What does it mean to be an African man in this day and age? Masculinity in Africa has been a global topic of discussion for generations. The scars of the past have made the meaning and the practice of masculinity in Africa so ambiguous, that the definition of manhood in Africa is almost impossible to ideate. Ineke Mules poses the sentiment that African masculinity is seeing a “stark clash between traditional and modern values”. This could be boiled down to the more direct efforts that are being channeled into unlearning traditional values, particularly the ones deemed and proven oppressive to other demographics like women and children; as well as the overall idea that masculinity in Africa needs a new definition. One that isn’t set out for us by our global counterparts or peers. 

In this episode, we aim to unpack masculinity and how a young, urban, West African man navigates it in Ghana. Shafic Osman is a qualified lawyer, photographer and Ghanaian native who has embarked on many debating trips to places including Polokwane and Accra. Shafic reflects on his own experiences with work, relationships and religion on his social media in a humorous and light-heated way. We have invited him on this episode to share his experiences and to draw similarities between our experiences to create a shared experience.