Nnamdi Ehirim at Ake Festival 2022

In our highly patriarchal societies, men are being buffeted by the shifting currents of gender identity. Under pressure to embrace a feminine side on the one hand, and to defend traditional ideas of masculinity on the other, an acceptable balance can be difficult to navigate, especially for writers. How much is too much? Is there a price to pay for straying too far from the accepted culture of masculinity? How do we support creatives who wish to adapt to changing expectations, and what role should cultural norms play?