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October 2021
discover katima | lifestyle |
conservation | economic pulse | looking global | explore the kavango & zambezi
GOOD TODAY. BETTER TOMORROW.
from the publisher
Stories in FlyWestair Magazine.
FIRE
FlyWestair www.flywestair.com
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June 2021
discover etosha | lifestyle |
conservation | royal hustlers | economic pulse | looking global | explore the northeast
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This is us. extraordinary Namibian stories. publishing. content generation. content marketing. print. film. digital.
CONTENT IS
are compiled by Venture Media’s content team, in partnership with Tribefire Studios and freelance contributors.
and also
by Tribefire Studios
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Table of
contents
CONTENT IS FIRE
01
And collaboration is the future. FlyWestair Magazine is a compilation of Namibian stories sourced by Venture Media that entertain and surprise with interesting topics, introducing you to a new generation of trendsetters and Namibian influencers.
WELCOME ON BOARD
09
Cape Town is back!
NAMIBIA AWAITS YOU
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Experience the best Namibia has to offer with Ondili.
10
FASHION FIERCE
12
Namibia’s clothing heritage on display.
LIFE ON A TABLE
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A quick and easy spinach salad.
RE-ENTERING SOCIETY WITH SOCIAL AWKWARDNESS
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Kirsty Watermeyer looks at changing social routines caused by the pandemic.
ART-IST
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Bank Windhoek Literary Awards celebrating the country’s promising artists.
THE TRIBE 14
21
Shishani tells us about her latest projects.
ZINA
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A lifestyle guide for women.
GOBABEB DESERT RESEARCH STATION
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Using drone sensing to monitor photosynthesis in Namibia’s distinct lichen communities
DISCOVERING DAMARALAND
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Brandberg, Twyfefontein and so much more.
RMB RIDE FOR RHINOS 2021
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Raising awareness for the black rhino conservation.
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NEW IN THE CITY The latest from the capital.
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15 MIN SWEAT SET WITH ENA
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Don’t be motivated, be disciplined.
VIRUSES - LIVING OR NON-LIVING?
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A new look at an old debate.
ECONOMIC PULSE
40
Looking at Namibia’s trade balance.
KÖNIGSTEIN CAPITAL
43
A trusted name in Namibia’s financial services industry.
MONEY LESSONS FOR THE MODERN WOMAN
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Amanda Dambuzza shares some of her wisdom.
ART AS COINCIDENTAL ABSTRACTION
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Namibian artist, Francois de Necker’s latest work.
ROYAL HUSTLERS
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Samanthé Heyns is a marketer with a deep interest in inspirational storytelling.
BUILDING BIODIVERSITY THROUGH SOIL REJUVENATION
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Life after bush encroachment.
5 THINGS TO DO IN KATIMA
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Exploring in and around the vibey capital of the northeast.
PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURE
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Showcasing the beauty of Johan Nieuwoudt’s work.
MAKING STRIDES IN RENEWABLE ENERGY
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Harnessing nature could position Namibia as a net exporter of energy.
LOOKING GLOBAL
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Daniela Steenkamp explores micro plastics.
DID YOU KNOW?
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Fun facts, important dates and Suduko.
LOVE NAMIBIA
Showcasing the beauty of our country.
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It’s about luxurious escapes KATIMA MULILO RUNDU
FlyWestair, in partnership with Gondwana Collection, is delighted to offer you two exclusive Fly-In Packages. • Okavango Vista from N$7,225 • Zambezi Dream from N$8,275 To book your ticket to luxury, contact info@gondwana-collection.com or call +264 (0)61 427 200. Ts & Cs apply.
It’s about time.
FlyWestair
NEED TO KNOWS. with www.flywestair.com
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Ondangwa - Toivo ya Toivo
Eros Airport
Cape Town
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Schedule as per date of going to print. Please check the FlyWestair website to stay updated on flight destinations, routes and schedules.
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+263 83 339 0011 www.flywestair.com 21/05/2021 12:37 PM
The World Awaits with
FlyWestair
T
his October, as spring is in full swing in the beautiful land of the brave and endless horizons, we enthusiastically look toward our southern neighbours… FlyWestair is excited to announce the relaunch of our route between Hosea Kutako and Cape Town International. This route, which will operate every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday between the destinations, will connect Namibians and South Africans to the world beyond. Just as exciting as the reintroduction of the route, is the relaunch special. Customers can book a return ticket for only N$ 3,500 from now until the end of October 2021. Ticket dates are valid from 1 October 2021 until 1 April 2022. Whether you’re traveling for business, getting your kids home from or back to university or planning a summer holiday, the world awaits with FlyWestair! It’s about time. On 24 and 25 August 2021, we celebrated FlyWestair’s inaugural flights from Eros in Windhoek to Rundu and Katima Mulilo. An exciting affair, the events were attended by key stakeholders, including the respective town mayors, and featured in-air performances from the popular music duo The Ell’s. Speaking at the events, FlyWestair CEO Henri van Schalkwyk said: “We are in the business of connecting people, whether for business, visiting family or for holiday travel and today we are excited to connect the Kavango and Zambezi regions with these new routes.” The introduction of two new routes that reconnect Namibia with the northeastern regions of Kavango and Zambezi is timeous indeed. Speaking at Mpacha Airport during the launch, Mayor of Katima Mulilo, Mr. Lister Shamalaza, said that the new route could not come at a better time for the recovery of the current economic situation as well as making the Zambezi Region easily accessible to tourists. We’re happy to now be able to connect Namibia and beyond to the wet and wild wonderland of the Kavango and Zambezi regions.
