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ART-IST

Celebrating Namibian men and their differences through the lens of photographer Hentie Burger.

WITH THE GOOD COMES THE GREAT

Remy The Quill reflects on past travels within beautiful Namibia and the resurgence of local tourism post-lockdown.

THE TRIBE

#TheTribeExclusive chats to the exciting duo of Ethnix and their road to success.

THE ART OF JOURNALING

Kirsty Watermeyer delves into the benefits and importance of taking some time out for yourself and putting pen to paper.

ECONOMIC PULSE

Economic researchers from IJG discuss emotional markets during times of turmoil in the Namibia Trade Networkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Economic Pulse, a monthly series on finance and the economy.

MASTER YOUR DESTINY

Actress, dancer, model and former Miss Namibia, Odile Gertze, discusses the value of support and what she sees as the most important tool in building connections.

ROYAL HUSTLERS 54 2

Success, investing in Namibia, a love for the arts and bigger love for his adopted country - CEO of Nictus Namibia, Francois Wahl, is this weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s royal hustler.

DID YOU KNOW

Willie Olivier looks at the role of the Finnish Mission Society in the history of Owambo.

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

A quick glance at the three heads of state since independence.

LOOKING GLOBAL

Global issues with local impact. Seasoned Namibian journalist Willie Olivier looks at the disturbing over-exploitation of the ocean’s resources in international and local waters.

PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURE

Exploring the beauty of food photography through the lens of Christie Keulder.

FOR THE LOVE OF PESTO

Locally produced and made with loads of love - Marcii Magson is the Namibian pesto queen.

10 MINUTES WITH LOCAL TASTE MAKERS

Charene Labuschagne chats about respect, artistic identity, hitting the decks and the future with local wunderkind Corné Le Roux

MAHANGU

Christie Keulder takes a closer look at the world’s most widely grown millet - Mahangu.

FASHION FIERCE

The mastermind behind the House of Cindy label, Cynthia Likando, talks about her unique style, the Namibian fashion scene and her latest venture into lecturing.

LOCKED DOWN IN PARADISE

Lockdown or luckdown? An eight-week visit to Namibia becomes four-and-a-half months.

GREEN ECONOMY E-waste: Namigreen’s commitment to keeping our environment and landfills free from electronic waste.

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December 2019

art-ist

To Stand Tall

entie Burger is doing something allout radical for a photographer his age: he is celebrating men. Namibian men, in all their idiosyncrasies, quirks and varied characters. From his vast library of photos that spans decades he pulled out portraits of the men he has encountered all over the country. The result is an eye-opening exhibition entitled Standing Tall. Namibian Men in Transition, which asks us to see past the headlines and the bad news of the day, and instead acknowledge that men, yes even men, are worthy of a viewerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appreciative gaze. What started out as simply the desire to capture a personality, who caught his eye, on film has developed and grown into a body of work that speaks of the colourful differences between us that make us unique. And yet, Hentie tells me, take note of the shoes. Most of the men wear polished shoes, brightly coloured shoes, or they are barefoot. A rebel, decked out head-to-black-boots with memorabilia and slips of stationary, proudly proclaiming his Herero heritage while simultaneously stating his own undefiable selfness. Some of the men show off their uniforms. Uniforms of rank, of religion, of culture.

What started out as simply the desire to capture a personality, who caught his eye, on film has developed and grown into a body of work that speaks of the colourful differences between us that make us unique.

Some uniforms are of a different sort: short pants, big floppy shirts, cigarette in hand, faded green cap over bushy grey hair. But Hentie advises me not to judge his subjects based on appearance alone. This man, he says, pointing to the barefoot Boer, is an intellectual whose house is stacked with books. From one portrait to the next it’s clear that Hentie remembers each shot. Something about these men made him want to take their photographs, and their stories have stayed with him. Only one picture includes a woman. A family from Rehoboth during their cultural festival: a father, mother and little boy, dressed to the nines and beaming. After contemplating the picture, Hentie says it is obvious that the mother is in charge of the family. “But look how proud the little boy is.” Perhaps it is the re-thinking of manhood. Of maleness. Hentie’s exhibition asks us to recalibrate how we think of the men in our society. The men hung against the white walls ask us to see them as individuals, as unique and true to themselves. The exhibition Standing Tall: Namibian Men in Transition took place at the National Art Association Gallery between 2 and 20 March 2020. For more information please contact Marcii Magson: curator@naa.na Nina van Zyl

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With the Good Comes the Great Once all the coronavirus scares die down, Namibia awaits.

ince the easing of lockdown regulations in Namibia the streets are more alive, pulsing with cars and pedestrians. Restaurants are open, but most entertainment venues still closed. Lodges and hotels are slowly shrugging themselves from their hiatus and looking for novel ways to provide unique travel experiences to the curious wanderer. It is strange to see the economy kick into high gear at the onset of winter – usually the start of the cold season heralds a slowdown with more people choosing to stay indoors.

Then, another time, I found myself in the north at the start of the rainy season, with furious cloud activity and downpours being the order of the day. The geography in the north reminded me of my birth country Rwanda with its afternoon thunderstorms. The communal life, too, reminded me somewhat of my distant home. Humid heat, green trees, rich, tyre-sucking mud, and an abundance of wildlife were the takeaway notes at the time. With numerous lodges spread out in the northern half of the country, yet again I wonder if another road trip is not a necessary excursion.

Age-old wisdom states that you have to take the good with the bad: an end to a hot Namibian summer means a cold winter; the bone-chilling freeze drives the mosquitoes away but it decides to stay. The landscapes change: the days are shorter, the nights come too quickly and seem to stay too long. Inside it is always too cold, and outside the temperature is never Social right. Namibia swings between extremes distancing was just – as it always has – in terms of the seasons, a geographic climate, culture and the national mood. It is never lukewarm – that does not seem to be the concept even Namibian way. The change of season, however, then – it for once seems to defy tradition. Maybe, this one time we just might get the good and the turns out the greater: a much needed return to our natural Namibian environment, a celebration of the vistas and wilderness had horizons we took for granted, and a greater appreciation for our geography.

But this year is different – the COVID-19 pandemic has turned the world upside down and upset established routines. This year, instead of relative hibernation, everyone plans to be out and about. Despite the onset of the countrywide chill, a recent long weekend saw the coast packed with travellers. It makes sense: this was the first time many Windhoekers had the opportunity to escape the confines of their lockdown routine. The coast, as the most accessible and relatively affordable holiday destination, was an enticing drawcard. In fact, it would have been quite un-Namibian not to spend a long weekend at the coast, so the pilgrimage to Walvis Bay and Swakopmund felt like a patriotic return to some form of normalcy. But there are other equally fantastic places to visit as the country opens up bit by bit.

the right idea all along.

I am reminded of my time in the dry south, surrounded by nothing but horizon as far the eye could see and as wide as my neck could pivot. Sand below, sky above. And no one but my travelling companions for company for miles around. Social distancing was a geographic concept even then – it turns out the Namibian wilderness had the right idea all along. I remember the feeling of tranquillity and isolation. Not loneliness, but solitude, the kind of oneness only found in nature, especially at its most extreme and desolate. The autumnal change in climate and texture made the vast landscape a new world, a different country to explore. Soon, with tourism restrictions being relaxed, I wonder if it is not time for another escape to the south.

If there ever was a time for a resurgence of internal tourism, now would be it. In time the rest of the world will be drawn to Namibia again. It is inevitable – such is the magnetic power of the Namibian wilderness. For now, though, in these cold months when the rest of the world is away, I look forward to seeing Namibia without intrusion and crowds. Rémy Ngamije is a Rwandan-born Namibian novelist, columnist, essayist, short-story writer, and photographer. His debut novel The Eternal Audience Of One is available from Blackbird Books and Amazon. His short stories have appeared in Litro Magazine, AFREADA, The Johannesburg Review of Books, The Amistad, The Kalahari Review, American Chordata, Doek!, and Azure. More of his writing can be read on his website: remythequill.com

THE TRIBE

Ludisha and Mepani Mbaindjikua

#TheTribeExclusive featuring Ethnix

n their very first interview on #TheTribeExclusive, the dynamic music duo Ethnix sit down with Ché Ulenga to talk about breaking into the industry.

