Here’s what you need to know about us: Panda Mbegu is more than just an initiative—we are a movement. We are dedicated to empowering African communities by planting seeds of knowledge, reclaiming our heritage, and fostering growth. Our commitment lies in supporting individuals and communities to realize their full potential and thrive in a decolonized future.
Dr. Rahab Njeri
Dr. Phil. Njeri Rahab is a mother, historian, decolonial scholar, and community activist. She earned her PhD from the University of Trier through the International Excellent Graduate School IRTG (funded by DFG), following her studies at the University of Cologne. Her research interests include Postcolonial and Gender Studies, Intersectionality, Black Feminism, African History, Critical Whiteness Studies, Black Diaspora, Migration Studies, and Black Canadian Studies.
As a trainer, Dr. Rahab Njeri specializes in Critical Whiteness, Anti-Black Racism, and Critical Intersectional Diversity, centering empowerment, particularly for BIPOC students and staff. In her roles as a moderator, curator, and trainer, she engages with the entangled histories of colonialism, racial capitalism, and systemic oppression, fostering spaces that challenge dominant narratives and center historically silenced voices. Through her work, she actively disrupts Eurocentric narratives by creating spaces that honor Indigenous and diasporic knowledges, fostering collective empowerment and resistance. With her approach, she not only facilitates critical dialogue but also cultivates strategies for systemic transformation, ensuring that institutions move beyond performative inclusion toward genuine decolonial change—one that envisions and enacts justice, healing, and liberation.
Njeri is actively engaged in the restitution debate in her city, advocating for the return of cultural heritage looted during colonialism. She serves as a board member and advisory of several organizations, including the Health Committee of the City of Cologne, Postkoloniales Erbe Köln (Postcolonial Heritage of Cologne), ANSA e.V. (DAAD), International African School( Netherlands), and Women of Impact( Simama e.v.). She is the co-founder of the African Institute of Professional& Development Studies (AIPDS)in Eldoret Kenya and currently, also working to institutionalize Black Studies within German academia.
Deeply rooted in grassroots climate justice movements, Njeri approaches climate activism through a decolonial Utu feminist lens, challenging the colonial and racialized structures that shape environmental politics. She is a committed advocate for the visibility, agency, and leadership of Black women in climate policy discussions, highlighting the intersections of race, gender, and environmental justice. Through her work, she amplifies the contributions of Professor Wangari Maathai and Indigenous knowledge systems, centering sustainable solutions that emerge from Indigenous communities and prioritize equity, reparative justice, and collective well-being. In 2020, she took this commitment into the political arena, running as a direct candidate for City Hall with the environmental political group Klima Freunde, pushing for policies that confront climate injustice and dismantle structural inequalities.
Rooted in Africentrism and honoring the struggles and resistance of our ancestors, Njeri is deeply committed to the philosophy of Utu, as articulated by Prof. Micere Githae Mugo. She centers Utu as a decolonial and feminist praxis, advocating for social justice, equity, and collective empowerment. Through an Utu-centered decolonial framework, she critically engages with issues of racism, coloniality, and exclusion in German and Afrikan higher education, working to dismantle oppressive structures within academia, society, and politics. Grounded in ancestral knowledge and intergenerational resistance, Njeri fosters solidarity, critical allyship, and transformative justice as essential strategies for decolonial change.
Njeri is the visionary founder of the KEMET Awards for Achievement in African Languages (KAAAL Awards), an initiative rooted in the Ubuntu commitment to reclaiming Afrikan linguistic and cultural sovereignty. KAAAL honors, archives, and celebrates achievements in African languages, both on the continent and throughout the diaspora, affirming that language is not just a means of communication but a vessel of memory, resistance, and liberation.
Under the patronage of esteemed Afrikan intellectual and language justice advocate Prof. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, KAAAL challenges colonial linguistic hierarchies by centering African languages as vital tools for decolonizing knowledge production, preserving ancestral wisdom, and strengthening collective identity. Speaking and valuing our native languages is a radical praxis of self-determination—an act of resisting epistemicide and reaffirming our dignity as Afrikans. For her transformative work in decolonial activism, climate justice, and the advancement of Afrikan histories, Dr. Njeri was recognized as Historian of the Year 2023, a testament to her unwavering commitment to liberatory knowledge, community empowerment, and the futures we are building together.
Currently, Njeri works as a consultant for the University of Cologne (UoC), where she develops and advocates for antiracist policies and strategies. This is the first position of its kind in the history of German universities. Her work focuses on creating sustainable structures to ensure the University of Cologne becomes more inclusive for all, while also providing counsel to employees experiencing racial discrimination and supporting the development and implementation of anti-racist strategies across all institutions.
Elizabeth Horlemann
Elizabeth Horlemann is a Kenyan-born trainer, consultant, author, and autodidact historian, deeply engaged in global geopolitics and Pan-Africanism. She is dedicated to fostering systemic change, equity, and inclusion by addressing issues of racism, ableism, and social justice. Her work focuses on deconstructing systemic biases, empowering marginalized communities, and revitalizing African ancestral ways, beliefs, and traditions to foster cultural pride and identity.
