At this year's African Book Festival Bisi Alimi hosted a conversation on the topic of men under pressure with JJ Bola and Fikri Anil Altintas.
How can men take responsibility, both individually and collectively, especially when at the same time racialised perceptions cast them as potential threats? A conversation on responsibility, solidarity, and reimagining masculinity as a shared social project.
But the three men could not agree on how and whether men could be allies and need to talk. So, the conversation continues, mediated by Celia Parbey.
JJ Bola is a Writer, Poet, Mental Health Social Worker and UNCHR Ambassador from Kinshasa, DR Congo. He is the author of the non-fiction book, Mask Off: Masculinity Redefined, which was translated into German as Sei Kein Mann.
Fikri Anil Altintas is a poet and novelist. In October 2025, the ARD documentary “Toxic Masculinity – Where Does the Anger Towards Women Come From?” was broadcast, which deals with violence against women. He volunteers as a #HeForShe Germany ambassador for UN Women Germany. His new children’s book (with Paul Brodowsky), “30 Real Boys – Brave, Emotional and True to Themselves”, is due to be published in August by Hanser.
Bisi Alimi is a British-Nigerian gay rights activist, public speaker, blog writer and HIV/LGBT advocate who gained international attention when he became the first Nigerian to come out on television. He has written many controversial opinion pieces including “Men can’t be Feminist”.
