Inclusive Africa: Alvarita Benedito: Creating Change Through Music and Advocacy

Alvarita Benedito, also known as Alvara, joins Double Tap from the Inclusive Africa Conference as both a performing artist and disability rights advocate. Living with congenital glaucoma and astigmatism, she describes her journey into the creative space and her recent move into advocacy via TikTok.

She highlights the persistent stigma in Namibia toward people with disabilities and explains how inadequate infrastructure and bias within the education system hinder learning and opportunity. Alvarita shares her own experience navigating multiple schools due to a lack of support, and the reality that many parents choose to keep disabled children at home rather than expose them to institutional discrimination. Through her creative work and community counseling, she hopes to shift attitudes and policy alike.

Relevant Links
Alvara on TikTok and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alvara.music
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@alvara8518