One year into African Men Speak, this is me reflecting on the journey so far. I look back on how I approached the work, what I actually did, what changed for me, and why the project is moving more slowly — and more deliberately — than I first imagined. 

In this monologue: 

• Why I resisted a single authoritative voice
• What slowed the project down (and why that matters)
• What I underestimated about African masculinities, research access, and scale
• Why restraint matters more than output at this stage 

African Men Speak is a long-form project exploring African masculinities through conversations, short street interviews, reading, and reflection — centred on plurality, accountability, and lived experience. 

This work needs time — and I’m finally okay with that.