The Transformative Masculinities Agenda in Africa: Confessions of an Activist

The Transformative Masculinities agenda has been influential in Africa for a few decades now. Essentially, it represents a theory, ideology and practice that seeks to transform men in Africa into active and effective advocates and practitioners of gender justice. Fronted mostly by the United Nations agencies, faith-based organisations and civil society organisations, the Transformative Masculinities agenda is premised on the notion that African masculinities (and men) are intrinsically and deeply problematic. Consequently, there is considerable investment in programmes and initiatives to convert them to more progressive versions of masculinities. In this chapter, I reflect more intently on the challenges accompanying the Transformative Masculinities agenda. I do so as one who has been actively involved in the Transformative Masculinities movement within the faith-based sector. I approach this from the perspective of Africanisation and propose a firmer foundation for Transformative Masculinities in sub-Saharan Africa, going forward.