Consisting of Etjo Kangumine and Julius Marco Hamwele, who is better known as Page, the group describes their sound as “very distinctive and unique, fusing hip-hop and R&B with traditional elements and pop”. Recalling how his interest in music was sparked in primary school, Page says: “I used to do talent shows and stuff like that. I started off as a dancer and then I ventured into rapping.” By the time he was in high school he formed a dance group with some friends who shared the same dream of making it big in entertainment. Aptly called Dream City, the group would shoot videos and take part in various events to showcase their talents. After a few years Page suggested to his group members that they approach Windhoek-based producer Araffath Muhuure to take their dreams further. To his surprise, Page made a very good impression on Araffath who decided to sign him – but as a solo act.

Once they met her – through a friend of hers who brought her over to the 777 Studios – it was a done deal. After officially hitting the studio as a duo in 2014, they decided to call themselves Ethnix to represent the tribal elements in their sound. They launched a few hit songs which topped the charts of several local radio stations but they eventually cut ties with Araffath and decided to work with another producer.

Namibia has taught us that if fans believe in you they are willing to push you and they have pushed us, because if they didn’t love our music I’m sure we wouldn’t even be here.

“We had a couple of songs and then he said there’s something missing, and the missing piece was a female voice,” Page says. The two tried out a couple of female vocalists but none of them were good enough. Until Etjo came along.

The pair expresses their gratitude for the continued support they have received from their fans over the years. “Namibia has taught us that if fans believe in you they are willing to push you and they have pushed us, because if they didn’t love our music I’m sure we wouldn’t even be here,” says Etjo. He continues: “They’ve been so supportive, they’ve been so welcoming of the new sound and they literally always tell us that we have pushed the bar up very high.”

Watch The Tribe on One Africa TV (GoTV 90, DStv 284, DStv Now, TV2Africa.com) every Friday at 21h30 and repeat shows on Wednesdays at 07h00 and on Saturdays at 17h30. Alternatively, listen to The Tribe on 99FM every Friday at 19h00, and follow The Tribe on Instagram @thetribenamibia and on Facebook @TheTribeNamibia.

The art of Journaling

fter what seemed a quieter period of time, when the world went into full or partial lockdowns to manage the burdens of the global coronavirus pandemic, many are now easing their restrictions to ‘catch up’ again. Be warned, however, that without attending to the human process of Being, our anxieties don’t have an outlet.

Society all too often equates action with strength. Feeling and thought thereby become devalued as weakness. Sometimes we shy away from our thoughts and feelings simply because the more one thinks and feels, the more complex the world becomes, and the less clear the course of action is. However, it is that voice of imagination, of questioning why things are constructed as they are, that has brought us to where we are today in our contemporary culture. Throughout the history of mankind we encounter beliefs which at their respective time seemed ‘normal’. It took individuals and societies to question those positions, to see their injustice and expose their lack of value. Imagine that once upon a time child labour laws were opposed, and people fought to have their ‘right’ acknowledged, the right to make children work for a pittance in deplorable conditions. This was still considered ‘normal’ in the early 20th century. It is a lack of imagination, dreams, art, passion, thought and reason that drives mindless action and condones the consequences. Every time we question something, we challenge the objector inside ourselves, and in our societies. Contemplation is one of the ways which has advanced our species.

One-dimensional views demand certainty. To be open to the human experience is to exist in the full spectrum of Being. It is also no wonder, as we march forward under the pressure to act, that we are a generation desperate for someone to hear us. This is where we come to an often overlooked tool. This tool is easy and accessible, and to master it you need nothing but your own ability to be self-aware. There is no right or wrong way to do it, and no special skills are needed. It is the age-old art of journaling. With the entire point being a desire to learn about ourselves, journaling is a chance to be reflective and delve deeper into our own thoughts. Through journaling we take the noise out of our heads, and commit our personal truths to paper.

Sometimes we shy away from our thoughts and feelings simply because the more one thinks and feels, the more complex the world becomes, and the less clear the course of action is.

We miss the mark every time we say things like “I just have to…” (fill in the blank). Whether we think we just have to be more organised, or not let things bother us, or be more assertive, or any of the many things we would like to correct about ourselves, we completely miss the starting point to real change. The clue lies in the use of the word ‘just’ as it implies that all we need is action, and forgets that there are always underlying factors which drive our perceived negative behaviours and habits. To be able to improve certain areas in our lives, we need more than just action, we need reflection and to take stock of ourselves. Taking stock of our thoughts and feelings is what helps us to understand ourselves and to change behaviour.

When we become able to see our thoughts and feelings behind situations for ourselves, and the layers that lie below, we are able to see what is truly holding us back. With this clarity we can take right and true action in our lives. Actions not driven by societal expectations or by wrong beliefs, but by our own truth. As James Pennebaker, a psychologist at the University of Texas, says, “By writing, you put some structure and organisation to those anxious feelings. It helps you to get past them.” As an added benefit, studies conducted by Pennebaker and others found that writing our thoughts and feelings down (journaling) is also good for the immune system. So before racing into a perceived need to ‘catch up’ after the quieter lockdown period, remember to take some time out for yourself. As much as we are social beings, we also need alone time to reflect and recharge. Quiet solitude brings insights that enable us to take supportive action.

Kirsty Watermeyer Kirsty is a Yoga and Meditation Coach, a Transformation Facilitator and Writer. Contact her at kirsty@seednamibia.com

Navigating these trying times

INCOME STATEMENT: • Income The total size of the pie shared by the world will most probably not change that much in the medium term, but the difference will be who owns what part of that pie. Human nature has a great ability to adapt over time and the entrepreneurial spirit of some will prove to be profitable during these trying times. Hence, more effort and creativity will be required than …one thing is before. You might have to improve your skill set sure for most via formal online education, or realise that your business won’t be relevant for much longer. individuals, Invest in yourself and your business to do better businesses and with the things that will matter.

he world has seen many crises before. While each crisis is different, Ray Dalio (founder of Bridgewater Associates) reminds us that history has a tendency to teach us patterns that we can use as templates to assist us in successfully navigating through the storm.

Covid-19 has caught the world by surprise, and although there are still many unknowns, one thing is sure for most individuals, businesses and governments: it has created holes in income statements and balance sheets. An income statement is a summary of all income and expenses providing a net income after tax. The hole on income statements is mainly due to loss or uncertainty of future income. The balance sheet side is effectively the health of your total position (assets minus liabilities) at any given point.

governments: it has created holes in income statements and balance sheets.

Understanding these basic concepts provides a template on possible levers to pull:

• Expenses This is probably where the most can be done in the short term. All of us are reminded again about what is critical and what is not, and all of us should be determined to optimise where we can.

Cutting expenses is a bit of a double-edged sword, as the micro actions that we will be required to take will have a macro impact (on the overall economy). One person’s

Economic Pulse

expenses are another person’s income and if many businesses decide to cut expenses, many people’s income will drop and hence the economy would contract. The reality is that the only way to avoid cutting expenses is to increase “income”. This will be a daunting task for many and given the global uncertainty, many traditional investors will sit on the sidelines as they struggle to calculate the risk, i.e. the return needed to make a profitable investment. Entrepreneurs who have the ability to own more of the pie will therefore have to be extra skilful in convincing investors (people with strong balance sheets). BALANCE SHEETS • The strength of your balance sheet will determine how long you can survive. If you have a money market account, for example, ensure that you try to maintain this buffer as long as possible, and rather cut unnecessary expenses first. •

•

If you have more than sufficient buffers, uncertainty provides fantastic opportunities for generating investment returns. Investment principles have become principles because they were able to survive the test of time. The wise will

continue to apply those principles and not confuse them with the gambling tactics of friends who struck it lucky. •

Clearly identify your objectives and treat each on its own merit; for example, being cognisant of time horizons, diversification principles and valuation levels of potential investments.

•

If you can find someone who you can trust, share your ideas to make sure that you are not caught off guard by your own blind spots.

The journey will still be difficult for some time, but how you travel can make a big difference in whether you will reach your destination or not. René Olivier René Olivier(CFA) is the Managing Director of Wealth Management at IJG, an established Namibian financial services market leader. IJG believes in tailoring their services to a client’s personal and business needs. For more information, visit www.ijg.net. To sign up for the Economic Pulse newsletter, send an email to: daleen@venture.com.na www.namibiatradedirectory.com

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HOW CAN WE HELP YOU IN THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES?

