by Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike
Masculinities in Nigerian Fiction reveals how Nigerian writers redefine masculinity to challenge social norms and affirm relationalities
Tell us a bit about Masculinities in Nigerian Fiction: Receptivity and Gender
My book explores gender, masculinities, ethics and Nigerian literature. It simply asks: How are Nigerian writers rethinking what it means to be a man or woman in society, and what are the implications of this thinking for conversations on human rights and flourishing? Drawing on insights from ethics and feminist scholarship, the book highlights how gender and sexual ideals can structure and regulate social life in violent and dehumanizing ways. It focuses on the novels by Chinua Achebe, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Jude Dibia and Chinelo Okparanta to illustrate how these writers highlight the marginalisation, stigmatisation and ostracism faced by fellow Nigerians who refuse to conform to traditional masculine or feminine prescriptions. The book emphasises the importance of ethics and relationality in challenging social norms that hinder human flourishing. It demonstrates how writers redefine masculinity and femininity by offering alternative identities, thus advocating for human and collective flourishing in society.
What inspired you to research this area?
First, I was motivated to research the subject of masculinities because I knew family, friends and neighbours who experienced gender-based violence. I wanted to learn more about male violence in particular, and how we can challenge patriarchal norms that enable gender-based violence. Second, some of the fiction about gender I had read depicted men as stereotypes, so I wanted to see if certain Nigerian writers were portraying alternative ways of being a man or woman and how those portrayals can interrogate and address gender and sexual violence rooted in cultural and social ideologies. Lastly, there was limited research on how writers in Nigeria were redefining masculinity; thus, I was driven to explore this area of scholarship and contribute to the ongoing conversation about gender, men and women.
What was the most exciting thing about this project for you?
The most exciting part of doing the research for this book was seeing how the prevailing scholarship and realities challenged my assumptions about gender and masculinity. I am glad that the research encouraged me to let go of those assumptions and reframe my understanding of gender and its implications in society.
Did you discover anything particularly strange or surprising?
I didn’t discover anything particularly strange, but I was surprised by how humbling it was to realise that there is much about gender and masculinity I hadn’t understood. It was even more fulfilling to know that this new knowledge could deepen and refine my own study of men, women and masculinities in Nigerian literary texts.
Did your research take you to any unexpected places or unusual situations?
I didn’t visit any new places or encounter unusual situations while researching this book. If anything, the book led me into an expansive intellectual and scholarly world, where I was able to confront my male privilege and preconceptions, value the importance of ethics in human relationships, and seriously consider issues of otherness, norms and gender violence.
Has your research in this area changed the way you see the world today?
Masculinities in Nigerian Fictionhas changed my perspective on gender, particularly in helping me understand the different forms of human vulnerability associated with gender performances. I now have a greater appreciation for the contributions of writers in raising awareness about human suffering and social violence around us. The research for this book reinforces the important work we do as writers, scholars and educators, reminding us that we must continue to question norms and ideals that create conditions of human suffering, especially for individuals and groups facing marginalisation, discrimination and stigmatisation.
What’s next for you?
I have a project I am trying to conceptualise and flesh out. In the meantime, however, I am very excited about the publication of this book, so my family and I are celebrating and savouring this moment.
About the author
Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English and the 2025-2026 Wayne O. McCready Emerging Fellow at the Calgary Institute for the Humanities, University of Calgary, Canada. Amongst other books, he is the author of Masculinities in Nigerian Fiction: Receptivity and Gender.
