We’re for Namibians: Mariane Akwenye

Nomad Wellness isn’t just a spa. It is a movement, a sanctuary, and a beautifully intentional return to the healing power of Namibian wisdom.

Mariane Akwenye’s journey into wellness began long before she entered a treatment room. It started at the crack of dawn, working through the field with her great-aunt, a traditional herbalist. While the world saw only bushes, her aunt saw medicine, harvesting wild herbs and aloes to concoct remedies in her small kitchen. That early spark of ancestral knowledge eventually grew into an unshakable belief in the power of home-grown healing.

Her path back to the soil was fueled by a simple, persistent question: “How do we not export our knowledge?” Having experienced Western wellness spaces globally, Mariane realised that the authentic rituals of her own people, the custodians of humanity’s original wellness, were being overlooked. She set out to change that, building Nomad Wellness Homestead from the ground up to prove that African traditions can thrive in a modern, world-class setting.

The heartbeat of Nomad is its radical commitment to inclusivity. Through a serendipitous moment, Mariane launched a program to train and employ visually impaired women as therapists. By focusing on their heightened sense of touch and natural ability to be “in tune with the body,” she helped shift the narrative from pity to mastery. “Disability is not an inability,” she says, witnessing these women reclaim their dignity and become active leaders in their craft.

Building a purpose-driven business in Namibia hasn’t been without its challenges. Mariane candidly compares the tenacity required for entrepreneurship to the labour of childbirth; it is tough, visceral, and demands a staying power that only purpose can provide. What keeps her going are the “Maggies, Marthas, and Sarahs,” the women whose lives have been transformed by the opportunities Nomad creates.

Today, Nomad Wellness represents a new era of Namibian excellence: authentic, fearless, and deeply rooted in the soil. Mariane’s story is a reminder that we don’t need to look elsewhere for inspiration; our landscapes, our traditions, and our people are our greatest assets.

That is why FlyNamibia is proud to share her story. When we say We’re for Namibians, we mean people like Mariane Akwenye. These are the visionaries and trailblazers who are building something beautiful right here at home.