Purple Profile Pictures Flood Social Media as Africans Unite Against Gender-Based Violence

A wave of purple is sweeping across social media platforms, from TikTok and Instagram to Facebook and X, as millions of users change their profile pictures or add purple backgrounds in a show of solidarity against gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide

What began as a modest campaign in South Africa has rapidly expanded across the continent, reaching countries including Ghana, Botswana, Kenya, and Nigeria

The initiative, led by the South African non-profit Women for Change (WFC), aims to amplify voices ahead of the G20 Women’s Shutdown scheduled for Friday, November 21, 2025, in South Africa

The campaign is timed to coincide with the country hosting the G20 Summit and seeks to draw global attention to the persistent violence against women and children

According to South Africa’s Public Safety and Justice Survey, most GBV incidents are committed by individuals known to the victims, fueling widespread frustration over the perceived ineffectiveness of government interventions. Activists are now demanding that the South African government declare GBV and femicide a national disaster

The color purple, now prominent on social feeds across Africa, has become a symbol of mourning, unity, and hope. Participants in the Women’s Shutdown are encouraged to wear black, abstain from all work, refrain from spending, and change their profile pictures to purple to raise awareness

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At noon, citizens are asked to lie down for 15 minutes to symbolically represent the 15 women killed daily in South Africa due to GBV

“This movement is more than a campaign it is a collective demand for justice, accountability, and safety,” said WFC spokesperson Lindiwe Mkhize

The growing purple wave highlights a new era of digital activism, demonstrating the power of online communities to drive real-world action against systemic social issues

Writer : Mweru Mbugua