Neema Namadamu

Neema Namadamu is an advocate for peace and a women's rights and disability rights activist in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). She founded the Maman Shujaa Media Center to empower women and give them voices to tell their stories.

Biography Namadamu was born in the High Plains of Itombwe in South Kivu Province. When she was two, she contracted polio and became physically disabled because of the disease. Because of this, her father decided to take a second wife because in the DRC, disabled children are "often regarded as a curse." Later, when she went to college, she became the first woman with disability from her tribe to graduate from university in DRC.

After she graduated, she was chosen as a Deputy to represent South Kivu Province in the National Assembly. Namadamu recalls that she "felt a strong desire for violent revenge," however, she chose to break the cycle of revenge and instead of fighting individuals, "We are fighting the system," she said. Namadamu founded the Maman Shujaa Media Center which works in connection with World Pulse, a global women's empowerment network. The organization is located in Bukavu, where she is able to provide digital literacy education for women.

Awards In November 2023, Namadamu was named to the BBC's 100 Women list.