Dr Simon Mutebi, a postdoctoral fellow in the Re-imagining Reproduction project, attended and participated in the first-ever International Blended Conference on the 21^st Century Male Figure in Africa hosted at the University of Zimbabwe. The two-day conference was held on 27 – 28 November 2024 under the theme ‘From Boys to Men: Gender Empowerment and Equality in Africa’.

Jointly organised by the University of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Gender Commission, the conference brought together scholars from across Africa to re-imagine masculinities in Africa. Dr Mutebi presented his research on men’s health-seeking habits in the context of sexual non-performance in Tanzania, providing insight into embodied masculinities on the continent. Beyond the formal presentations, the conference offered a dynamic space for scholars working on men and masculinities in Africa to engage with current issues in the field. Dr Mutebi is looking forward to future collaborations with the network he established during his stay in Zimbabwe.