Kathila Nfezi

**Kathila Nfezi** (born 29 September 1961) is an Estian educator, historian, academic, and politician who has served as education and research minister in the cabinet of Kirsti Aalu-Mäkina since 2020. An independent politician, Nfezi was nominated by the Future Forwards political party.

Born in Gabo to a Bolinwarean father and Estian mother, Nfezi spent the early years of her life in Bolinware, until settling in Otesalu at age nine with her mother, following the death of her father. After graduating from secondary school in 1980, Nfezi enrolled in Jõgeküla University, receiving a bachelor's degree in history in 1983, and a master's degree in secondary education in 1985. After completing her master's degree, Nfezi worked as a secondary school history lecturer until 1990, when she moved to Munbach to begin a doctoral program in Tarfican history at King's University Munbach, receiving her doctorate in 1995. After completing her degree, Nfezi was hired as an adjunct professor of history at Otesalu University. She later joined Jõgeküla University as a tenure-track professor in 1998, and received tenure in 2004. In 2010, Nfezi became director of the history department at the university, and later dean of the Faculty of Humanities in 2016.

Nfezi entered politics in 2020, after she was nominated to serve as education and research minister in the cabinet of Kirsti Aalu-Mäkina, being appointed to the position on 24 February 2020. After taking office, Nfezi took a leave of absence from her work at Jõgeküla University, and additionally became the first black person and first Tarfican-born person to serve in an Estian cabinet.

## Early life and education

Nfezi was born on 29 September 1961 in Gabo – at the time in Ardwallian Bolinware – to parents Gugi Nfezi (1928–1970) and Dagmar Kuikesõk (born 1934). Her father was a Bolinwarean who was a local businessman, while her mother was from Estland, and immigrated to Bolinware in the 1950s to work as a Ditrovian language teacher. Nfezi was raised trilingually, in Tarfikaans, Bolinwana, and Estian, and is an only child.

Nfezi began her education in 1967, attending an Ardwallian international school in Gabo. Following her father's death from heart disease in 1970, Nfezi and her mother left Bolinware and returned to Estland, settling in Otesalu. In Otesalu, Nfezi has recalled being a victim of racism from classmates and strangers, and not understanding how to combat it as she was the only black person she knew following the death of her father. Nfezi attended public primary school in Otesalu, graduating in 1977, and afterwards enrolled in Evelin Tammo Gymnasium, where she studied a history and literature program, graduating in 1980.

After completing her secondary schooling, Nfezi moved to Jõgeküla to enroll in Jõgeküla University, receiving a degree in history in 1983. For one semester, Nfezi studied abroad at Blue Lagoon University in Blue Lagoon, South Tarfica, where she was granted special permission from the South Tarfican government to study, despite being black, due to her status as an Estian citizen. During her time in South Tarfica, Nfezi recalled experiencing more racism than she did in Estland, being frequently harassed and even apprehended by South Tarfican authorities, and having to keep her documentation and paperwork on her at all times to avoid arrest for being black in white-only areas. She later returned to Jõgeküla University after graduating with her bachelor's degree, and received a master's degree in secondary education in 1985. In 1990, Nfezi moved to Munbach to begin a doctoral program in Tarfican history at King's University Munbach, receiving her doctorate in 1995.

## Academic career

Nfezi first began her career in education and academia in 1984, while a graduate student at Jõgeküla University. In order to meet eligibility requirements for teaching certifications, Nfezi became a student teacher for one quarter at Jõgeküla Gymnasium III, assisting in teaching history courses. After completing her degree in 1985, Nfezi became fully licensed as a secondary school history lecturer, and began working as a lecturer at Otesalu Gymnasium IV, teaching courses on Estian history.

Nfezi left her career in secondary education in 1990, in order to begin a doctoral program in Tarfican history. While a doctoral student, Nfezi also worked as an assistant professor for four years, where she assisted in teaching courses on Tarfican history and Eurean colonialism. After completing her doctorate in 1995, Nfezi returned to Estland, and was hired as an adjunct professor of history at Otesalu University. At the university, Nfezi taught two courses in Tarfican history and Tarfican women's history. Nfezi later joined Jõgeküla University as a tenure-track professor in 1998, and became a tenured professor at the university in 2004. While at the university, Nfezi taught courses on Tarfican history, Tarfican women's history, and Eurean colonial history in Tarfica. Throughout her career, Nfezi has also authored seven biographies on various female figures throughout Tarfican history.

In 2010, Nfezi was selected as the new director of the history department at the university. As a departmental director, Nfezi still taught her own courses, but was also given discretion over other courses taught in the department, and could oversee the development and management of degree programs offered by the department. In 2016, Nfezi was promoted to dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the university. As a faculty dean, Nfezi no longer taught courses, but oversaw the management and operation of the entire faculty and all of its departments. Nfezi took a leave of absence in 2020, in order to enter politics.

## Political career

### Education and research minister

Nfezi began her career in politics in 2020, after she was nominated by Kirsti Aalu-Mäkina to serve as education and research minister in the cabinet. She was later appointed to the position by Jarel Köt on 24 February 2020. Upon her appointment, Nfezi admitted that while she pays attention to politics, she never thought that she would end up as a politician.

As education and research minister, Nfezi is responsible for overseeing the public education system, management of public universities, national education curriculum, education funding, research funding, scientific research, government laboratories, and national licensing examinations for careers.

## Personal life

Nfezi began a relationship with Estian businessman Taavi Heelõõmaas in 1986. They later became engaged in 1988, and married the following year. The family resided in Munbach between the years of 1990 and 1995, while Nfezi was completing her doctorate. Nfezi and Heelõõmaas have three adopted daughters together: Helga (born 1997), Paula (born 2000), and Niia (born 2003), all of whom are adopted from Bolinware. The family owns homes in both Otesalu and Jõgeküla.

Nfezi was born an Ardwallian citizen, and later received Estian citizenship through her mother at age ten. Upon the establishment of Bolinwarean independence in 1972, Nfezi also received Bolinwarean citizenship. Nfezi is fluent in Tarfikaans, Bolinwana, Estian, Ditrovian, and Medish.