shaped and circulated
As we move through the season, two questions will guide the conversation:
- What do we lose when we forget our own histories of masculinity?
- What would change look like if it was built from African ways of being men?
📚 References & Further Reading:
- Connell, R.W. & Messerschmidt, J.W. (2005) – Hegemonic Masculinity (Gender & Society)
- Oyèrónkẹ́ Oyěwùmí – The Invention of Women
- Ifi Amadiume – Male Daughters, Female Husbands
African Men Speak is a long-form podcast exploring African masculinities through lived experience, history, and critical reflection.
Subscribe for more conversations. #AfricanMasculinity #Masculinity #AfricanPodcast #GenderStudies
What is African Men Speak?
A journey exploring African masculinity through research, conversations, and personal reflection. The show examines what it means to be an African man today, drawing on academic studies and diverse perspectives from across the continent's rich cultures. Covering topics from personal growth and fatherhood to identity, vulnerability, and accountability. Hosted by a former humanitarian worker turned stay-at-home dad, this programme explores what it means to be a man today, engaging with nuance and difficult truths.