urugendo – HIV stigmafighter

My lovely people, you know how the word “First” always excites me. It wakes my curiosity in a positve way. I have experienced many “firsts”, like the first Dutch‑Burundian Dragking living openly with HIV or the first woman to play the Indonogo music instrument.

My newest “First”? Attending the TGEU European & Central Asian Trans Council. For those that don’t know, TGEU stands for Transgender Europe, a trans‑led human rights organisation working across Europe and Central Asia to advance the rights, safety, and wellbeing of trans people. The Council is one of the most important political and community gatherings for trans activists in the region.

So, between 10 and 13 September, I joined almost 200 activists and allies in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The theme, “Transphoria: Collectively resist and celebrate again and again,” set the tone immediately. In a world where political attacks and rolling back rights are rising – Yes, particularly across Europe! – this gathering reminded us that communities must create spaces of joy, care, and resistance.

Entering Transphoria

It was my first time being in a room filled with trans individuals from so many countries across Europe and Central Asia. The energy was so powerful. We exchanged knowledge, listened to each other’s stories, laughed, danced, and built connections. People often say language is a barrier, but not here, not anymore. When words were needed, tools like Google Translate helped us to build bridges. Most of all, we spoke the language of art, and movement. Not always words are needed to create a common safe space where we fully understand each other.

Waking the dragon

Interacting with so many speakers from places as diverse as Kyrgyzstan, Slovenia, Montenegro, Austria, Ukraine, Turkey, or Slovenia, one thing became clear: Trans rights are attacked, human rights are attacked… In Europe, This is a reality we cannot ignore. Yet many governments in Europe refuse to acknowledge this truth. As someone living with HIV, I know what happens when transphobia, racism, HIV stigma, sex‑worker stigma, and xenophobia collide. What is at stake is simple: Human rights. We must be united up front!

At TGEU I witnessed what communities can do when we share knowledge, joy, and resistance. I call it “Waking up our sleeping dragon.” And there is no dragon without fire, and that fire helps us survive hardship.

Workshops that feed the Soul

Throughout the event there were many inspiring workshops. One of my favourite sessions was Transphoria Archives, where we created stories of joy, resistance, and celebration through writing and drawing. Starting with the word “Dragon,” we explored themes like trans joy, trans visibility, trans talent, and many more themes. As Eric the Dragking, I left behind a letter to future trans kid, a message of courage and fire.

Beautiful Transphoria Archives workshop art

Another powerful session was on transness, sex work & sexual health, led by Amanita Calderón Fuentes, Weszebor Sienkiewicz, Charlie Cosnier, Daniella Dean, and Nari Alibekova. Trans sex workers shared their experiences. Some were painful, some deeply revealing. For example, transmasculine sex workers spoke about risks rarely discussed: changes in vaginal tissue due to hormone therapy, bleeding, pregnancy risk, and the importance of correct PrEP use. Another painful truth that we discussed: Black trans sex workers face the highest injustice and the highest murder rates. The conclusion was clear: Until everyone is safe, no one is safe.

Dragon voices

Like in Rio de Janeiro during AIDS 2026, I listened to many individual stories. Let me share just a few:

“I arrived depressed and hopeless. Surrounded by so many trans people, I felt the power of community. I left with renewed energy and hope.”

Vik – Bologna, Italy

“I had never seen so many trans people together. I felt accepted, supported, and inspired. I left with warm feelings, new connections, and positive emotions.”

Aziz – Disabled Trans Activist, Kyrgyzstan

“As a trans man and activist, I was shocked to learn at this conference that trans men face a higher risk of HIV acquisition. This example shows how little information there is about transmasculine health, and how important it is that we create more awareness around it.”

Wszebor – Trans Activist, Poland

I agree so much with what is said by them. We share the same goal: freedom and existence. How I realised that these face‑to‑face meetings remain essential — to connect, share, and empower each other. I felt the strength of all these unique people I met. We are connected through our resilience. I am so proud that dragons like Vik, Aziz and Wszebor were willing to wear a HIV Stigmafighter pin!

A night of pure Transphoria

Friday night was unforgettable. Poetry. Ballroom. Singing. And… Eric the Dragking dancing HIV stigma away with Legendary Salome, the first trans woman and drag queen in Slovenia.

People asked how we synchronised so perfectly without knowing each other or the music. I said: “Great artists need no language. Our bodies respond to the rhythm, and our souls communicate.” My dragon fire lit up the room, people still talk about it!

