Paper short abstract:

In today's world, masculinity seems to occupy frontal positions in discourses; this is a result of years of neglect in favor of femininity. This paper seeks to evaluate the provisional Olojojo Omo Culture and re-examines how societal expectations shape the experiences of 'senior' men in Africa.

Paper long abstract:

Within the context of gender appreciation, the pendulum of preference has, for a very long, tilted in favor of the feminine gender, whom colonial history seems to have underestimated and misrepresented in its attempt to break the monotony of patriarchy in Africa. The consequence of this gigantic move is the apparent abandonment of the opposite gender, and this is, in recent times, taking frontal positions in gender discourses. On the one hand, the determinants of masculine experiences in Africa beyond the fluidity of expressions are largely the broad perceptions of gender roles pivoted on the wheel of culture and traditions, norms, and religious expectations. These stereotypes, including being soul providers, possessing physical strengths, and stoic qualities, are some of the foundational delimitations to experiencing the pleasures of masculinity, particularly in old age. Against this background, on the other hand, the rules of parentage and life's continuity cast upon the provisions that women generationally connect through the Olojojo Omo (Omugwo) Culture, a pattern of consistencies wherein women provide postpartum care for their female wards has also deepened the strain. Therefore, beyond the stereotypes, this study re-examines how societal perceptions and expectations shape men's experiences in African premises. The study identifies that family structures and individual dispositions are some of the reasons men return to 'singlehood' in their later years. The qualitative study explored the use of structured and unstructured questionnaires and interview methods in generating data for the discourse.