This study investigates how patriarchy and masculinity are constructed and represented in Ebrahim Hussein’s plays Kinjeketile and Kwenye Ukingo wa Thim, with the aim of understanding the interplay between these gendered concepts within the sociocultural contexts of the texts. The central research question guiding the study is: How do Hussein’s characters reflect and reinforce patriarchal and masculine ideals, and what implications do these portrayals have on societal norms and individual behaviour? Grounded in Connell’s (1995) Gender Order Theory and Butler’s (1990) Gender Performativity Theory, the study adopts a qualitative approach under a constructivist paradigm. Primary data were drawn from close textual analysis of the two plays, supported by secondary data from scholarly literature on gender representation in African drama, particularly in Hussein’s works. Findings indicate that both patriarchy and masculinity are socially constructed and interdependent, with patriarchal systems often reinforcing hegemonic and toxic forms of masculinity. These manifestations contribute to broader societal harms, including gender-based violence, substance abuse, mental health challenges, and systemic inequalities in inheritance and property ownership. The study recommends critical engagement with gender norms through literature and education, the promotion of alternative masculinities, and policy interventions that challenge patriarchal structures in cultural and legal systems.

Keywords: African Drama, gender, masculinity, patriarchy, social constructs, toxic masculinity.