NB Namibia recently introduced cash flow relief solutions across various products and channels for customers of good standing who have felt the negative impact of COVID-19. Nangula Kauluma, Executive: Retail Banking, reiterated the fact that FNB aimed to assist customers in keeping control of their finances during these uncertain times. It is important for us to lend a helping hand so that our loyal customers are assisted financially, while also being able to keep their good credit ratings. FNB announced a three-month cash flow relief assistance at the beginning of April on home loans, vehicle and asset finance and personal loans, while students, in good standing with the bank, were also granted a three-month payment holiday from their student loans. For our retail customers this means that they receive a payment break from their monthly instalments and premiums for three months. During this time we will pay the customers’ premiums on their behalf, freeing up their cash flow to cover other expenses while keeping their credit profile intact. This solution was less expensive compared to the traditional payment break with a term extension. With a payment break a customer could potentially be paying “interest on interest” – fees are still levied and repayments on the longer term are based on the conditions of the existing agreement. In the long term, the total cost of credit for a payment holiday with a term extension is significantly higher than a cash flow relief plan.

Instead of extending the customer’s term, FNB allows the customer to repay the cash flow relief amount separately after the payment break, with the following benefits applicable to the account: • Zero fees • Flexible repayment period • Ability to settle the relief amount earlier with no penalties • The interest rate payable is prime, which could be a lower interest rate than the rate the customer is currently paying on their unsecured credit products such as a personal loan, credit cards or an overdraft • Repayment will only start once the 3-month relief period is over This relief plan brings flexibility and real savings on the cost of credit. It is specifically designed to help minimise the impact of COVID-19 on customers’ finances. Assistance via the FNB App is also available to SME clients with initial lending facilities of less than NAD 5 million for a Gold of Platinum business account, and medium commercial clients with initial lending facilities of less than NAD 7,5 million. All other commercial clients are requested to talk to their relationship manager. FNB encourages customers to be thoughtful about the solutions they sign up for during this difficult time, especially those who do not have insurance on their credit products. For more information on the COVID-19 Cash Flow Relief Plan and savings, customers can download the FNB App and follow the easy instructions.

Odile Gertze

Mo ShĂŠ Media

On the power of connection

ultitalented queen of the stage and big screen, Odile Gertze, graces MYD Africa Show with her presence in this throwback interview.

dance, because she could see it. I definitely have the support of my family and my parents when it comes to the performing element. The Miss Namibia pageant was always part of my bucket list.

This interview happened just after she won the title of best actress in film at the Namibian Film and Theatre Awards. Blessed with beauty and brains, Miss Namibia 2010 has gone on to grow a formidable brand. She shares the meaning of connection, support and following one’s dreams.

MYD: What does independence mean to you at an individual level, and at a community level?

MYD: What is it like changing gear to that degree, to go from being crowned Miss Namibia to the dance work that you’ve done, to then playing a character who is unliked? How do you change gears? I must say that before Miss Namibia, before any of that, I’m a performer, I’m an artist, I grew up dancing and roughly about the time when I was 13 or 14, I was like “mommy I’m quitting ballet”, enough is enough.

Being able to fly so low with your support system under your wings.

If you humble yourself and choose to uplift and serve others in the process, you will be uplifted through that yourself.

It’s incredibly important. We are not on this planet on our own, there’s always going to be someone next to us whether we like them or not, so to me connection is about understanding, it’s about listening, it’s about humbling yourself so that you can uplift others. If you humble yourself and choose to uplift and serve others in the process, you will be uplifted through that yourself. MYD: What are the tools to build good connections? Obviously there are going to be connections that might not be the best for you?

You know I was the only one there who felt like I’m really pushing and no one’s really enjoying it and the teacher is tough and I didn’t want any more ballet. About six months later she took me to a theatre production of Swan Lake in South Africa, and that was when I wanted to go back to it.

How to build the good ones, that is actually a very, very good question. You know, my first thought is to make sure communication is key, never to give up and listen, but that goes both ways, because communication is only successful when both parties understand.

So she was always incredibly understanding, always encouraging me, pushing me to continue my love for

So that’s my first and most important tool. Everything else I’ll figure out on the way and then I’ll let you know.

Follow MYD Africa on Instagram @mydafrica. Odile’s story is part of a series celebrating Namibians in partnership with Master Your Destiny. Read more in the MYD Journal at: www.issuu.com/99fm/docs/99fm_myd_book_2018 Catch MYD Heart on 99FM, Mondays to Fridays on ‘The Pulse’ at 17H35.

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ROYAL HUSTLERS CEO of Nictus Namibia, Francois Wahl, is a Royal Hustler who fell in love with Namibia and has for years been calling it home. DESTINED FOR NAMIBIA “Well, I grew up in South Africa and married into Namibia. Namibia has the most beautiful, attractive people full of personality, so naturally I chose to stay and my sister also married a Namibian – it seems like our family is really attracted to Namibians.” Describing Namibia as the “land of opportunities”, Francois says that working here has only been a pleasure. “The people are hungry to learn, people are hungry to develop themselves and businesses have big opportunities to grow.” A chartered accountant by profession, Francois never quite took to the finance world, preferring arts and film amongst other interests. In fact, his first film won a few nominations and awards at festivals and at the South African Film and Television Awards. “I’ve got that interest in culture as well. The business side of being a CA and an entrepreneur is fascinating, but I think business can be so rigid, so I love bringing art and the business together,” he says. Describing himself as someone who likes to think out of the box, Francois says that it was this trait that has helped him get to the top.

company, such as Group MD Philippus Tromp who Francois says saw him as more than “just the Finance Manager.” INVESTING INTO NAMIBIA With the current economic climate in Namibia there are more reasons to empower its citizens, and in order to do that Nictus Namibia strives to promote and stimulate industries and businesses, Francois says. One of the ways in which the company does this is by giving young creative entrepreneurs a platform to access retail space in Nictus stores.

The people are hungry to learn, people are hungry to develop themselves and businesses have big opportunities to grow.

“I actually started within the Nictus Group. I started with TrenTyre as the financial manager and from there we already got involved with operations and we really had a magical team. From there I moved to the holding company, Nictus Holdings, and out of finance to retail operations,” he explains.

The Nictus Group, he says, is a great place to work if you are invested in career development. “The Nictus Group promotes people who want to grow and it’s a great place to work because they really promote training and learning,” he says. He is especially thankful for the mentors he has in the

“We have to promote the local culture and support local. I mean, we are a Namibian company, we’ve been around for 75 years, we’re going to be here for another 75 years and we want to see other Namibian companies thrive as well,” he says. AIMING FOR SUCCESS Asked about his recipe for success, Francois says that the ability to adapt to change is very important for anyone who wants to succeed. “If you are not willing to change you are going to struggle, you have to be hungry, you have to work hard, you have to really want to grow yourself and grow the business and not only think about yourself but also about how you can make the environment you’re in a better one.”

For Francois, the ability to adapt to change is what will keep Nictus alive despite what happens in the industry. “There’s a lot of potential in the furniture industry, but it’s in such a vulnerable state. You have to be one hundred percent on top of your game at all times because if there’s one second you drop your game it can set you back. You need to be on top of your game the whole time, and it makes me very excited for the future.” This article is based on an interview with Francois on 99FM. Tune in to The Royal Hustlers on 99 FM every Monday to Friday at 07h35.

MAKING SAFETY A PRIORITY AND PERSONAL KEEPS US SAFE, TODAY TO ENSURE A BETTER TOMORROW.

At Namdeb, we uphold our safety standards with the greatest regard, because through them, every person at Namdeb remains safe today and tomorrow. We therefore put safety at the helm of everything that we do by embedding it in our work culture to ensure zero harm GOOD TODAY. BETTER TOMORROW.

How well do you know Owambo? One of the original buildings at the Onandjokwe hospital, the first hospital in Owambo.

THE RICH LEGACY OF THE FINNISH MISSION SOCIETY IN OWAMBO

arious mission societies were already active in different parts of the world when the first missionaries of the Finnish Mission Society (FMS) completed their studies in 1866. The society needed its own mission field and as the Rhenish Mission Society did not have the resources to expand its work in what was then known as German SouthWest Africa, missionary Carl Hugo Hahn invited the FMS to open its mission field in Owambo.

To spread the Gospel to the Aawambo, the development of Oshindonga into written form was one of the priorities of the missionaries. The first basic textbook for teaching and learning, ABD Moshindonga (there was no C in the Oshindonga alphabet), arrived in Owambo in October 1877. The missionaries also translated and compiled several hymnals, biblical histories and other religious texts. The New Testament was published in December 1903, the Old Testament was printed in 1925.

On Friday, 27 May 1870, a group of six Finnish missionaries, among them Martti (Martin) Rautanen who would become known as the Apostle of Owamboland, and two artisans set off from the Rhenish Mission Station at Otjimbingwe for Owambo. They received a warm welcome from Ondonga King Shikongo shaKalulu when they arrived at his palace at Omandongo on 8 July 1870 after a six week journey by oxwagon. A divine service was held the following day, marking the date of the introduction of Christianity to Owambo.