You can discover the wonders of these regions by booking one of our exclusive fly-in packages in partnership with Gondwana Collection Namibia. See more info on page 4. It’s about connecting with our customers. FlyWestair’s call centre, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, ensures the very best customer service. Our call centre can be reached at +264 83 339 0011. We know that people are the most important element of our business, both our team and our customers, and we want to focus as much energy as possible on improving your customer experience. We will continue to search for new ways to enhance your journey with us. We are happy to announce that customers can now also pay for their flight tickets or COVID tests via the PayToday app, further improving your customer experience. Keep in mind that we also offer COVID testing to the general public, conveniently done at our Eros Airport offices between 08h00 and 10h00 every Monday to Saturday. Safety is ALWAYS first The FlyWestair team would like to remind you that your safety is our very top priority. We have done everything possible to ensure that the aircraft you boarded today is clean and safe. We would also like to remind you that the continued safety of all passengers on board is as much your responsibility as ours. Please keep your mask on for the duration of your flight, only lowering it when you eat or drink. Staying safe and following strict health guidelines during this time is our collective responsibility as a nation. We hope you enjoy your flight with us today. Here’s to hope for a brighter tomorrow, exciting new horizons and staying connected while nevertheless staying safe. Enjoy your flight. The FlyWestair Team
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Ondili Lodges
Namibia awaits you
10
Kalahari With its rolling red dunes and scattered camel thorn trees, the Kalahari Desert is the younger of Namibia’s two deserts. It is regarded as the traditional homeland of the indigenous San people, the country’s oldest inhabitants, famous for their hunter-gatherer way of life. The best way to truly feel the intense nature experience that the Kalahari offers is to go on a guided overnight TransKalahari Walk. Feel the connection with the earth as you watch from atop a dune how antelope herds graze on the vast plains. After the day’s rewarding hike, enjoy a night by the campfire under the glittering stars at the cosy but luxurious dune camp. Experience the magic of the Kalahari with a stay at Kalahari Red Dunes Lodge or Teufelskrallen Tented Lodge. Teufelskrallen’s tented accommodation is located on the first western Kalahari dune and offers a panoramic view over the endless expanse of the dunes. Only 200 km from the capital, Windhoek, Kalahari Red Dunes Lodge is a quaint lodge with individually and lovingly designed guestrooms that convey a true sense of the space and beauty of the Kalahari Desert. Namib The Namib enchants visitors from all over. It is world-famous for the picturesque Deadvlei with its bleached clay pan, ancient fossilised camel thorn trees and massive orange dunes that surround it. The Namib Sand Sea, boasting several dunes higher than 300 metres, was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013. Become intimately acquainted with the Namib and its incredible fauna and flora by going on a sleep-out ride on the stunning, Ondili-owned private nature reserve adjacent to Namib-Naukluft National Park. Explore this incredibly scenic section of the Namib from the back of a horse. After the ride, a simple yet luxurious tented camp awaits – the ideal setting for a delightful night spent under a star-lit desert sky. Desert Homestead Lodge, famous for its horseback safaris, is the perfect starting point for tours into Sossusvlei and its surroundings. Experience the tranquillity and expanse of the desert landscape in utmost luxury and style at Desert Homestead Outpost. Erongo This landscape is characterised by the Erongo Mountains (peaking at 2000 metres), which are of volcanic origin, and rivers that carry water all year round – offering breathtaking panoramic views. Spectacular geological formations like the Boulder Forest as well as excellent birding and game watching opportunities make this area an excellent choice for nature lovers. Embrace the wonders of this area with an Erongo Nature Excursion. After a short drive, a guided hike leads guests to the most interesting landscape of the farm, characterised by spectacular rock formations and fascinating vegetation. Guests learn about the geological highlights of the Erongo, the semi-precious stones such as tourmaline and aquamarine that are mined there as well as the ancient San rock paintings found in the area.
