Events This Weekend and Beyond

December has officially kicked off and it feels like we’ve been waiting a lifetime for it to arrive. This is truly the season to be festive – to come together to eat and drink, and recover from one hell of a year!

I wish you all good tidings this month, and I hope you enjoy your time safely and responsibly. Go to a wine show, sing along to worship tunes or watch two ex-convicts punch each other for 12 rounds. There’s something for everyone, I swear. If not, come back next week.

Thursday

Today, there will be an ‘Intergenerational Dialogue’ hosted by the United Nations Population Fund and partners at the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre from 17h30. As part of 16 Days of Activism, the event will focus on the youth, various communities and their leaders, calling on them to take action to address violence against women and girls.

This Weekend

This Friday and Saturday is the 2024 Swakopmund Wine Show at the Strand Hotel from 18h00. Tickets are N$200 for unlimited tasting from 11 South African wineries. There will also be bottles for sale.

On Friday, ‘Biodiversity in Focus’ – a panel discussion – takes place. The discussion is a prelude to the IPBES Plenary and the ‘Changing Climate, Changing Namibia’ exhibition by the Museums Association of Namibia. Entry is free at 118 Robert Mugabe Avenue from 15h00.

It’s First Friday and you can enjoy a night market experience featuring wine tasting, seafood, sweet treats, good vibes, activations, crafts and more at the Swakopmund Amphitheatre. N$100 gets you in from 17h00.

On Friday, PST Mobile has an exciting fight lined up in the boxing ring. Former inmates Harry ‘The Terminator’ Simon and Paulus ‘Ninja’ Shimweefeleni will be going head to head in their ‘Boxing Against Crime’ initiative at Mercure Hotel at 14h00.

On Saturday, you can listen to some live gospel music at The Restoration Concert 2.0 at the Dr Hage Geingob Stadium. There will be performances by The Unveiled, Clive & TheNowGeneration Choir, Maranatha, Dee’A and more worship artists from 19h00. Tickets start at N$50 on WebTickets for the ‘Never Walk Alone’ show.

The 7th is also Secret Sunrise Namibia’s Feminine Flow 3, a fun activity-packed event empowering women and “bringing out the best feminine flow graciously”. There will be yoga between 06h30 and 07h30 at Wanderers Sports Ground and keychain making as well as other activities at the main event from 17h00 at the Nedbank Campus 7th Floor.

Or you can head over to the Yenda Summer Festival at the Katima Mulilo Sports Complex featuring performances by PDK, One Blood, Yeezir, DJ Vuyo, Erro, Tumi Mohamed and many others with Emjay as the MC. Tickets are N$80 in advance or N$100 at the door. Doors open at 10h00.

On Sunday, the ‘Rising From Pain To Power’ ballet dance recital takes place at the Matumbo Ribebe Hall in the gender equality ministry office at Rundu. This dance production aims to collect baby items like formula, nappies, blankets, newborn clothes and necessities for new mothers to make donations to teen mothers in the community. The show starts at 15h00. Entry is an item donation or any cash amount above N$100.

Next Week

Next Friday and Saturday the ‘Why Did We Stop’ theatre production will be staged at the Werah Cafe at Rundu from 19h00. Tickets range between N$100 and N$500 for the story of a couple from two communities divided by a deep river infested with dangerous crocodiles.

Recurring

Sing as loud and as off key as you want at karaoke: Wednesdays at Mynt Nightclub, Thursdays at Tipsy Rabbit Hole or Saturdays at Isabel’s Table. From 19h00.

Every week is the Sunday Market at the Village Garden from 09h00 to 15h00. There are stalls, kiddies activities, live music, food and drinks.

There is a weekly Substance Abuse Support Group on Thursdays from 18h00 at the CCN Building in Eros. These sessions are hosted free of charge by Saffron Psychological Services.

– Anne Hambuda is a poet, writer and social commentator. Follow her online or email her at annehambuda@gmail.com for more.