play_arrow
Listeners:
Top listeners:
00:00
00:00
volume_up
chevron_left
-
play_arrow
AMS Essays #001 - What Are We Building? Ralph Ofuyo
-
play_arrow
Five Questions #012 – "True masculinity starts with self-understanding” – Kenyan Man (Diaspora) Ralph Ofuyo
-
play_arrow
Five Questions #011 - "If I do both, it is not 50/50" - South African Woman Ralph Ofuyo
-
play_arrow
Five Questions #010 - "Masculinity is in the small actions, not the loud ones" - Kenyan Man Ralph Ofuyo
-
play_arrow
Five Questions #009 - "Masculinity is responsibility!" - Kenyan Man Ralph Ofuyo
-
play_arrow
Episode 3 - What Did Masculinity Mean Before Colonialism? w/ Jermine April Ralph Ofuyo
Episode 3 – What Did Masculinity Mean Before Colonialism? w/ Jermine April
-
play_arrow
PLAY EPISODE
Transcript arrow_drop_down
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
Episodes
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
African Men Speak
The African Masculinities Project is committed to fostering understanding through dialogue, research, and community engagement. We explore the many ways masculinity is lived and expressed across Africa.
Use of Content – All content on African Men Speak — including our podcasts, articles, and images — is original unless otherwise credited. We reference books, research, and other resources where relevant, and those remain the property of their respective authors and publishers. You are welcome to share or quote our work with clear credit and a link back to the source. Commercial use requires permission.
Be the first to leave a comment