Episode 3 – What Did Masculinity Mean Before Colonialism? w/ Jermine April

Transcript

In this episode of African Men Speak, we explore the historical foundations of African masculinities through a Namibian lens, focusing on the Damara and Nama communities.

Drawing on research into gender-based violence and queer femininity, this conversation examines how pre-colonial societies organised gender roles in ways that were often fluid, functional, and context-driven — rather than rigid or binary. We then trace how colonial rule, particularly under German and South African administrations, reshaped these systems. Victorian gender norms, Christianity, and colonial law introduced more fixed ideas of masculinity and femininity, criminalised same-sex relationships, and reinforced hetero-patriarchal structures that continue to influence society today.

The discussion also looks at:

• The role of religion and education in shaping gender norms
• Differences between urban and rural experiences of masculinity
• Regional contrasts across Africa — including legal progress and regression
• Cultural reflections through literature, including Things Fall Apart

This episode situates masculinity within history, language, and power — not as a fixed identity, but as something shaped and reshaped over time.

Guest: Jermine April is a Namibian researcher, research consultant, and entrepreneur whose work focuses on African masculinities, gender-based violence, and the historical legacies of colonialism. Her research explores how power, gender, and violence are shaped by history and social structures.

Source: http://www.africanmenspeak.com

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Ralph Ofuyo

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