The first teacher’s training school for men was opened at Oniipa on 18 June 1913, followed by the first theological seminary, also at Oniipa, in 1922. Mission schools for women and boarding schools for boys and girls were also established in various kingdoms in Owambo.

In addition to enduring the open hostility of some of the kings, the missionaries faced intolerable upheavals – food shortages, floods, illness and death. Malaria, measles, fever and other diseases took a heavy toll on the missionaries and their families. The graves of three missionaries, five missionary wives and seven children bear testimony to the loss of lives between 1880 and 1900. The rate of conversion among the Aawambo was painfully slow. It took 13 years of unrelenting labour before the first baptism took place on 6 January 1883. After 20 years in the field, the number of Christians in Owambo was a mere 489. But the slow pace of conversion did not discourage the missionaries and by 1920 the number of Christians stood at 7,695 and then increased to 23,126 by 1930. By 2010, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN) had grown to 126 parishes with 703,893 members – making it the largest religious denomination in Namibia.

The missionaries had no access to medical care until the first doctor, Selma Rainio, arrived in 1908. The first hospital in Owambo was inaugurated at Onandjokwe on 9 July 1911 and it became the main hospital in the north until the Oshakati state hospital was opened in 1966. The increasing number of patients required more nursing staff as more hospitals and clinics were built in other Aawambo communities, and an auxiliary school for nurses was opened at Onandjokwe in 1930. The first midwifery school, not only in Owambo but in the entire country, was established at the hospital in 1964, followed by a school for enrolled nurses in 1966. In 1960 the Finnish mission hospitals and clinics attended to 14,600 inpatients and 160,000 out-patients. In addition to spreading the Gospel, several missionaries also found time to collect botanical specimens, keep meteorological data and collect artefacts which provide a fascinating insight into the culture and customs of the Aawambo nearly a century-and-a-half ago. Willie Olivier

Celebrating 30 Years of Independence

THE PRESIDENTS

amibia has seen 30 years of political stability. The same party has remained in power and its presidential candidates were the democratically elected victor in each of the elections held every five years. Let’s take a look at the presidents who have been at the helm of the country since it gained independence. SAM SHAFIISHUNA NUJOMA Sam Nujoma was born on 12 May 1929 at Ongandjera in northern Namibia. His school education ended with standard six (grade 8) and thus his prospects for employment were severely limited. A matric certificate or tertiary education usually would not have opened a lot more doors, however, because in those days black people had very few rights and were seen as cheap labour. Like many young Ovambo men at the time, Nujoma was forced into the contract labour system and found himself working for the railways far from home, separated from his family. He witnessed the abuses of the contract system, which led to an attempt to form a union of railroad workers in 1957. Instead, Nujoma was fired from his job and subsequently made forays into politics. In 1960 he became a founding member of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo). As the leader of the liberation movement Nujoma was a constant target for police intimidation which eventually led to his 30-year exile. Apart from directing the liberation struggle in absentia, he was actively championing the cause of Namibia’s independence at the United Nations. He also played an instrumental role in pushing Swapo’s agenda into the world as well as securing help from foreign nations supportive of the cause. Finally, after 23 years of armed struggle, the country gained independence and Sam Nujoma was inaugurated as the first president of the Republic of Namibia on 21 March 1990. While he navigated the development of the new country relatively successfully and maintained peace for the most part, his time as head of state was marred by his reluctance to relinquish control. A highly controversial bill, which was much debated in parliament, allowed Nujoma to serve a third five-year term as president. HIFIKEPUNYE LUCAS POHAMBA Born on 18 August 1935 in the small village of Okanghudi in northern Owambo, Hifikepunye Pohamba grew up like most other boys in rural Namibia helping with the cultivation of land and herding livestock. He attended the Holy Cross Mission School at Onamunama after which he was employed by the Tsumeb copper mine from 1956 to 1960. As a founding member of Swapo he followed the calling of politics and quit his job to become a full-time organiser for the party. This led to his arrest on charges of political agitation, subsequent conviction and punishment by public flogging. Soon afterwards he joined other Swapo leaders in

exile in Tanganyika (Tanzania). During the sixties he returned to his home country several times and was incarcerated again before being finally expelled for previously leaving the territory illegally. Pohamba rose in prominence within Swapo during the ensuing years. He had various administrative roles and studied politics in the Soviet Union from 1981 to 1982. After Namibia’s independence he became a member of the National Assembly and held different ministerial portfolios for the next 15 years. In 2005 he became Namibia’s second president and was reelected for a second term in 2009. The guidance he gave to the country during his terms was richly rewarded in 2014 when he received the Ibrahim Prize that celebrates Achievement in African Leadership. DR. HAGE GOTTFRIED GEINGOB The third and current president of Namibia, Hage Geingob, was born on 3 August 1941 in Otjiwarongo. After completing school he enrolled at the Augustineum Training College in 1958 to become a teacher. Two years later he was expelled from the institution for participating in a protest march against the poor quality of education. In 1961 he was readmitted and allowed to finish his studies. He took up a teachers’ post at the Tsumeb Primary School but left the country to join the struggle for independence. Stationed in Botswana at first, he moved to the United States in 1964 to study. That year he was appointed Swapo representative to the United Nations and served in this capacity until 1971. He played a primary role in spearheading the Swapo’s 1989 election campaign and was rewarded for its success by leading the process to draft the Namibian Constitution, which at the time was considered to be one of the most progressive and democratic in Africa. Geingob was appointed the country’s first Prime Minister, a post which he held for 12 years, and again from 2012 to 2015 after a stint as Minister of Trade and Industry. Although his inauguration as president was heralded as a breath of fresh air in the Namibian government, the fishrot scandal that erupted on the eve of the 2019 elections caused an ominous cloud to form over Geingob’s leadership and presidency. The scandal, however, did not unseat Swapo as the ruling party or prevent Geingob’s re-election. The government’s rapid response and strict approach in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 has to some extent replaced trust in Geingob’s leadership. Ultimately he is faced with a very tough task ahead and the next five years will determine whether or not he will be revered as a great leader or be condemned to the back pages of history. Le Roux van Schalkwyk

Images by Parliament, Rebublic of Namibia

Celebrating 30 Years of Independence

Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma

Finally, after 23 years of armed struggle, the country gained independence and Sam Nujoma was inaugurated as the first president of the Republic of Namibia on 21 March 1990.

Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba

Dr. Hage Gottfried Geingob

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OCEANS OF

LIFE IN DISTRESS

ceans cover just over 70% of the earth, and the bounty of the sea has sustained humanity for thousands of years with an alternative source of protein, iodine, vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids. The oceans have also provided jobs to countless millions of people.

Vast as our oceans are, their resources are not inexhaustible. The insatiable hunger of the world’s booming population is one of the major causes of the over-exploitation of the oceans’ resources, while illegal fishing is another contributing factor. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has issued a sober warning, saying a third of the world’s assessed fisheries “… are currently pushed beyond their biological limit.” According to the FAO annual catches are in the order of about 80 million tonnes a year! This figure, however, could even be more than 30% higher because of illegal, under-reported and unregulated fishing, especially on the high seas where it is difficult to enforce regulations. The 23 most-caught species account for around 40% of global catches. Sadly about 10% of the total catch are by-catches and dumped overboard, while around 12% is processed into fishmeal and fish oil.

