Deputy minister of education, arts, and culture Faustina Caley says young people should not take the opportunities they are given for granted.
She said this at a theatre performance called ‘Why Did We Stop?’ at Rundu in the Kavango East region over the weekend.
“The staging of this first-ever theatre production at Rundu is a milestone that defies all odds in the pursuit of narrating our African stories,” Caley said.
She said the African narrative is often told by foreigners who do not know anything about local arts and culture.
“This production amplifies the significance of our roots, our culture, and the powerful connection we share with our land,” she said.
“Hota Art Design took on what some might have viewed as a challenge; an effort that was not immediately visible or deemed as something that could bear tangible results,” Caley said.
She said the Ministry of Education, Arts, and Culture is committed to supporting such initiatives.
The author of ‘Why Did We Stop?’, Nanyemba Katamba, at the event said the play is about the loss of creativity and problem-solving within the community.
“The main character’s spirit of innovation inspired the village, but with his death, they stopped creating and solving problems,” he says.
Katamba says he aims to inspire people to tackle everyday challenges with ingenuity and creativity.
“In the play, Kandjendje’s love, Diranene, was on the other side of a dangerous river. To overcome this, he crafted the famous wato [canoe], enabling him to cross the river safely and bring Diranene back to his village to marry her.”
He said the question serves as a call to action.
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