- Sister Namibia
On Saturday morning, around 30 community members, activists, artists and supporters gathered outside the Sister Namibia office in Windhoek for the unveiling of a new Pride Month mural inspired by a line from Namibia’s national anthem: “Hold high the banners of liberty.”
For a few minutes before the unveiling, the mural itself remained hidden behind a giant Pride flag stretched across the wall. Then, as the flag was lowered, the crowd was greeted by a colourful scene of raised hands and Pride flags painted beneath the words that inspired the project.
The mural was designed by artist Nicky Marais and brought to life by muralists Taanyanda Matheus (Ombi Art) and Joel Thomas, with support from ENK Public Art Group. The project was made possible through support from the Heinrich Böll Foundation, contributions from Equal Namibia, and a donation made to Sister Namibia by artist and filmmaker Nicola Brandt in 2025.
The idea behind the mural was simple: public space matters.
Public spaces tell stories about who belongs, whose experiences are recognised, and whose voices deserve to be seen and heard. For LGBTQI+ Namibians, visible signs of affirmation and belonging remain rare. While Namibia has seen a handful of Pride-related public art initiatives over the years, this mural now stands as one of the country’s few permanent public landmarks celebrating queer visibility and community.
The atmosphere at the unveiling was joyful and celebratory. Representatives from organisations including Equal Namibia and Drag Night Namibia joined Sister Namibia board members, community members and members of the public to mark the occasion. After the unveiling, participants were invited to help complete the artwork by adding messages to several unfinished signs painted into the mural.
The result was a wall filled not only with colour, but with community voices. New messages appeared alongside slogans such as “Queer Lives Matter”, “Protect the Dolls”, “There is No Freedom If There is No Equality”, and “Moffie Met ‘n Plan“.
For many attendees, the opportunity to contribute to the mural was just as meaningful as seeing it unveiled. The painting session quickly became a celebration, with people sharing stories, taking photographs, raising a glass of champagne and adding their own small piece to the finished artwork.
Perhaps the most moving moments came from younger attendees, some of whom said they had never seen such a visible public expression of support for LGBTQIA+ people in Namibia.
That response captures exactly why the mural exists.
It is a reminder that liberty belongs to everyone, and that everyone deserves to see themselves reflected in the communities and public spaces they call home.
Photo credit: Willem Vrey
