Lize Ehlers flies Namibia flag at Toronto Pride

Namibian musician and creative Lize Ehlers has called for greater investment in the country’s creative industry after representing Namibia at this year’s Toronto Pride celebrations in Canada, where she performed and marched alongside international leaders.

Ehlers attended the event as an international ally ambassador, returning after her debut at the parade in 2025.

This year she was joined by Drag Night Namibia co-chief executive Rodelio Lewis, with the pair appearing in drag as DJ Rise Elders and Miss Mavis Dash.

The duo marched directly behind Canadian prime minister Mark Carney and Toronto mayor Olivia Chow.

“Returning to Canada this year was a deeply emotional milestone,” Ehlers says.

Reflecting on representing Namibia at one of the world’s largest pride events, she adds: “The fact that a meisie van Mariental (girl from Mariental) can be at the front of the parade, waving Namibia’s flag, was huge. But this year, it was even bigger. We weren’t only representing ourselves; we were representing every Namibian creative, every queer person who has ever felt unseen and every ally who believes in human dignity.”

Beyond the parade, Ehlers performed her song ‘Change’ during a community vow renewal ceremony marking 25 years of marriage equality, while Lewis performed a lip-sync to Beyoncé’s ‘Spirit/Bigger’. The pair also presented a 30-minute performance at Pride Toronto’s community riser.

“To be seen and applauded as an artist, a singer, a DJ, and an African ambassador is an unparalleled feeling,” she says.

The visit also reunited Ehlers with the original 2021 co-founders of Drag Night Namibia, including Miss Mavis Dash, Gigi Has Arrived, MoNick Critique, Johnathan Fong and Hanan Paikin.

Drawing comparisons between Canada and Namibia, Ehlers says the experience reinforced the need to recognise the arts as an economic sector.

“The countries making the biggest impact invest in artists, build sustainable partnerships, and treat culture as an economic driver,” she says.

She says Namibia could benefit from stronger support for the creative economy, adding that greater openness towards queer-owned businesses could help attract international investment.

Ehlers says her focus for the remainder of the year will be on carefully selecting projects, while spending more time with her family ahead of a planned family reunion in October.

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