Beauty standards are a funny thing. Many of us grew up being told what counts as “beautiful”—whether it’s skin shade, hair texture, or body shape. Some are told to be lighter, some to gain weight, others to slim down. And if you don’t fit the mould, you are often reminded of it, sometimes in painful...
Heroes’ Day came and went, marked with speeches, wreaths, and reminders of the courage of those whose blood watered our freedom and fought for Namibia’s independence. We rightfully celebrate them, for without their sacrifice, we would not have the freedom we hold today, especially as millennials. But even as I listened to the commemorations, I...
When Johanna Swartbooi was crowned Miss Namibia, the country celebrated. She stood tall, beautiful, and proud, a symbol of confidence, culture, and youth. But alongside the praise came something familiar and disappointing: bashing and criticism from the keyboard warriors. Not for her intelligence, platform, or performance. But, for her hair. Some questioned why she didn’t...
I have always wondered why single mothers are made to carry the shame of being the present parent. You hear people say, “Yeah, she was mos raised by a single mother”,. as if that is a mark against the woman raising the child. When did this become something to attach to women to make them...
In Namibian spaces, there are certain conversations that refuse to leave the households and the many gatherings where some older women and certain men gather. When in these spaces, you do not need to look far to find a woman who has been silenced by shame. Often, this kind of shame is never even hers to carry. It is often...
In Namibia, women have always been storytellers. From the elderly women telling folktales by the fire, to the aunties in Swakopmund and Wamboelokasie neighbourhood walls. Some people call it gossip, but for me, some of the things women talk and tell stories about are often things that are to their benefit. The act of sharing...
Last month was Men’s Mental Health Month, and as expected, the conversations were everywhere, but men frequented settings. During this time, someone said something to me that stuck with me: Women don’t provide safe spaces for men to be vulnerable. I nearly rolled my eyes, but I thought, why not address it? When you first...
A few years back, I met a woman who said after she had reported her husband for abuse, she had nowhere to go because her family had deserted her, and she had no one to turn to. This made me think about the fact that in Namibia, many women walk away from abusive relationships with...
After we are done marching for weeks on end, and even after we say their names, light candles and marching with placards held high, silence always falls. This often happens not because we’ve healed, but because we’ve moved on. Or at least some of us have. The silence that follows femicide in Namibia is always...
In a country where storytelling is rooted in tradition, rhythm and resilience, and is often reserved for men, Namibian women are boldly stepping forward, reshaping the creative industry and making their presence felt. From poetry stages to film sets, from canvases to recording studios, women are not only creating, they are leading and taking up space. For...