Monika Amunyela 

Windhoek’s Etcetera space pulsed with emotion, vulnerability and truth as Frieda Mukufa, known as Damn_Etu hosted her official brand launch through a moving night of poetry.

The Friday evening was rooted in themes of identity, cultural memory, trauma, healing, and relationships, the Damn_Etu Show brought together poets, visuals, and community in a deeply intimate and intentional experience.

“This is both a celebration of my creative journey and the beginning of a new chapter, to mark the first time my work will be presented in its full, individual form. I am putting myself first, for the first time,” she said.

Mukufa added that for the past five years, she has been doing poetry, it has been with collaborators and other people but decided to do this just for herself.

Mukufa said: “Damn_Etu is a love letter to my younger self, to every woman carving out her own lane, and to everyone who has seen my work and supported me from the day.”

“The poetry industry is booming, and I have had the pleasure of working with some of the best in the industry,” said the linguist.

The night unfolded in three powerful acts, each one offering a layered narrative of lived experience. Letu Festus opened the first act with two pieces, including What Happens, a haunting dedication to the Okahandja murders of three minors, followed by Nge Nda Miti, setting the tone for a night that would not shy away from silence, pain, and truth.

The second act featured Officially Poetic, with pieces like An African Man, The Repeat, Temptations, and My Apologies works that grappled with masculinity, vulnerability, and inherited grief.

The third act saw Patric Star take the stage with untitled pieces centred around trauma within families, marriages, and relationships. Her work resonated with many in the crowd who sat in a heavy, thoughtful silence.

Mukufa didn’t randomly decide to launch the brand there, “Etcetera was chosen because it is a space designed to reflect the brand’s energy as it is bold, intentional, and deeply rooted in African creative expression.”

Closing the evening, Mukufa recited her original pieces (My Mother and Her Friends, Feminists, Aakwanyama Men, and Come Let Me Hug You), among others which moved between softness, from the different dynamics of relationships to the confrontation of women and men empowerment and the daunting topic of gender-based violence in Namibia. 

Her poem You Only Cry for the Dead left an emotional imprint, an offering of grief, cultural reflection, and intimate resistance.

Along with the launch, they showcased their official merchandise, with hoodies and T-shirts on sale.