Tupoka Ogette Wins Louise Otto Peters Prize in Leipzig

Tupoka Ogette is the recipient of the twelfth Louise-Otto-Peters Prize. The city of Leipzig awards the honor to individuals who demonstrate a commitment to the equality of men and women. Ogette was born in Leipzig in 1980, studied African studies in the city, and has worked as a rassismuskritische Beraterin und Trainerin since 2012.

The Announcement of the Leipzig Prize

Ogette received an email from the city informing her of the award, noting that she read it several times before believing it. At the time, she was on her way to visit her mother, allowing them to celebrate the moment together. She stated that she was very surprised when she learned about the honor because awards are not the goal of her long-term work.

The prize is named after Louise Otto-Peters, who co-founded the General German Women’s Association in Leipzig in 1865. Her advocacy for women’s rights established the city’s reputation as the cradle of the women’s movement. Ogette noted that standing in that tradition is a great honor, especially in her hometown.

The Complex Relationship With Leipzig

Ogette addresses her relationship with Leipzig in her memoir Trotzdem zuhause, published by Penguin in Munich in 2026. She describes the city as a place where she learned to walk twice, literally as a toddler and figuratively as a student. She writes about fleeing the city’s narrowness overnight and later finding refuge there when she needed it most.

Es ist die Stadt, in der ich zweimal laufen lerne, wortwörtlich als Kleinkind und im übertragenen Sinne als Studentin. (…) Die Stadt, aus deren Enge ich über Nacht fliehen muss und in der ich Jahre später Zuflucht finde, als ich sie am dringendsten brauche. (…) Es ist die Stadt, die mir wieder und wieder meine Zugehörigkeit verweigert und in der ich in Menschen und Orten mal um mal die vertrauteste Heimat finde.

Tupoka Ogette

She characterizes her connection to Leipzig as a complex and challenging love affair that is often contradictory yet always attentive. She emphasizes the importance of embracing this simultaneity rather than rejecting it.

Sociopolitical Developments and Hope

Ogette views the socio-political developments of recent years with growing concern, noting that her vision of a society critical of racism and discrimination has moved into the distance. She points out that the AfD won the state election in neighboring Saxony-Anhalt with a large lead.

Despite these challenges, she maintains that hope is something one practices rather than merely possesses. She draws strength from thinking of the many individuals who continue to fight for democracy daily across Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Germany.

The Book Release and Upcoming Readings

Her latest memoir was published as a 256-page volume priced at 23 euros. Releasing such a personal project required significant emotional energy because it puts her vulnerable heart into a harsh world.

She is conducting an autumn reading tour across multiple cities following her spring appearances. During these events, she encounters readers who share a strong desire for a resonant space that allows for vulnerability and the full spectrum of human experience.

The formal award ceremony is scheduled for October 27 in Leipzig.