
Activist
Human being
'Good' Trouble-maker
For over 40 years, Kumi Naidoo has been a voice amongst many for social, economic and environmental justice. From his humble township upbringing in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, to his work as an anti-Apartheid activist, to his leadership of international NGOs, Kumi has remained rooted in Martin Luther King’s Creative Maladjustment principles - refusing to normalize inequality and devoting himself to exposing injustice.
'Good' Trouble-maker
Kumi was International Executive Director of Greenpeace International, from 2009-2015, and Secretary General of Amnesty International, from 2018-2020. As of June 2020, he is Global Ambassador for Africans Rising for Justice, Peace & Dignity.
He has served as the Secretary-General of Civicus, an international alliance for citizen participation, from 1998 to 2008.
Kumi has also served the Global Call to Action Against Poverty and the Global Call for Climate Action (Tcktcktck.org), which brings together environmental aid, religious and human rights groups, labour unions, scientists and others and has organised mass demonstrations around climate negotiations.
In this next chapter of his activism journey, Kumi is dedicating himself to getting back to his 'roots', with a focus on contributing more to the growth of activism movements and organisations, academia, as well as paving the way forward for a new generation of activists.
Work
Media
Power, People & Plant Season 1
Power, People & Plant Season 1


S1E10 with Islam Elbeiti | Power, People and Planet Podcast (audio only)

S1E9 with Lysa John | Power, People and Planet Podcast (audio only)

S1E8 with Catarina de Albuquerque | Power, People and Planet Podcast (audio only)

S1E7 with Disha Ravi | Power, People and Planet Podcast (audio only)

S1E6 with Dr Amara Enyia | Power, People and Planet Podcast (audio only)

S1E5 with Ashish Kothari | Power, People and Planet Podcast (audio only)

S1E4 with Tolullah Oni | Power, People and Planet Podcast (audio only)

S1E3 with Tasneem Essop | Power, People and Planet Podcast (audio only)

S1E2 with Aruna Rao | Power, People and Planet Podcast (audio only)
