Annual Men’s Conference
The annual Black Men’s Conference is a transformative space rooted in dialogue, healing, and radical redefinition. Powered by the Muholi Art Institute and inspired by the visionary work of Zanele Muholi, this annual gathering returns with renewed purpose—to challenge, empower, and reimagine the lived realities of Black men across the globe.
As men who have inherited and endured systems of silence, expectation, patriarchy, and racial oppression, we come together to shed what no longer serves us. This conference invites Black men into a space where vulnerability is strength, where fatherhood is sacred, where sexuality is fluid and valid, and where relationships are redefined through care and consciousness.
Over five days, split between Cape Town (25–27 August) and Johannesburg (29–30 August), we create room for deep reflection, fierce honesty, and powerful storytelling. From intergenerational discussions to creative expression, from academic inquiry to lived experiences, this year’s gathering breaks new ground by hosting SIX Panamanian men, broadening our conversations to the wider Black diaspora. These transatlantic dialogues acknowledge the universal themes in our struggles, while honouring the unique cultural codes that shape us.
This is not just a conference. It is a reclamation. A healing. A beginning. The second leg of this vision, which began in 2021, is an evolving commitment to restoring the humanity of Black men, and helping us walk boldly in our truth.
VISION
To build a powerful, global platform that reshapes the narrative of Black masculinity by centering vulnerability, healing, accountability, and empowerment. We envision a world where Black men are free to express emotion, love deeply, father compassionately, relate truthfully, and thrive wholly.
MISSION
To create safe and inclusive spaces where Black men can engage in honest conversations about manhood, mental health, sexuality, relationships, and culture.
To empower Black men to unlearn harmful norms and embrace a more holistic, liberated sense of self.
To foster dialogue and knowledge exchange between Black men from across the diaspora—including artists, activists, educators, and everyday leaders.
To challenge and dismantle patriarchal systems from within, by equipping men with the tools to be accountable, present, and nurturing in their communities.
To amplify diverse voices and experiences of Black men through art, storytelling, workshops, performances, and intergenerational engagement.
To bridge global and local perspectives, using the arts as a vehicle to deepen understanding and cultivate solidarity between Black men in South Africa and beyond.
