As we end this year and finally bring it to a close, I am truly reflecting not only on the months that have passed, but also on the conversations I have shared with you all. 

For me, writing throughout the year has been a process of constant listening, questioning, and holding space for stories that often sit quietly in our homes, our communities, and our hearts. Stories we are often afraid to talk about, and conversations no one wants to start. It is, however, important to note that, throughout all this writing, all the articles were never meant to have all the answers. 

They were meant to start conversations, to invite reflection, and to remind us that our everyday experiences matter.

Much of this year’s writing focused on womanhood in Namibia, in all its complexity. From the expectations constantly placed on women’s bodies and choices to the way society speaks about marriage, motherhood, and ambition, the recurring theme has been her voice. Who gets to speak, who is believed, and who is silenced. These are not abstract questions. 

They show up in how we raise our daughters, how we treat our mothers, and how we respond to women who choose themselves in a society that often asks them to shrink.

Another strong thread has been storytelling itself. The idea that what we often dismiss as gossip or small talk is, in truth, a powerful cultural tool. Our stories carry memory, warning, humour, and survival. 

They connect generations and communities. In writing about this, I wanted to reclaim storytelling as something intentional and meaningful, especially for women who have historically been denied formal platforms to speak. 

The creative industry also featured prominently this year. There was a need to acknowledge Namibian women who are taking up space in art, media, and culture, often without adequate support or recognition. Creativity is not a luxury. It is a form of labour, expression, and nation building. By highlighting these spaces, the intention was to remind us that culture shapes how we see ourselves and how the world sees us.

At the same time, this year forced us to confront painful realities. 

The ongoing crisis of Gender Based Violence remains one of the most urgent issues facing our country. Writing about it was never easy, but it was necessary. We cannot celebrate progress while ignoring the fear and loss that many women live with daily. Protection, justice, and dignity for women should not be seasonal conversations. They should be constant national priorities.
What has stood out most to me this year is the response from readers. 

Messages, comments, and quiet acknowledgements from people who felt seen by a sentence or challenged by a question. That engagement is a reminder that writing is not a one-way act. It is a dialogue. It lives in the space between writer and reader, in shared recognition and sometimes in disagreement.

As we move into a new year, my hope is that we continue to speak honestly, listen deeply, and hold each other accountable with care. That we keep questioning harmful norms, celebrating growth and protecting what matters. Thank you to every reader who took the time to read, reflect and engage. Your presence made these conversations possible, and for that, I am deeply grateful.

*Frieda Mukufa’s lifestyle section in the New Era concentrates on women-related issues and parenting. She specialises in editing research proposals, proofreading and content creation. – etuholefrieda@ gmail.com