There are currently more than 4.6 million fishing vessels plying the oceans – with 75% of the global fleet being from Asia. Especially the high-value species which are popular in restaurants in the United States, Japan and the European Union are being targeted by illegal fishing vessels, while lower value species considered as affordable sources of protein are also under threat of over-exploitation. About six million tonnes of tuna are caught every year. According to the FAO most tuna stocks are fully exploited and some are already over-exploited. Skipjack tuna, the most commonly caught species used for canning (it features prominently in sandwich fillings and salads), is not under threat. But catches of bluefin tuna, favoured in sushi in upmarket restaurants in the east, began plunging already from the 1950s to the point where it is now classified as critically endangered. About 100 million sharks are caught each year for their dorsal fins which are used in shark fin soup, a delicacy in China. The sharks are simply dumped (often while they are still alive) once the fin has been removed. Sharks are apex predators and a decrease in the shark population will have a profound effect on the entire marine ecosystem. But not only commercial species are under threat. Hundreds of thousands of sea turtles and seabirds, as well as marine

mammals are inadvertently caught in nets and longlines. The birds and turtles are attracted to these lines with baited hooks.

of pilchards in particular is the most likely cause of the decline in catches. The total allowable catch (TAC) for pilchard increased from 40,000 tonnes in 1990 to 125,000 tonnes three years later. The quota was drastically reduced Namibia knows the consequences of the over-exploitation in 1994, and in 2002 there was a zero TAC. By 2014, the of its fishing resources all too well. Prior to independence, TAC was up to 30,000 tonnes, but then disaster struck the country’s rich fishing waters were heavily when only 3,400 tonnes were landed in 2016, exploited by South African and foreign resulting in a three-year moratorium on fishing fleets operating outside of the 22 km pilchard fishing from 2018 to 2020. There has Namibia territorial waters over which the country’s also been a substantial decrease in the TAC for administration had jurisdiction. Catches horse mackerel, also known as maasbanker, knows the of pilchards, the “silver harvest of the sea,” which has been reduced from 500,000 tonnes peaked in 1968 when 1.4 million tonnes were consequences in 1994 to 330,000 tonnes at present. processed onshore and on board two factory of the overships which operated off the Namibian waters In addition to disturbing the marine ecology, and produced fishmeal. Predictably, the over-exploitation of the oceans’ fish resources exploitation industry crashed spectacularly. will ultimately also lead to food insecurity and of its fishing massive job losses. And while you are unlikely Following independence, Namibia declared to lose your appetite for fish (if you do happen resources all a 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone to enjoy fish) after reading this article, spare a too well. and implemented policies that were aimed at thought for the Living Ocean which is in distress. rebuilding the depleted marine resources. Her resources are not inexhaustible. But the industry has had mixed fortunes. While climatic factors such as El Niño and changes in the marine environment could be responsible for the migration of fish and reduced catches along our coast, the overexploitation

Namibian freelance journalist and travel writer: Willie Olivier

Namibia – where nature really does rule supreme

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Back To Our Roots…..Exploring Namibia as Namibians…. Namibia is worth our time, Namibia is worth our exploration. Journeys Namibia lodges and camp sites have an adventure waiting for everyone; the newly launched Rim to River hiking trail in the Fish River Canyon (Fish River Lodge) is a must or try a fat bike excursion along the edge of the canyon. Drink that glass of chardonnay whilst watching elephant cajoling alongside a waterhole at Hobatere Lodge or set off at sunrise to track the elusive and rare black rhino at Grootberg Lodge. Camp in the middle of Damaraland while enjoying a cold beer on the stunning rock features of Hoada Campsite.

A DV E N T U R E S

For those that are seeking solitude closer to home, Auas Safari Lodge offers an easy getaway from city life, with hiking and cycling trails and game drives only one hour from Windhoek. Not to mention a hearty brunch or quick getaway in the city while staying over at Little Forest Garden Retreat in Windhoek. Contact us to make your booking at +264 61 228 104 | reservations@journeysnamibia.com www.journeysnamibia.com End of May - 31 December 2020

Auas Safari Lodge | Little Forest Garden Retreat Guesthouse | Fish River Lodge 36

Grootberg Lodge | Hoada Campsite | Hobatere Lodge

Just a plate of fresh cherries. 38

This is the start of a tomato salsa. I got some very colourful heirloom tomatoes from the store and sliced them thinly. Here they are with some red onion lit from below through white plexiglass.

Photography Feature: Christie Keulder

Reflections on

Food Photography

o me, photography is an extension of curiosity. I photograph things because I am intrigued by them. My interest in food photography stems from my interest in cooking. Cooking is about transforming something well-known and quite simple into something new and very different and extraordinary. Normally cooking is associated with the application of heat, but there is a lot of food preparation that does not involve heat. Just think of fermentation, which is the art of controlled spoilage. Cooking with bacteria has been around for centuries, yet we still know very little about it. Modern food photography is firmly embedded in commercial life-style photography, which does not interest me much. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care for photographs of over-stylized settings of perfectly plated food on a well-dressed table surrounded by props. I know these images are meant to sell magazines, books and even establishments. Creatively I am turned off by that. So, I do very little of that kind of photography. Besides, I refuse to render my food inedible simply to make it look good in a photograph.

Finding fresh peas in a pod can be difficult. So when I found these, I decided that they would be far more interesting when photographed raw rather than cooked in a dish. I had to carefully cut each of them open before photographing them. Then I left them to dry and kept photographing them drying out. To my surprise the shells dried out long before the peas. This picture was taken after three or four days.

These are bokkoms: salted and dried mullet from South Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s West Coast. A friend gave them to me after a holiday in that part of the world. Dried fish can be very unappetizing and thus difficult to photograph with empathy. Their name links them to goatsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; horns. I guess one can see why.

Romanesco broccoli has a highly unique appearance and thus is a particularly interesting vegetable to photograph because it is a natural approximation of a fractal. In mathematics, fractals show similar patterns at increasingly small scales called self-similarity. Any vegetable that can help us understand complex mathematical concepts are uber-cool to photograph.

Fresh artichokes are another very photogenic vegetable. For the inexperienced chef they can be a pain to clean, but it is always worth the effort. It is such a pity that they are so difficult to find locally.

I enjoy close-up, in-your-face photographs of ingredients that reveal not only the perfection, but also the imperfection. I like to photograph food without any distractions. The focus is on the ingredient only. That is why I like to work on pure white or black backgrounds and almost exclusively use macro lenses. I also keep the lighting setups quite basic and simple. It can take days or months to make a single photograph. Ever since I read about “black garlic”, which is a slowly fermented version of normal garlic, I wanted to make it at home. Luckily I had just bought a dehydrator, so I could start right away. But it took a full 45 days to achieve what I’d been looking for: that photograph that took only 1/250th of a second to take, took 45 days to make. 41

Chicharrones. These were made from left-over pork skin and photographed lit from below through white plexiglass.

This is gum from the sweet thorn acacia (Acacia karroo). We used to eat this as kids. When dried and blended into a fine powder it can be used as a hydrocolloid to give ice cream a smooth texture. I wanted to turn something old and familiar into something new and abstract.

I am lucky that cooking and photography combine so easily. Inspiration can come from either source. At one time I became quite obsessed with photographing sliced food. Mainly fruit and vegetables sliced thinly to make them translucent. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d light these from below to capture their cellular profiles and hidden textures. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d leave them to dry and record their changing compositions. When the project ended, I turned the dried food into powders which I used to flavor soups or stocks. Nothing ever got wasted. One day during this time I made chicharrones. These are crispy pork skin snacks I had tasted in Mexico. It was a long process. First, the skin had to be cooked until it was soft, nearly falling apart. Then I had to scrape the fat from the skin before dehydrating it for almost a day. Finally, the dehydrated skin, which now looked like sharp, hard shards of glass, were deep-fried to make it puff-up like pillowy clouds. Instead of eating it as I had intended, I got intrigued by the shapes and textures caused by bubbles of rising steam trapped by the proteins in the skin. I eventually spent days photographing them. Only when I could no longer stand looking at them, did I eat the chicharrones.

Website: www.greatnamibianfoodproject.com Facebook: @The Great Namibian Food Project Instagram: @greatnamibianfoodproject

These are white and brown beech mushrooms. Beech mushrooms grow on beech trees and are commonly used in Japanese ramen dishes. Here they were photographed on black plexiglass to get clear reflections.

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SOLITAIRE

welcome respite for travellers on the road between Walvis Bay and Sossusvlei, Solitaire is a remote settlement dating from the 1940s. It’s gained legendary status for the variety of services provided by this tiny outpost, set in a never-ending desert.

