Identity
I am a Black African radical feminist, lesbian, and human rights activist from Namibia belonging to the Nama-Damara Peoples of the Khoe clan. The intersections of my identity shape how I experience the world and how I choose to challenge it. Being a radical feminist means refusing to live in silence or fear. I speak Khoekhoegowab, a language rich in rhythm, history, and clicks, one of the oldest languages in Southern Africa.
Ancestral Roots
I have been on a personal and political journey to reconnect with my ancestral roots and understand what it truly means to belong. This process goes beyond language; it is about remembering the wisdom, spirituality, and resilience of my people, and grounding my feminism in Indigenous knowledge and traditions.
Indigenous Community
My community carries both the wounds of colonialism and the strength of survival. It is a community of storytellers, healers, mothers, lovers, and dreamers. I draw inspiration from the women who held our communities together in times of oppression, and from the new generation of young women and Queer people who continue to imagine and build freer futures for us all.
Self-Discovery
My journey as a Black African feminist and Indigenous activist began in a Circle of Trust, a space of safety, love, and understanding where I could exist fully and unapologetically. There, I found my voice and the courage to use it. I came to understand the deeper intersections of my identity: being Black, Queer, Indigenous, and from an underserved community.
Activism
I was drawn to work with San Indigenous women and girls, who are some of the most marginalized and invisibilized communities in Namibia. My work focuses on creating safe spaces, strengthening voices, and building courage among women and girls in all their diversity. At the heart of all struggles lies a shared truth: once you see injustice clearly, you can never unsee it— and you must act.
Achievements In 2024, I served as Production Manager for “Uno & Hatago”, the first lesbian film ever produced in Namibia. After nearly a year of planning, we shot the film in just two weeks. “Uno & Hatago” has become an advocacy tool to open conversations that challenge prejudice, shift attitudes toward 2SLGBTQ+ people, and counter the rising influence of anti-rights movements in our region.
Role Models
I am inspired by Namibian feminist leaders like Elizabeth //Khaxas, Liz Frank, and Maria Garises, whose courage and compassion have shaped my activism and leadership. Mentors such as Dr. Immaculate Mogotsi, Dr. Lucy Edwards, and Ndeshi Namupala taught me the importance of creating spaces for learning and resistance. My circle of feminist friends continues to ground, challenge, and support me, reminding me that true movements are built on care, persistence, and sisterhood.
Joining Cultural Survival, I hope to bring my passion, creativity, and unwavering commitment to social justice to the Keepers of the Earth Fund team. My work and lived experience have taught me that true change begins when communities are trusted to lead their own transformation. I aim to contribute a perspective that values grassroots wisdom, feminist leadership, and the collective power of Indigenous voices—the very principles that guide KOEF’s mission.
Breathe
By Nadia April
It sounds easy, but sometimes we forget.
We do it every day, yet we don’t listen to it.
Breathe.
Slow everything down.
Be uncomfortable in the silence.
Listen to your heart.
Listen to your body.
It sounds easy, but sometimes we forget.
Breathe with intention.
Breathe with healing.
Breathe with affirmation.
You are the universe.
You are light and rhythm and memory.
So, breathe.
As the world turns and everything shifts,
we spin with it
dizzy, high,
consumed by motion,
overwhelmed by energy.
So, pause.
Breathe.
It sounds easy, but sometimes we forget.
Take care of your inner child.
You, too, are just a seed in this vast world.
So Breathe.
