7 Nigerian Men Share the Harmful Ideas About Manhood They Had to Unlearn

Growing up, many Nigerian men are taught to stay tough, provide for others and hide their emotions. Ahead of International Men’s Day, seven men reflect on the expectations they have struggled with and the beliefs they are learning to question. Their stories include a man who learned it was okay to cry, another who came to understand that he had been sexually assaulted as a child, and a man who set boundaries with friends after they joked about his father’s death. Others describe making room for self-expression, becoming more present fathers and letting go of the idea that they must solve everyone’s problems. Together, their experiences challenge the pressure to fit one definition of manhood. They speak about making space for vulnerability, rest, support and a life on their own terms.

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