A young man from the San community, Tangeni Nghimufevali, opened up about the struggles he faced growing up in a society where his community continues to face marginalisation and discrimination.

Nghimufevali was speaking at the Amplifying San Voices seminar held in Windhoek. The event was organised by the Namibia Media Trust, Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), and the European Union.

“Growing up wasn’t easy,” he said. “We got this letter, we went. Luckily, the superintendent at the hostel understood, read the letter and already knew what the issue was. From then onwards, we were placed under special case, then we started going to school. But the discrimination still continued.”

Nghimufevali explained that the taunts came in many forms, with other learners referring to San children as Ovakuruha in Otjiherero, Kwankara in Oshiwambo, and San in Damara. “But we did not give up,” he said. “We learned how to speak those languages so we could communicate with them.”

Now 25, Nghimufevali works as a freelancer at the nbc’s !Ah Radio Service. He said adapting to his environment took “every molecule” in him, especially under pressure.

Encouraging the youth, IPPR researcher Fredrico Links said young people must speak up and protect their culture and language.

“There will be people from around the world in this country and touring the country and going to communities,” he said. “So the opportunity exists for you to express yourself in this meeting and beyond that, raise the issue of languages and cultures on the brink of extinction—and what can be done in the Namibian context.”

The Amplifying San Voices conference brought together leaders from civil society, government, and international partners. The collective message: Namibia must move from promises to real action to uplift its most vulnerable communities.