Ika Hügel-Marshall

Erika "Ika" Hügel-Marshall (13 March 1947 – 21 April 2022) was a German author and activist. She was active in the Afro-German women's movement organization ADEFRA (Afro-Deutsche Frauen). Her autobiography, Daheim unterwegs. Ein deutsches Leben (published in English as Invisible Woman: Growing up Black in Germany), discusses racism in Germany and her search for a family identity. She was influenced by and praised the work of her friend, American activist Audre Lorde. She and her partner Dagmar Schultz worked with Lorde.Hügel-Marshall was born to a German mother and African-American father, whom she did not meet until she was 46. She experienced severe racism as a child, especially during her time in an orphanage. She studied well and helped to modernize a children's home in Frankfurt am Main. In the 1980s she helped establish the Afro-Deutsch movement and became interested in Lorde's work. Daheim unterwegs was published in 1998 and has been described as highlighting issues within German racism. She has since given talks and readings, based on the autobiography, at universities and festivals.