Secretariat

Akani is a dedicated advocate and black nonbinary activist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. They have extensive experience in Advocacy, Research, Movement Building, and Coordination, focussing on transgender and gender-diverse organising.

Akani’s impressive career includes founding Matimba, an organisation for trans and gender-diverse youth, successfully coordinating the 2018 Pan Africa ILGA conference in Botswana and leading faith-based initiatives empowering LGBTQA+ folks across 14 countries as the former Programmes Manager at the Global Interfaith Network.

What inspires you?
Ultimately, I’m inspired by the vision of a more inclusive future – a world where every individual, regardless of their gender identity or expression, can live authentically and thrive without fear or discrimination. This work is not just a profession for me; it’s a calling to create a society that embraces and celebrates the existence of all gender identities.

What is your vision for trans & gender diverse (TGD) Africa?
I envision an Africa where TGD people are fully integrated into all aspects of society, with equal access to education, healthcare, employment, and legal protections. In this dream, African countries lead the world in progressive gender recognition laws, and gender-affirming healthcare is readily available and culturally competent. I see a future where TGD voices are prominent in politics, media, and culture, shaping policies and narratives that reflect our lived experiences. My dream includes thriving TGD communities in both urban and rural areas, where traditional African values of community and ubuntu embrace gender diversity.

Ultimately, my dream is for Africa to become a beacon of hope and a model for TGD rights and inclusion globally, where our rich tapestry of gender identities and expressions is recognized as a source of strength and pride for the continent.

I am most proud of: The fact that, as someone who had never met a black trans nonbinary person as a young person and I have become that person for younger trans people.
My happy place is: Home with my partner, daughter, and pets.

Chris is a queer photojournalist and visual storyteller from Cape Town, South Africa. Her experience is wide, from managing creative projects for international organisations to on-the-ground reporting for prestigious South African and international publications. She is driven to tell human stories at the intersection of the personal and the political, especially about the pursuit of LGBTQ civil rights in Africa.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Journalism and a Master of Philosophy in Sociology and Social Anthropology. She is a grantee of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and a fellow of the VII Academy. She is a member of The African Photojournalism Database and Women Photograph.

What inspires you?
Knowing the power of the media to reflect and shape our world, I feel compelled to create media that advocates for our rights and humanity through our voices and on our own terms. Our stories are powerful and we deserve to take up space in our collective archive! Ultimately, I’m inspired by our incredible queer family and I want to help make sure that we see ourselves represented and celebrated!
I think it’s best summed up by three phrases:

1. Nothing about us without us.
2. The personal is political.
3. Nobody is free until we all are.

What is your vision for the transgender movement in Africa?
Well, for a start, civil rights and protections for all. That, and for transgender and queer Africans to know that they belong, they are important and are crucial to the growth and success of our continent. I want to see transgender Africans taking up space in all spheres of public life, and for our queer lives to be represented and celebrated in all our diversity and dynamism.

I am most proud of: Carving out a life for myself that is personally, politically and professionally queer. And the incredible community of found family that surround me.
My happy place is: Behind the camera, or with my wife and our stereotypically large pet family.

Brandy is a Nairobi-based Programmes and Administrative professional with over 7 years’ experience in planning, advocacy, and programme management. As a proud African trans woman, she draws on her lived experience to champion gender diversity across Africa.

Previously at EATHAN – East Africa Trans Health & Advocacy Network, she played a key role in strengthening regional trans movements, managing impactful initiatives, and supporting the success of multiple projects and events.

What excites you most about the African Trans Network?
ATN is more than just a network, it’s a strategic and empowering platform that brings together trans activists, organisations, and trans activists from across the continent to co-create change.
What excites me most is the potential ATN holds to amplify trans voices, foster leadership, and shape regional and global agendas that truly reflect the realities of African trans communities. It’s a space that prioritises collaboration, intentionality, and movement-building with care and clarity.
Being part of ATN means contributing to a future where trans people in Africa have greater visibility, stronger systems of support, and an influence in shaping policies and narratives that affect our lives in the African continent.

My current obsession is:
Podcasts on self-improvement and personal growth. I love tuning into conversations about mindset, confidence, healing, and building better habits. It’s like having a pocket-sized coach wherever I go. They keep me inspired, reflective, and constantly evolving, one episode at a time.