Mareika, Nora and Runya Chirikure are three German-Zimbabwean sisters who currently live in Germany. They were raised in Zimbabwe, and only moved to Germany after high school. In this conversation, we explore what it meant to be mixed race in Zimbabwe, in comparison to what it means now that they are in Germany. We also dive into issues such as colourism, lightskin priviledges, and the complexities associated with being expected to choose between one's Germanness and one's Zimbabweanness.
Nora is a Pan-Afrikan feminist passionate about creating spaces where people socialize, learn from one another and inspire change. She has done this through organising events in Rotterdam and in Berlin, and through co-founding the Pan-Afrikan collective, Isusu Ffena.
She has a background in Economics, Politics and Philosophy, and is currently pursuing Master’s program in Economics and Management Science. In addition, she believes that economic empowerment is necessary for change to be realised, and therefore Nora is involved in the Sangano Business Hub initiative in Berlin.
Mareika is currently finishing off her bachelor in Culture and History in Freiburg. She believes that it is vital to not be complacent towards the injustices in this world. She is passionate about creating space for BIPoC people to meet and exchange as she sees this as an avenuue to fight injustices that have been perpetrated through colonialism, capitalism and imperialism. Beyond this, Mareika dedicates much of her time to exploring Afrikan literatures that embody the powerful and spiritual tool of storytelling.
Runya is a candidate for a Masters in Sustainable Management of Water and Energy and the co-Founder/Director at Dzidzai Edu. (an agency for study in Germany). She is passionate about sustainability, renewable energy, social innovation and development. Her Zimbabwean/German background has always encouraged her to look for a bridge between the two continents. She believes Africa is the continent of the future and seeks to make a meaningful contribution towards realizing her potential.