Elizabeth is the CEO and Founder of Alfajiri Business Network, an organization that empowers Black professionals and entrepreneurs, and the founder of the EquiAble Network, which advocates for BIPOC individuals living with disabilities. Through her initiatives, she strives to create inclusive spaces and dismantle systemic barriers that hinder progress for marginalized communities.
In recognition of her tireless efforts, Elizabeth was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the AFRONEWS – Ortel Mobile African Community in Germany Awards 2022, celebrating her outstanding contributions to anti-racism advocacy and community empowerment.
Elizabeth is also the author of Not Now Please: Living with Racism, Ableism, and Grief, a deeply personal memoir that explores her lived experiences as a Black disabled woman facing systemic oppression and personal loss. The book serves as a powerful narrative that blends personal reflections with critical analysis of social injustice, sparking important conversations about intersectionality and identity.
As a thought leader, Elizabeth is actively involved in critical discussions on global white privilege, the intersection of investments and NGOs in Africa, and the socio-political challenges faced by African communities both on the continent and in the diaspora. Her work aims to bridge the gap between the African diaspora and the continent, advocating for economic empowerment, cultural reclamation, and social transformation.
Through her consultancy and training programs, Elizabeth provides organizations with the tools and strategies needed to foster inclusive workplaces and challenge discriminatory structures. Her work integrates African indigenous knowledge with modern solutions, making her a unique and valuable voice in the fight for equity and justice.
Elizabeth’s commitment to decolonization and Pan-African empowerment drives her efforts to revitalize African ancestral wisdom and traditions, ensuring they remain relevant and accessible to future generations.
Gillian Lwangu Piroth
Gillian Lwangu Piroth is a Kenyan-born entrepreneur based in Frankfurt, Germany. In June 2019, she founded My Ethnic Cooking & Catering (MEC), recognized as the first African cookery school in Germany. MEC offers cooking classes and catering services, introducing African cuisine to diverse audiences and sharing the rich culinary heritage of Kenya.
In addition to her culinary ventures, Gillian is the founder of NAIROBI – Kenianisches Restaurant + Grill, located in Eschborn near Frankfurt am Main. The restaurant provides an authentic Kenyan dining experience, showcasing traditional dishes and promoting cultural exchange.
Gillian’s efforts in promoting African cuisine and culture have been recognized through nominations for awards such as the Best African Gastronomy, Restaurant/Caterer at the AFRONEWS – Ortel Mobile African Community in Germany Awards 2022, and Best African Chef in Germany 2023 at the AFRONEWS Awards.
Jennifer Kamau
Jennifer Kamau is a Berlin-based activist and researcher, originally from Kenya. She is a co-founder and spokesperson of the International Women Space (IWS)**, a feminist, anti-racist political group in Berlin comprising refugee and migrant women, as well as non-migrant women*. IWS emerged from the 2012 occupation of the former Gerhart-Hauptmann School in Berlin-Kreuzberg, a movement advocating for refugee rights and self-organization.
In 2018, Jennifer initiated the Break Isolation Group (BIG) within IWS—a self-organized collective of refugee women* providing political education on self-organization and project development to women* still undergoing asylum procedures.
Jennifer’s work extends to various platforms, including co-organizing the 2017 conference “When I Came to Germany,” which focused on the experiences of women who arrived in Germany as guest workers, contract workers, migrants, and refugees.
Transmediale She also contributes to IWS Radio, a podcast series discussing migrant women’s experiences, and has participated in discussions highlighting the challenges faced by BIPoC refugees during crises, such as the Ukraine conflict.
Through her unwavering commitment, Jennifer Kamau continues to advocate for the rights and empowerment of refugee and migrant women*, striving to dismantle intersecting power structures and promote solidarity and collaboration within and beyond Berlin.
Dr Edna Ogeto
Dr Edna Ogeto is an educator, author, editor, and scholar living in Germany. She is dedicated to creating transformative spaces for marginalized voices and fostering inclusive learning environments. Originally from Kenya, Edna has built her career on a deep passion for literature, popular culture, cultural exploration, and the power of storytelling to inspire social change.
With a profound love for global literature and poetry, Edna’s work bridges cultures and perspectives, encouraging her students to engage with diverse literary forms and to understand the cultural richness embedded in every narrative. Her commitment to education goes beyond traditional teaching—she is a thought leader who champions the empowerment of marginalized communities through the exploration of African heritage, traditions, and the revitalization of ancestral knowledge.
Edna is the co-author of Thundertongues: Sixty Love Poems (2024), a powerful collection of poems that resonates emotionally and intellectually. She is also an editor of Everyday Echoes Among African Scholars and Raconteurs, a book that amplifies the voices of African scholars and storytellers, celebrating their contributions to global knowledge.
As an advocate for equity, inclusion, and systemic change, Edna works tirelessly to promote cultural pride and identity, particularly within the context of African literature and popular culture. Her work not only educates but also inspires future generations to embrace their heritage, ensuring that African traditions and identities are celebrated and preserved for years to come.
Through her writing, teaching, and advocacy, she continues to lead with a voice of purpose and power, challenging the status quo and creating spaces where all stories are heard, valued and celebrated.
“When the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.” – Swahili Proverb