Returning with dragon fire

Thank you, TGEU, for organising this council. Thank you to all organisations who contributed to making it smooth and inspiring. We left Ljubljana as dragons, each carrying a flame strong enough to light the towers of our communities across the Transphoria realm. Together, we dragons will win the battle.

Keep creating joy. Keep resisting. Keep celebrating.

Peace,

Eliane/ Eric

As many of you know, I always like to show my passion of fighting HIV stigma through many different talents. On the 13^th of september it was time for me to express myself as a HIV artivist as I was invited to join a very special celebration of ‘Projekt Afrikaherz’ based in Berlin, Germany.

Already for 25 (!) years Afrikaherz (‘African Heart’) is fighting to improve access to health services for African migrants, with a focus on HIV/AIDS as overall there is limited access to health care, especially for migrants without formal residence status.

I was excited to meet other people from the African community living in vibrant Berlin and to share my passion for African music making, playing my indonongo instrument, singing and dancing with them. Helping to make sure they have an unforgettable experience so they can recharge in their fight against HIV stigma in their local HIV communities.

There were so many HIV-related issues to cover during this marvelous event. History has shown that when we are fighting for our right, we should not give up so easily, no matter how hard things are. I learned that especially in the beginning Afrikaherz went through a hard time with a lot of rejections and disinterest by the health system in Berlin. However, they persevered and through their hard work and insistence, gradually they were able to create a solid name in health & HIV response, also making sure to address the stigma surrounding those living with or affected by HIV and AIDS.

Listening to testimonies of fellow members of the African community in Europe, I realised that eventually they managed to navigate their journey through the German HIV and healthcare system, even if it took them 25 years to make that journey easier for people with an African background in Berlin. They did not give up! This is a truly great achievement worthy of celebration.

After these speeches I was invited to share my personal experience of living 21 years with HIV. I call this urugendo which means life journey. Those of you that know me longer may have already seen me perform urugendo, it is a fun way for me to share my ups and downs and highlight the work I am doing to improve access to health & HIV care and fighting HIV stigma. By the way, if you don’t know urugendo, contact me, I am happy to perform it for you one day 🙂

Immediately after my performance I joined the stage for a panel discussion with fellow HIV activist from Germany Lilian Petry from Deutsche Aidshilfe, Elizabeth Beloe from Federal Association of Migrant Organizations and Susanna Kahlefeld from the Green Party. For me a question that intrigued me was the one about the future of Afrikaherz in 10 years from now. My wish for them is to be able to connect even more with other local HIV organisations and health services in other states in Germany, and even reaching out to organisations in surrounding countries such as those in the Netherlands. Because we all know that the African migrant community is very well connected throughout the whole of Europe and the rest of the World. Organisations such as Afrikaherz are essential to bring positive messages to the African community about access to health & HIV care and fighting HIV stigma. And their message will be so much more powerful if it is amplified to people with a migrant background in the other 15 states of Germany, the Netherlands and other countries. Connected we are stronger!

During the course of the event I realised that there is something we still lack a lot both in Germany and the Netherlands and we must address urgently; When we talk about HIV prevention, PrEP awareness and access must also be actively promoted in migrant communities! While here in the Netherlands great work is done by organisations such as PrEPnu, with a particular focus on Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), and while Afrikaherz does promote the use of condoms, African migrant communities are still left behind when it comes to PrEP. The harsh reality is that there are way too few organisations in our HIV community that are actively promoting PrEP access. So, how can African migrant communities know about PrEP? I cannot repeat often enough how important it is that we take more co-ordinated action to ensure PrEP access for key and high-priority populations.

We will not end HIV and AIDS when we continue ignoring African migrant populations in countries such as the Netherlands and Germany. They have equal rights to good healthcare and HIV prevention services while tailored to their specific needs. Please learn from the example that Rosaline M’Bayo and Stephen Amoa from Afrikaherz are setting and make sure they receive the support needed to do their health & HIV outreach for the African migrant community in Germany!

Back to sharing urugendo and some tunes on my indonongo, I got a lot of positive compliments. People told me that my HIV journey and music inspired them, and that I am a powerwoman. Who doesn’t like receiving such beautiful compliments at times? For me the biggest reward was to connect with people from the migrant community and their HIV allies. I am so proud to listen to their inspiring stories to fight HIV stigma.

Through every connection we realise and cherish, we will make our HIV community stronger. Together we will win our fight against HIV and AIDS!

Peace,

Eliane