From Captivity to Cybersecurity: The Inspiring Journey of Popina Khumanda

In this episode of Talking Classrooms: Educational Communication and Reflection, host Bulelani Marwanqana sits down with Popina Khumanda—a cybersecurity lecturer, engineer, and author whose life story is nothing short of extraordinary.

Born in the DRC, Popina was captured by rebels at just five years old. After five years in captivity, she and her sister escaped to South Africa, where she faced new battles: no schooling, language barriers, and financial hardship. Against all odds, she completed matric, earned a degree in IT, specialized in cybersecurity, and now lectures and engineers in one of the world’s fastest-growing tech fields.

She is also the author of The Smallest Ones (Penguin Random House), using her journey to inspire hope and resilience in others.

👉 Tune in to hear how Popina turned pain into purpose, and why she believes education and technology are the keys to shaping a safer, empowered Africa.