Bomalome: standing in the gap – social fathers in an African context. Issue 4 (2nd October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nathane, Motlalepule; Khunou, Grace
• Is Part Of: Journal of contemporary African studies. Volume 39:Issue 4(2021)
• Page Start: 604
• Page End: 617
• Publication Date: 2021-10-02
• Subjects: Father -- fatherhood -- father absence -- social fathers -- South Africa; Africa -- Periodicals; Africa -- Civilization -- Periodicals; Africa -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; 960
• DOI: 10.1080/02589001.2021.1928021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0258-9001

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Throughout Africa, there is recognition that the person fulfilling the role of a father may not always be the child's biological father. This is clear in the seminal work Male Daughters, Female Husbands: Gender and Sex in an African Society, where Amadiume illustrates the significance of divorcing gender roles from biology. In the South African context, a similar notion is seen in Mkhize's conception of Social Fathers. Like Amadiume, this study was inspired by Adesina's assertion for African studies to move towards producing, 'works of distinct epistemic significance' rather than the 'regurgitation' of and the usual 'protest scholars' that African scholar's focus on. Consequently, this article illustrates that in contexts of maternal households the role of the father is played by social fathers. The article concludes that, while father absence has been widely reported, the absence of biological fathers does not necessarily mean that caring and nurturing African men are not present in the lives of children.