Apart from offering a place to buy essential goods and refuel vehicles, Solitaire was made famous by Percy “Moose” McGregor for the delicious apple pie that he started serving to visitors, long before Namibia was on the world’s tourism radar. It again gained international prominence thanks to the novel Solitaire, published in 2001 and written by Dutch filmmaker and author, Ton van der Lee, inspired by his years in Namibia. Located at the edge of the Namib-Naukluft National Park, Solitaire lies at the centre of the 20,000-hectare Solitaire Land Trust (SLT). This scenic landscape is dedicated to habitat restoration and preservation and boasts abundant free-roaming wildlife including gemsbok, mountain zebra, wildebeest, springbok, aardwolf, bat-eared fox, leopard and cheetah. SLT supports the Greater Sossus-Namib Landscape initiative and research involving Hartmann’s zebra and carnivore populations. COVID-19 has affected all sectors of Namibia and Solitaire is no different. The great news is that Solitaire’s doors are open as always apart from a few forced changes for the time being. The service station is still fully operational and ready to fill fuel-tanks with a smile. McGregor’s Bakery, made famous by Moose, still produces its tasty freshly baked goods daily (including his renowned apple pie) and other takeaways but is currently operating out of the Tsondab General Dealer (open daily from 7 am to 6 pm). Café Van Der Lee, named after the Dutch author, is not fully open, but is available for delicious pre-arranged meals on the outdoor patio, or for specifically booked gatherings. Solitaire Lodge is the perfect stay-over for exploring Namibia’s south. The 25 spacious, air-conditioned rooms wrap around a courtyard pool and charming desert garden. Lounging around the pool under the shaded thatch lapas is the perfect way to spend a lazy day. For the more adventurous, Solitaire offers sundowner drives in classic Land Cruisers. Hiking paths and fatbikes allow for guests to explore the SLT intimately and at one’s own pace and leisure. For an otherworldly experience, a hot-air balloon ride gives the ultimate views across the wide grasslands and towering dunes. Please note that Solitaire Desert Farm is currently closed for renovations. However, Solitaire Lodge and the campsite, with its beautiful views over the Namib plains, is open.

For any inquiries or to pre-arrange for meals during your visit, please call +264 63 293 621 or visit www.solitairenamibia.com. 45

FOR THE LOVE OF PESTO

orld trends show that consumers are moving away from massproduced goods, whether it is food, clothing, beauty products or alcoholic beverages. They are rejecting consumerism and materialism and instead give preference to simpler experiences as well as buying locally produced food. Emphasis is placed on making positive decisions when buying – decisions that are not only environmentally conscious but also focus on personal well-being. Wonderveld was born out of these same principles. Green sauces that exude nature, a passion for real, healthy home-made food. Ingredients that are uncomplicated on their own but combine into magical aromas and flavours when brought together. “Pesto has become my life because I am crazy about basil, nuts, cheese and olive oil,” says Marcii Magson who started Wonderveld. At first she only made basil pesto, but in a little more than a year she has added salsa verde, chimichurri and pesto rosso plus a chilli, rocket and coriander pesto to her range. With a background in design and art, Marcii first realised that people loved her pesto when she made it for her art exhibitions.

she used as much as eight kilograms of basil a week. “My poor husband, the kitchen looked like a production floor and the fridge was packed with produce. We have since moved to a new house where we have a separate flat with its own kitchen and now I also produce the sauces. It has become so busy, however, that I employ an assistant to help me three days a week.” Marcii attributes the secret to her tasty sauces to the small output, and she refuses to start mass production. She makes no more than 5 litres of any sauce at a time and since she makes them entirely by hand, every batch is a handcrafted masterpiece. “Crushing the garlic, lemon peel and salt with a mortar and pestle is a lengthy process, but there is no substitute to the activation of flavours and fragrant aromas that this method unleashes.”

Green sauces that exude nature, a passion for real, healthy home-made food.

It’s hard to start a new business but sometimes things just fall into place very easily and unexpectedly, Marcii says. In December Windhoek virtually becomes a ghost town because the cool climate of the coast is more alluring than the boiling temperatures of the Khomas Region. With the prospect of having to stay in the capital due to her husband’s work commitments, she decided to keep herself busy with some research on sourcing fresh produce and the viability of producing pesto. To her surprise it was a lot easier than she thought. She found that everything she needed was available from local farmers and there was even a local supplier of jars. That sorted, Wonderveld was born. In the beginning Marcii made the pesto in her kitchen, but it soon started to fly off the shelves. So much so that sometimes

After expanding her range by making chilli, rocket and coriander pestos, she reached a point last year when basil was out of season while the demand for her sauces was evergrowing. Not someone to be slowed down by a speed bump, Marcii started to make salsa verde that is mint based, because mint is in season when basil is not. Salsa verde is a bright and punchy green sauce that is a bit of an all rounder but goes particularly well with chicken or fish. With parsley, which is available all year round, she makes a mouth-watering chimichurri, used as a marinade or rub that perfectly complements red meat.

Why pesto? “I have a savoury tooth and to me a good pesto is like eating expensive chocolate, except you don’t have to feel bad about eating it. It is a treat that goes well with so many different dishes or just on its own with cheese. And it is a healthy green product full of vitamins and minerals.” Find Marcii’s Wonderveld products in Windhoek at the Windhoek Bio-Markt on Saturdays, Maerua Superspar, Bonzai Bistro and Olivia’s or in Swakopmund at Farmganic. Follow Wonderveld on Facebook or on Instagram (@wonderveld). Le Roux van Schalkwyk

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Time to

Dine out

Be amidst the soft gurgle of a trickling fountain and the hum of voices and a mood of wonder. Indulge yourself at The Stellenbosch Wine Bar and Bistro, The Stellenbosch Tasting Room or The Stellenbosch Market, the capitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most gratifying dining experiences.

With a Bistro-style menu showcasing the fresh and diverse flavours of Namibia, The Stellenbosch Wine Bar places emphasis on Prime Namibian meat cuts, flame grilled to perfection, and complimented by the best wines from our diverse wine list. Tel: 061 309 141

At The Stellenbosch Tasting Room, the menu celebrates the lighter side of life, with focus placed on all-time favourites such as pizza and burgers, enjoyed with a wide selection of the best South African wines. Tel: 061 258 746

The Stellenbosch Market, home to a quaint cafĂŠ that serves everything from the best coffee, to freshly baked pastries and light lunches. It is also the site of the best wine market in town. Tel: 083 330 0008

www.thestellenboschwinebar.com | www.tastingroom.com.na

Maja Carstens Photography

10 minutes with local taste makers

Maja Carstens Photography

Corné Le Roux

altzing into the office on the morning of my interview with CRRS (Corra to his “homies”), I download SoundCloud in a frenzy. Although I (vaguely) remember a set he played in a local nightclub, I haven’t actually listened to any of his original music. And at 8:30 on a Friday I find myself testing the springs of an office chair. His sounds are electric and contagious and I cannot sit still. We meet at The Stellenbosch Market. Although I’m tempted to convince him that the Wine Bar is better suited for a Friday interview, the sight of his school uniform reminds me that he’s merely 17 years old, so we opt for cheesecake – a happy compromise. Despite being pulled into an industry that has the potential of propelling you into a mirage of mischief and misbehaviour, Corné Le Roux is an absolute sweetheart. But don’t let his grey knee-high socks fool you: he means business.

When he’s not locked up in his room mixing the next anthem, you’ll find him in the pool training for the Namibian National Team. Add “disciplined swimmer” to his repertoire. But he didn’t butterfly into beat-mixing. His first tracks were mixed on his dad’s smartphone after being inspired by Skrillex – the thought of which now makes him cringe. Fast forward a couple of years and the boy-genius has state of the art equipment, which he paid for himself and is snazzy enough to impress his musical idol, Martin Garrix.

His identity includes a collaborative spirit that is on key with the international industry.

There has been plenty of opportunity for him to up his set count – which he religiously keeps track of. He’s turned down many gigs simply because he felt he wasn’t being respected as an artist. That, and also the fact that he occasionally has to prioritise schoolwork. I mean, when I was 17 years old I jumped at any given opportunity to make extra money. Which proves that CRRS – finding himself in a space that has yet to take him seriously – has a level of self-respect that radiates and demands attention.

It is this same self-respect that has led him to politely decline some record labels in fear of his artistic identity being compromised. His identity includes a collaborative spirit that is on key with the international industry.

His favourite set to date is one that was never supposed to happen: Without a penny in his pocket, Corné hit up one of his many connections to get him VIP access to a festival after-party. Another connection then pulled him up to the DJ box and demanded CRRS take over. With a speed well beyond his usual, Corné propped in the flash drive he just happened to have in his pocket and improvised on the set that would book him a hundred gigs to come. He’s been winging it ever since – testament to the fact that this kid just has a natural knack for turning tables to the crowd’s content.

He’s bound for San Francisco – post-matric, that is – to learn from the best. One thing that strikes me in particular is the fact that unlike his peers, he plans on returning to his homeland to bring back knowledge and expertise and build an industry that has a plethora of potential. Although he doesn’t eat the crust of his cheesecake, a questionable characteristic, he’s got a flash drive in the pocket of his school trousers and an innate feeling for crowd-pleasing. There really is no stopping CRRS. Charene Labuschagne

Mahangu

ahangu or pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), the most widely grown millet variety globally, is one of Namibiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major staple foods. Millet is preferred due to its short growing season, high productivity and tolerance to dry, high-temperature conditions.

