In our sunset years, sometimes sooner, we stop talking. We only offer an opinion when it is asked of us. We take action only when we are called upon. As we get older, it dawns on us that masculinity is invisible until it’s needed. Look at how the older, unfashionable men come through in times […]
When Grief Grips A Man
By Luu Machila I was over 800 kilometres away from home when, just the first night upon arrival, word reached me announcing the passing of my brother, Cheelo Machila, at only 34 years. The world stopped spinning. My mouth was dry, my brain paused, hands and legs were numb. My faith was put to the […]
Give Yourself Some Credit.
Men’s perpetual paranoia that they’re going to lose it all might actually be the reason they end up with much less than they’ve spent years building. Overthinking is crippling. Where your business, health, marriage or career is thriving, the tendency to push the pedal harder is something most of us are guilty of. We’re in […]
If You Can’t Read A Book, Read The Room.
Male loneliness is not the absence of people in our lives. It’s the presence of people that we cannot talk to about our struggles. Sometimes we overthink these things. That there is some future out there that rewards men for being men. Look, the reality is you will have to familiarize yourself with your favourite […]
“Let Me Ask My Wife.”
In corporate, when you hear “Let me ask my superiors” or the “I’ll present this to the team” variant, just know it’s a no. In entrepreneurship, “Let me check in with my business partners” means you should move on. For a man, “Let me ask my wife” also means no but it also means much […]
Please, Not Another Marathon!
Men are running in all the races, every week, every month. What’s the plan? Every urban Zambian man and his dog is now running a marathon. It seems there’s one every other weekend in the country. So with all this – at times performative – running around, what’s the true benefit to our health and […]
One Day You’ll Say “No”
The provision pandemic continues to fwemba the modern Zambian man by the shat. Society has seen a loophole in man’s role as provider and is unapologetic about having him on his toes to provide, even at the risk of his own wellbeing. Go ahead. Say ‘No’ to the guys. Say you won’t make it for […]
Women In Space
By Ceaser Siwale $11 million spent. 11 minutes in space. But at what expense? This week, the first-ever commercial spaceflight crew made up entirely of women soared into space.The media called it “historic.”Socials called it “feminist.”Headlines called it a “win for women.”But was it really? This was the crew: • Lauren Sánchez – Jeff Bezos’ fiancée • […]
Men Are Covers, Women Are Books…Modern Masculinity Is Judged And Slotted Into Categories We Didn’t Sign Up For.
The moment you take your first breath of ZED’s air and a mid-wife says, “It’s a boy!” you know you’re in for a lifetime of expectation. Because being a Zambian man is an indictment of how you’ll probably repeat or remix the mistakes of your father, presidents, brother or friends. As a man, you will […]
Do you have a loose 5k?
You’ll be at home on a Friday evening with your family or alone. You receive a phone call from your friend. In the background, inebriated baddies are singing along to some promiscuity-inducing hit song and your friend screams into your ear, “Boi, do you have a loose five thousand? Payable month end!” Zambians have been […]