Real Dads | Real Talk
Black Dads Unplugged is a national movement supporting and empowering Black fathers across South Africa. We challenge negative stereotypes, foster mental wellness, and equip dads with the tools they need to thrive. We offer a hybrid approach, combining online resources with in-person workshops and community events, creating a powerful network of support.
We believe in active fatherhood, positive representation, and building a legacy of strength for generations to come. Join us in redefining what it means to be an engaged, empowered, and impactful dad.
Black fathers often face negative stereotypes, societal pressures, and limited access to supportive resources that address their unique challenges in parenting. These barriers can hinder their ability to form healthy relationships with their children, contribute to their communities, and break the cycle of intergenerational trauma. Active black fathers also face a lack of positive representation in mainstream media, which can perpetuate these stereotypes.
Black Dads seeks to change the narrative around black fatherhood by fostering mental health awareness, strong parenting skills, community leadership, and generational legacy building.
Our mission is to empower Black fathers to navigate modern parenting while breaking down stereotypes. We foster community support and mental wellness through peer-to-peer interaction and challenge negative stereotypes through public engagement.
SA Black Fathers reported absent
RSA fathers play outdoors with their children
RSA fathers dressed their children
*Source: State of the World’s Fathers (SOFW) Survey, 2023
Our "Real Talk" podcast features conversations with Black fathers, sharing their experiences and offering practical advice. Tune in for inspiration and connection.
We offer interactive workshops on co-parenting, financial literacy, mental wellness, and building strong father-child relationships. These workshops are held in various locations across South Africa.
Connect with other Black fathers in our online forum and at in-person events. Share experiences, ask questions, and build lasting bonds
A husband, a dad, and a dedicated shared value practitioner with expertise spanning healthcare, infrastructure, and education. With over a decade of experience in the development space, he has worked to drive meaningful impact in communities across Africa. Through his work, he has come to believe that the root cause of many societal challenges is fatherlessness—a realization that inspired the creation of Black Dads Unplugged.
As a Global Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity, a Mandela Washington Fellow for Young African Leaders, and a recipient of the Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans honour, he brings a wealth of knowledge, leadership, and a deep passion for social transformation.
A lover of humans, as well as ideas, Sfiso is a full-time father. A producer and consumer of the arts, who has travelled quite a few parts of planet earth with music as his passport. As well
as releasing music with award winning artists, the critically acclaimed South African Band, The Muffinz.
He has worked as a journalist, reporter and communications practitioner while performing and winning a few artistic and commercial accolades.
A social golfer, runner, and proud single dad—rocking fatherhood one smile at a time—while also being an active member of the Inception Men Book Club, Vibrant Men, and Save the Male Seed.
A dynamic and results-driven Training Facilitator specializing in leading impactful training programs, learnerships, and qualifications that foster growth, enhance communication, and drive team engagement, with a purpose to help people adopt a mindset that empowers them to
achieve their goals and become drivers of change in their lives.