Millet is a collective name for a variety of different small-seed grains from several diďŹ&#x20AC;erent genera of the grass family Poaceae. Four varieties make up the bulk of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s production: pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), foxtail millet (Setaria italica), proso millet (Panicum miliaceum) and finger millet (Eleusine coracana). The iconic East African teff crop, (Eragrostis tef) is a close relative. Millet was domesticated in the western part of the Sahel region of West Africa some 3,500 years ago. Millet is eaten the world over. It is thus part of very different national cuisines such as Russian, German, Namibian and Chinese. Before rice became the dominant crop in Asia, millet was the staple. Mahangu is mostly milled into fine flour or coarser meal before being boiled with water and eaten as a porridge. Because it contains no gluten, it is less popular for bread making and baking in general. Traditionally, mahangu bread was flatbread that contained no leavening agent and thus did not require elaborate proofing. In India, for example, mahangu is mixed with sorghum to make the local rotis flatbread, and here in Namibia mahangu is used to make omungome or oshikwiila, which is a type of unleavened flatbread or pancake made from a batter (as opposed to a dough) that consists mainly of mahangu, salt, sugar and water. Fat or oil is added to keep the bread moist. This is somewhat similar to the iconic injera flatbread of Ethiopia except that the omungome batter is not left to ferment before baking the bread. In more modern applications of bread making, mahangu flour is mixed with gluten-containing flour such as wheat flour to add more flavour to conventional bread. Such bread generally benefits from the addition of gluten to help with the proofing and texture of the bread. Without it, the bread would be heavy and dense. Many Namibians also love oshikundu, a non-alcoholic gruel made from water, mahangu and malted sorghum. Oshikundu is brewed by adding boiling water to the mahangu meal and letting it cool to room temperature before adding the malted sorghum. The malted sorghum not only adds flavour but also contains enzymes that are crucial for the fermentation process. Mahangu bran provides colour and the wort is then diluted with cold water. Leftover oshikundu from a previous batch is added to kickstart fermentation (a process known as backslopping) and the mixture is covered and left to ferment for up to eight hours after which it is ready to drink. Although mahangu meal is available in the retail market, the true culinary potential of mahangu as a key ingredient in Namibian cuisine is underexplored. This is evident from the fact that it is ignored by formal local restaurants and hotels. Christie Keulder

Photo credits: BeaniiBoy Photography

Welcome to the

House of Cyndie

ynthia Likando, or Cyndie as she’s affectionately known, is one of those fashion designers who you’ll always notice in a crowd. Her striking beauty and style put her in a league of her own among the designers who can dress you beautifully but are equally capable of stealing the show with their ability to style themselves to perfection. She describes her personal style as “fearless and flexible”, and that is exactly what it is. Her love for diversity and expression in fashion helps her create garments for different personalities and for any occasion.

Breaking onto the fashion scene with her student collection in 2013, Cynthia never imagined that her brand would make it to where it is today. House of Cyndie has grown tremendously over the years and her collections are proof of that. “Not that I doubted myself, but the fashion industry is not an easy industry to crack through and leave your mark,” she says with a touch of humility.

Fierce … Cynthia Likando has had an incredible journey with her brand House of Cyndie and she has dreams of taking it to even greater heights. 55

Muse â&#x20AC;¦ Jay-Aeron dressed in House of Cyndie 56

While she is proud of her achievements so far, it comes as a surprise that Cynthia nevertheless considers herself an emerging fashion designer who is “still learning and still has a long way ahead.” She has been part of Windhoek Fashion Week over the years and has worked with big music stars like Lioness, Lady May and DJ Siya. Her career highlights also include showcasing her work alongside African fashion design heavyweights like David Thlale and House of Saint Luke from South Africa, as well as Namibian brands like House of Poulton and Honey Cassie Designs. And while she has worked with many famous personalities, Cyndie’s favourite clients are those who are open-minded like her, clients who are not afraid to break some rules. “Jay-Aeron is among my favourite clients because he always poses an exciting challenge to work with. He adds the EXTRA to Extravagant, always ready to stand out and never afraid to try something new and step outside the box,” she says.

something I admire about her. To be unpredictable with your style is what I find intriguing.” Cyndie loves making people look beautiful through design and wants to teach the skill to others as well. House of Cyndie Fashions officially added another segment to its service range in February by introducing Masterclasses in Fashion Design for beginners. The vision, Cyndie says, is to continue this project and eventually transform House of Cyndie Fashions into the first private fashion school in Namibia.

Namibia has taught us that if fans believe in you they are willing to push you and they have pushed us,

Clearly a beloved muse, Jay-Aeron, who is a celebrated makeup artist and trendsetter, is one of the biggest supporters of the House of Cyndie brand. As Cyndie puts it, “his appreciation for me spending long hours on his garments is always so motivating. It feels great to be appreciated for your work by your clients.” While she has already worked with some of the biggest celebs in the country, she has her eyes on Nangula Nanyemba as a future client.

“She has this captivating sense of style that I am drawn to. Her ability to switch from an elegant, sophisticated look to a laid-back yet chic look within a matter of minutes is

“Currently the masterclasses are on hold due to the safety measures we have to apply during the COVID-19 pandemic. As much as the pandemic has been devastating for small businesses, it has also given us the opportunity to look into alternative ways to continue providing our services,” says Cyndie and adds that plans are underway to implement an online learning system to continue the lessons. With the way in which the passionate designer has developed her business and personal brand over the years, there is no doubt that her dream will come true. With her help, young designers will be following in her footsteps some years from now.

For more information about the House of Cyndie Masterclasses, or to book a consultation, follow @houseofcyndiefashions on Instagram and @houseofcyndie on Facebook. Rukee Kaakunga is a Windhoek-based Concept Engineer, PR Consultant, and fashion writer. Contact her via email: rukeekaakunga@gmail.com and follow her on Twitter @rukeeveni.

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he COVID-19 pandemic has been the single most distressing world event when it comes to the travel industry. Never before has travel bans been imposed in most world nations at once, nor has there ever been so many grounded airplanes. The effect has been severe on aviation, hospitality as well as on travel agencies.

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Locked down in Paradise If tourists are to return in July and August, it will be our lockdown blessings that will make them feel safe enough to discover Namibia’s amazing emptiness, that feeling that the centre of the universe is right here where we have been lucky enough to get stuck. We call it Luckdown Paradise.

very morning, sipping cappuccino in our temporary home in Swakopmund, we count our Lockdown Blessings. Number One: we are in Namibia. Number Two: we are still in Namibia.

Piero hangs up, shakes his head, and announces that Italy has shut down due to the coronavirus. We will not be leaving Namibia. Uh, what? It takes some time to process this thought.

Today marks four-and-a-half months since we touched down in Windhoek for an eight-week stay.

We drive to Windhoek for a farewell dinner with friends, which now is not going to be a goodbye. Weird, still processing. Other friends call us and offer a holiday apartment in Swakopmund. This is Lockdown Blessing Number Three: the wonderful hospitality of Namibians, both our dear friends and strangers.

Despite the years we lived here, and the dozen times we’ve been back, Namibia always seems new, even thirty years after independence. Yet, it is ever the extraordinary same. If we had been offered the chance to lock down anywhere in the world, we still would have chosen this place. There’s only one letter’s difference between lock and luck, you know. Stage Zero (pre-virus) was the perfect vacation. Friends, farms, Etosha, Sandwich Harbour, animal sightings, grand late summer weather. Oysters, game steaks, more oysters, wine. With regret for the end of a perfect vacation we pack the car to leave for the airport. As we stand in the driveway saying goodbye to our friends in Swakop, the phone rings.

Stage One (isolate at home) could have been far worse. Instead, we feel safe here. We are careful, washing our hands, stocking up on hand sanitiser gel. We walk to the grocery store or stroll on the beach, stop at the yellow school bus for Africa’s absolute best fried calamari and chips. We amble past inviting beachfront houses and apartments, closed hotels, shuttered restaurants. Masked joggers wave as they run past, keeping the prescribed distance. The park remains lush, with flocks of fat guinea

hens and their babies, and plump cats looking for handouts. The waves crashing against the jetty stir my soul. I can’t remember the day of the week. Can anybody? Who cares? Our masks begin to morph into a fashion collection. Stage Two begins with the opportunity to travel again within Namibia. The everalluring sirens – deserts, savannas and Cape Cross – call us. By now our flights have been cancelled four times and we have a new reservation for July 1, when international travel resumes. This is definitely Lockdown Blessing Number Four. We hear that Etosha seems like the old days, when few cars and no tour busses meandered the dusty roads. We eagerly set out from the coast to rediscover Namibia’s centre, where the silver grasses stretch to the mountains and the roads unroll into the far distance. No masks required at waterholes, just cameras. Mother Nature smiled and on this trip we encountered cheetahs, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, and a whole passel of antelopes.

with an entire population of just under that of the city of Rome. Three people per square kilometre is the optimum definition of social distancing.

