Namibian men reflect on ‘Fatherless’

Patience Makwele Nearly two years after Namibian author and lecturer Linda Perestrelo published her book ‘Fatherless’, young men across the country say the work continues to spark conversations about identity, healing and the emotional impact of growing up without a father figure. What began as Perestrelo’s personal story of navigating life with an absent father has evolved into a wider discussion among young readers, many of whom say the book challenged them to confront emotions they had long ignored. Jason Uises, a 34-year-old Windhoek resident, said reading the book forced him to reflect on how fatherlessness has shaped the lives of many young Namibians.

“I am very fortunate and grateful that I still have my father, but after reading the book, I realised how difficult it must have been for those who grew up without father figures,” he said. “You do not always realise how much it affects someone until they are older. You think you have moved on, but then you struggle with trust, relationships and confidence without understanding where those challenges come from.”

Uises said many young men are taught to suppress emotions rather than discuss them openly. “As men, we are often told to be strong and move on because opening up is seen as weakness. In the location where I grew up, a man being vulnerable was not accepted.