Biography

Eva-Liisa is a PhD candidate in English Studies, supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the National Research Foundation through the SARChI Chair in Violent Histories and Transgenerational Trauma. She holds an MA in English Studies and a B.Ed. degree, both from the University of Namibia. Her research focuses on the intersection of gender, ecology, and colonial violence, examining how women, children and the environment are co-affected by historical violence.

Current Research Project:

Eva-Liisa’s PhD dissertation, An African Ecofeminist Exploration of the Gendered and Environmental Aspects of the Nama Genocide as Depicted in Selected Namibian Narratives of the Genocide, draws on African ecofeminism and trauma theories to examine how literary texts humanise the Herero and Nama genocide. Rather than merely presenting historical facts, her study explores how these narratives emphasise the emotional and psychological toll on individuals and communities, giving a face to the atrocities in ways that other disciplines often overlook. Specifically, the dissertation seeks to provide deeper insight into the lived experiences of the Herero and Nama communities—particularly women, children, and, to a lesser extent, the elderly—during the colonial period in German South West Africa, now Namibia. Additionally, it critically examines the genocide’s environmental impact, including the weaponisation and exploitation of natural resources. In so doing, the study brings to the fore the interconnectedness of violence of women, children, the elderly and the environment.

Supervisors: Dr Lauren van der Rede and Dr Stephen Temi’ David

Email: liisaandima89@gmail.com | Tel: +27 (21) 808 4047