Clara Ijeoma Osuji

This research examines artistic depictions of aging male characters in six Africa novels. The theoretical foundation is drawn from the gender theories advanced by postulations in masculinities by the Australian sociologist, R.W Connell, and South African Robert Morrell and Sandra Swart. The conceptual tools provided by masculinities theory give insight into how the lived-experiences of aging male characters are shaped by the dynamics of socio-familial demands and expectations, within the worldviews of the selected novels. The study establishes that more than the burden of physical aging and diminished economic independence, the later-life experiences of male-characters are often adversely affected by their ranking within the gender order of their communities which, in turn, affects their well-being and longevity. Anchored in literary productions from five countries, this research offers an integrated representation of aging males in African fiction and, thus, helps gain deeper insight into the later-life world of men in Africa.