Monika Amunyela 

Kaylah Cordom is a theatre girl, novelist, filmmaker and architecture student. 

Cordom, a youth ambassador for the AfriFOODlinks programme in Namibia and deeply invested in advocacy, is a founding member of the Inner Girl Foundation, working to uplift and support young women. 

“I wanted to give back to my female sisterhood and support girls who needed it most,” she said. 

Recently, Cordom represented Namibia as the youth ambassador in the AfriFOODlinks programme, collaborating with youth from 15 African and five European cities on sustainable food systems. 

“I loved that the programme wasn’t just about talk, it was about creating better food systems in African and European cities. That mission felt powerful, and I knew I wanted to be part of it.” Her short film ‘The Art of Colour’, inspired by her cousin’s childhood question, “What if the world was divided by the colours of the rainbow?” tells the story of Lilac. 

“In the film, you have this character who is mixed red and blue, which makes purple, being of mixed race, never feeling she fits in,” Cordom explained. 

Recognition from the Namibian Film Commission after competing in South Africa’s FilmIt competition confirmed to her that local stories matter and that young Namibian creatives deserve a platform. Cordom’s debut novel, ‘Our Story’, a coming-of-age story, was inspired by her trip to Los Angeles. “At the time, I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. People had these high expectations, but I didn’t fully know myself. The main character, America, is torn between what she loves and what people expect of her, and I felt the same way,” she said. 

Through this story, she found the clarity of what she truly wanted. 

She describes “the most rewarding part” of the book as being able to meet people who are inspired by her book. Architecture was a last-minute decision she made in high school, with inspiration from her uncle and her love for creativity. 

“I wanted something creative, but also something that pushed me out of my comfort zone,” she said. 

She also praised the support she receives. 

“God is my number one, and my mom, dad, and brother are my biggest earthly cheerleaders.” 

-monikaamunyela2@gmail.com