Staying here, of course, reflects a health issue of primary importance to us and everyone else. To have a low number of coronavirus cases here is surely Lockdown Blessing Number Five and the authorities are to be commended for We eagerly their fortitude and ongoing hard work. If set out from tourists are to return in July and August, it is this that will make them feel safe enough the coast to to discover Namibia’s amazing emptiness, rediscover that feeling that the centre of the universe is Namibia’s centre, right here where we have been lucky enough to get stuck. We call it Luckdown Paradise.

where the silver grasses stretch to the mountains and the roads unroll into the far distance.

On the drive back to Swakopmund we marvel at the natural landscape for what is probably the ten-millionth time. The light. The infinite view. The shadows in the rocks. The wide open sky. We revel at being in a huge country

Note: Piero arrived the day before independence in 1990 and spent six years as Ambassador of Italy; Sharri lived in Namibia from 1992-96 and has written for Travel News Namibia, the Flamingo, Luxury Travel Advisor, and Travel Africa. Her book, Culture Smart: Namibia, is part of a series published by Penguin (New York) and Kuperard (London). The couple now lives in Umbria, Italy, when they aren’t locked down in Namibia. The photo was taken by Joseph at Frans Indongo Lodge. Sharri Whiting De Masi

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Moulding minds in aviation training

ince the beginning of flying a lot of emphasis has been placed on the physical handling of an airplane. Much more recently there has been a shift in focus away from the physical aspect of flight and more towards the mental aspect.

Life is full of decisions. Some are so routine that we are hardly aware of making them. Others take more effort because they have significant and lasting implications. Flying an aircraft also involves countless decisions. Many appear to have to do with routing, but even small decisions made in the cockpit can have a large impact on flight safety. Good aeronautical decision-making is therefore an essential pilot skill. Decision-making in the training environment is quite difficult due to the training structure. For most of his / her flight training the student will look to the instructor to make all the difficult and important decisions. This is an issue we have identified with some students: when students eventually fly by themselves they may not have the adequate skills to be able to make their own decisions – due to the current training structure.

From day one our students are introduced to the fact that they need to be able to make their own decisions in the aircraft, and that they cannot rely solely on the instructors. Previously this was not the case right from the beginning of flight training. At Signa we see safety as a Number One priority and we consider not only physical training but also the mental part of flying as crucial. Human factors training, CRM and SEPT training are offered by Signa Aviation Services as well as our multiple enrichment courses. As stated above, we emphasise the “mental airplane” from the start of our Ab-initio training so that we not only train pilots who are proficient in flying, but also pilots with a strong mind. The goal being, that when our students leave as fully qualified pilots they are equipped with all the necessary tools and experience to fly safely. Inquire about your training today. The sky is the limit. Francois Hugo Website: www.signaaviation.com Office: +264 83 339 0094 Email: info@signaaviation.com

At Signa Aviation we bear this in mind. From the beginning of our candidates’ training we teach them critical thinking and how to address certain problems, be it in the air or on the ground, solving them in the safest way possible.

NamiGreen:

Tackling E-Waste by the Tonne

s is common in many countries across the African continent – supported by an unfortunate track record of only 0.5%* for e-waste recycling – Namibia, for years, had no regulations or facilities in place for the safe disposal of broken and unwanted electronic goods.

What was left of our old computers, laptops, smartphones and coffee machines was tossed out with the usual household trash, from where it was most likely picked up by desperate opportunists looking to salvage metal scraps and material, before it eventually ended up in a landfill with other discarded items. Here, it spent the remainder of its time being slowly worn down by the elements, releasing toxic chemicals (think lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, flame retardants, PCBs and many more), poisoning the environment, creating health hazards and destroying livelihoods.

It is as much the duty of the manufacturers to take responsibility for their products’ end-of-life as it is our responsibility as consumers to be more conscious of the products we buy.

Fortunately, that kind of reckless disposal is now a thing of the past. In 2018, NamiGreen entered the scene with the goal to change the fate of electronic waste in Namibia. Although not an entirely new concept for the country – the first e-waste management centre opened in 2013 – NamiGreen as a company came into being as the result of a merger with e-waste initiator Transworld Cargo and Danish entrepreneur Per Hansen, trading as Pehansen.

Hailing from a country that proudly recycles 100% of all its waste, Hansen saw an opportunity to pioneer positive behavioural change in Namibia and presented a plan “to implement the solutions and learn from the mistakes made in Europe over generations, so that Africa does not end up as a waste dump”. The company’s official mission “to prevent electronic waste … ending up in landfills and polluting the environment” was rightly taken to heart, and in its first year NamiGreen collected and processed 50 000 kg of electronic scrap. In 2019 the company handled just over a tonne and it expects to double the volume again this year. Keep in mind that these figures represent only the Namibian consumer – as a matter of fact, Namibia is seen as the seventh-highest e-waste generating country in Africa – it comes as no surprise that electronic scraps are the fastest growing refuse stream in the world*. Hansen believes that the increased public awareness in Namibia for recycling electronics has been a combined effort, noting that “the work of organisations like Recycle Namibia Forum and increased governmental focus allowed us to recycle even more e-waste than before.”

At the company’s recycling facility in Windhoek, electronics are sorted into various categories before they get transferred to designated facilities – all local – which operate in accordance with ISO-certified guidelines. Hansen, the CEO, assures that “everything is recycled in Namibia and nothing

Namibia’s Green Economy

goes to landfills – and nothing will pollute the precious Namibian environment.” If a certain part can’t be recycled, it is stored until such time that technology becomes available to take care of its safe disposal. With the help of management partner Transworld Cargo and Multichoice Zambia, Namigreen moved 15 tonnes of discarded electronics from the Zambian capital Lusaka to its recycling facility in Windhoek in March this year. Following a lengthy process, in which numerous stakeholders across both borders had to be engaged – including the Ministry of Environment and Tourism in Namibia and the Zambia Environmental Management Agency – and after finalising paperwork to comply with international regulations, Zambia was able to get rid of some of its consumer waste in a more sustainable matter, in what is sure to be the beginning of a growing partnership. While NamiGreen is doing an admirable job in keeping our landfills free from electronic waste, it’s not only their responsibility to protect our planet. It is as much the duty of the manufacturers to take responsibility for their products’ end-of-life as it is our responsibility as consumers to be more conscious of the products we buy. Find your closest e-waste recycling drop-off site at www.namigreen.com/dropoff, or contact NamiGreen to collect your waste (if you’re a company) at info@namigreen. com, and learn more about the enterprise at www.namigreen.com. *Data obtained from United Nations reports, 2014-2016

E-WASTE THEY RECYCLE: Computers and tablets Cellphones. phones, radios Ink & Printers/Fax Servers, mainframes TV/Screens, Radio & Video Appliances Cables & PC-accessories All other electronics & electricals

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1182/07/05/2020

Presenting Our Icon of Brilliance At Debmarine Namibia, our position as a leader in marine diamond recovery requires us to innovate, grow and change with the times. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why our new logo represents a renewed vision of shared progress for all. An icon that amplifies our commitment to doing more, moving ahead and evolving into a beacon of mining excellence in Namibia and the world. Most of all, our new logo is the symbol of our promise to make life brilliant. Every day.

FlyWestair June 2020

Articles inside

Namibia's Green Economy

SIGNA AVIATION SERVICES

Locked down in Paradise

Advertorial: TRIP TRAVEL

Fashion Fierce

Mahangu

10 minutes with local taste makers

FOR THE LOVE OF PESTO

SOLITAIRE

Photography Feature: Christie Keulder

LOOKING GLOBAL

Celebrating 30 Years of Independence

THE RICH LEGACY OF THE FINNISH MISSION SOCIETY IN OWAMBO

ROYAL HUSTLERS

Master Your Destiny

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU IN THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES?

Navigating these trying times

THE TRIBE

With the Good Comes the Great

art-ist

THE ART OF JOURNALING