FAQs

3.1. What academic disciplines does this project draw from?

The project integrates multiple academic fields:

• Gender Studies
• African Studies
• Sociology
• Anthropology
• History
• Cultural Studies
• Family Studies
• Migration Studies
• Education

3.2. How current (up to date) is the research being used?

• Classical theoretical texts – Foundational works in masculinity and gender studies that continue to shape the field.

• Contemporary research papers – Recent peer-reviewed scholarship, including African and international academic contributions.

• African-authored scholarship – Research and analysis produced by African scholars and institutions, centering regional voices and perspectives.

• Current affairs analysis – News coverage, commentary, and analytical essays on ongoing political, social, and cultural issues across Africa.

• Modern case studies – Documented examples of community practices, organizational programs, and individual experiences.

• Grey literature & NGO reports – Evaluations, policy briefs, and studies from NGOs, think tanks, and development agencies working in Africa.

• Recent statistical data – National statistics bureaus, government ministries (health, education, labour, gender commissions), Afrobarometer, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), independent African research institutes, regional bodies such as the African Union, ECOWAS, and SADC, alongside select international datasets when relevant (e.g. UNESCO Institute for Statistics, African Development Bank).

• Policy frameworks & legal documents – African Union charters, national constitutions, and local policy initiatives that shape gender and identity.

• Oral histories, lived experiences, and perspectives from thought leaders and community voices – First-hand narratives — including those shared directly on the podcast — treated as valid forms of knowledge.

• Media & cultural works – Film, literature, music, and digital culture that reflect and influence contemporary African masculinities.