Afro-Masculinity Podcast

Armed groups in the Central African Republic (CAR) have raped men and boys for years in an emerging pattern of sexual violence that is underreported and largely ignored. 2 out of 5 male South African pupils say they have been raped, according to a study suggesting sexual abuse of boys is endemic in the country's schools. The survey, published in BioMed Central's International Journal for Equity in Health, showed that boys were most frequently assaulted by adult women, followed closely by other schoolchildren. Doctors estimate that nearly 1 in 4 men in eastern DRC has been raped. Rape and other forms of sexual coercion directed against men and boys take place in a variety of settings, including in the home, the workplace, schools, on the streets, in the military and during war, as well as in prisons and police custody. Studies conducted mostly in developed countries indicate that 5-10% of men report a history of childhood sexual abuse. In a few population-based studies conducted with adolescents in developing countries, the percentage of males reporting ever having been the victim of a sexual assault ranges from 3.6% in Namibia and 13.4% in the United Republic of Tanzania to 20% in Peru. Studies from both industrialized and developing countries also reveal that forced first intercourse is not rare. Unfortunately, there are few reliable statistics on the number of boys and men raped in settings such as schools, prisons and refugee camps. Most experts believe that official statistics vastly under-represent the number of male rape victims. The evidence available suggests that males may be even less likely than female victims to report an assault to the authorities. There are a variety of reasons why male rape is underreported, including shame, guilt and fear of not being believed or of being denounced for what has occurred. Myths and strong prejudices surrounding male sexuality also prevent men from coming forward. Kenya High Court Judge, Ruth Sitati, has authored a book compiling real life experiences of children who were raped and their cases heard in court. I shared my rape story and read one of a 6 year old boy raped at home on an unsuspecting evening by an unsuspecting man. Check out www.thepredators.co.ke to order this compelling copy. Listen and share. Playlist: open.spotify.com/playlist/2ONP4zw…source=copy-link

Secondary school is a tumultuous time for most teenagers. Mental health struggles, body changes coupled with rigid education systems can make learning quite difficult. The Mastercard Foundation launched a report diving into what we need to be paying attention to in this sector. Read it here: https://mastercardfdn.org/research/secondary-education-in-africa/

Childhood trauma affects how you relate to others both in your childhood and adulthood until your wounds heal. In this episode I share my experiences growing up exploring relationships and the difficulties of intimacy.

300 Million people suffer from depression globally according to the World Health Organization. Majority of them are women. 800,000 people die by suicide annually, but majority of them are men. In this episode I discuss the gender paradox in suicide. If we lived in a world men experienced the adversities and injustices women face for their gender, would things be different? I also examine the correlation between patriarchy & mental health.

Few men in Kenya understand the origin of the word 'feminism'. With rising cases of male suicide, femicide, misogyny and sexual violence, we have to begin getting more curious about the African man's worldviews and the place he finds himself in the 21st Century. Women's groups continue to demand for women's rights across the continent causing a huge backlash with patriarchy. What is patriarchy? Who created it and how has it affected men's lives? Why is it so easy for men to blame women for their own misgivings? What's going on?

In discussion today is the politics of the African man's body. His body as a tool both for oppression and exploitation. His body as a mystery to him. His body as a stubborn enigma. In the complexities of gender capital, trauma, and cultural nuances.

I speak about my rape ordeal at 20 yrs old, the silence surrounding male rape, sexuality as a social construct and the politics of a man's body.

We're discussing the meaning of masculinity. What it could possibly mean in the African context and the complexities of identities within it. I've shared personal stories which are common with many of us across the continent; of boys who didn't grow up close to their fathers for different reasons. I needed us to be curious about this word before we delved too deep. To conceptualize it in our day to day life. To interact both with its homeliness and queerness. To spark thought. For you and the boys and men around you. It is necessary to understand how a combination of a colonial past, patriarchal cultural structures and a variety of religious and knowledge systems create masculine identities and sexualities. Feedback & thoughts: afromasculinitypodcast@gmail.com