Melusi Andile Dlamini

Melusi Andile Dlamini is a Lecturer in the Department of Anthropology at Rhodes University in Makhanda, South Africa. His research examines young masculinities, with a particular focus on the affective and embodied dimensions of young men’s everyday lives. Grounded in critical feminist and decolonial epistemologies, his doctoral research explored how young men navigate love and intimacy within South Africa’s complex sociocultural and political landscapes.

His work spans a range of pressing issues, including gender-based violence, substance use and the intersections of poverty and masculinity. He employs ethnographic and participatory methods to uncover the nuanced ways in which young men construct their identities and relationships, contributing to broader conversations about social transformation and equity.

Beyond academia, Melusi's work contributes to policies that address structural inequalities and promote healthier, non-violent masculinities. As such, his research aligns with national strategies such as the National Integrated Men’s Health Strategy and the Gender-based Violence and Femicide National Strategic Plan.

He is currently leading projects on young men’s experiences in intimate relationships, waste pickers’ livelihoods, and the cultural dynamics of bullying in South African schools.