Hohenstein Lodge is located at the foot of the highest peak of the Erongo mountains. Evenings there are famous for spectacular sunsets that bathe the mountain in a fantastic red glow. Damaraland Situated in the northwest of Namibia, Damaraland is known for its spectacular landscapes. The area offers numerous places worth visiting, from viewing desert-adapted wildlife to learning more about the past, the present and the ancient cultural heritage of this part of the country. Visit Twyfelfontein, the UNESCO World Heritage Site with over 2000 rock engravings and drawings. These graphic representations are thousands of years old and allow a glimpse into the lives of the people who inhabited this area centuries ago. Go on a game drive into the dry Huab River and search for the legendary desert-adapted elephants and other game. Guests will not only learn more about the amazing animals and plants of Damaraland but also about the remarkable geological features. Twyfelfontein Adventure Camp is nestled among the rounded boulders of a granite outcrop. Perfectly located only a ten-minute drive from Twyfelfontein, it is a stylish and extremely comfortable tented camp from where Damaraland can be explored. Etosha Etosha National Park is Namibia’s greatest wildlife sanctuary and the most visited destination besides Sossusvlei. The park is named after the massive 4 730 km² salt pan at its centre. Etosha Pan is one of the largest pans on earth, so large it can be seen from space. The park is a hotspot for a variety of game – anything from rhinos and elephants to lions and leopards. Take a guided drive into the park in an all-terrain vehicle with one of Ondili’s expert guides. Ondili’s guides have an intimate knowledge of the wildlife in Etosha and will provide the ultimate safari experience, getting close to elephants and rhinos, giraffes and lions, meerkats and flamingos. Sharing a 10 km border with Etosha National Park, Etosha Oberland Lodge combines luxury and style with the utmost privacy. Enjoy the exquisite dining experience, relax by the infinity pool or sip on a drink while spotting game from one of the many private seating spots.
Book now or find out more at ondili.com
11
Namibian Fashion
Maria Caley is one of the contemporary designers whose Vakwangali Fashion Collection is featured in the Virtual Museum of Namibian Fashion. 12
Vilho Nuumbala
Step into the Virtual Museum of
Couture by Kim is another featured fashion brand. Their Safari Line is a fusion of the traditional Aawambo odelela print with the fabric and colour elements of safari gear.
W
ith Namibia’s clothing heritage being as historically rich as it is, it is a sad fact that not much of it is documented at our heritage sites or any other public galleries across the country.
To help change that, the Museums Association of Namibia (MAN), in collaboration with industry partners, recently unveiled the first ever virtual museum of fashion. The aim is to reactivate knowledge about our rich cultural heritage and how it is celebrated through clothing and accessories, as well as to document our immaterial cultural heritage and provide a source of inspiration for artists and designers alike. Situated online at namibianfashion.com, the museum immortalises Namibia’s rich heritage with a showcase of prehistoric clothing and accessories right through to contemporary designs by various Namibian designers. A walk through history As soon as you enter the homepage, you are greeted by a brief history of Namibian fashion. This includes short writeups, video testimonies and visuals depicting the garments, accessories and body adornment of our people from yesteryear. All this can be found in the first few galleries which are host to images of artifacts and write-ups on beads and shells, hair and headdresses, leather and animal skin processing, metal accessories, plants, bones and rocks, tattoos and body scarification as well as textiles.
A short scroll down, you will be met with two additional galleries depicting Namibia’s fashion future, and how traditional garments continue to shape the identity of Namibians today. For anyone who is not from Namibia and would like to see what exactly our traditional garments look like today, the first gallery, aptly called the “People’s Gallery” is a must-see. Here, Namibians proudly show off their cultural heritage dressed in the finest outfits which represent their roots. The second gallery showcases collections of Namibian fashion designers whose work celebrate their cultural heritage while remaining relevant to current trends. Here you will find the likes of Couture by Kim, a local brand that fuses the popular print and colour palette of the Aawambo people’s traditional odelela print with the fabric and colour typical of safari gear. As a final offering on the museum’s site, visitors are treated to blog posts featuring Namibian fashion news and designer collection profiles. One of the best features about the Virtual Museum of Namibian Fashion is the user feedback option which allows visitors to submit their personal stories about any of the posts directly on Facebook or the MAN WhatsApp line. Visitors can also rate the content and subscribe to receive the latest news directly to their email. What the experts say For Maria Caley, a fashion designer, educator and contributor to the virtual museum, the museum is a tool for education, intervention, research, documentation and representation of
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our vibrant cultures. “It engages the past, the present and continuously builds into the future,” she says. Maria contributed to the museum as part of the fashion council that was involved in the process of building the site since 2019. She served as chairperson on the Museum of Namibian Fashion Working Committee alongside Kavenauarue Tjiworo, a documentalist based at the National Museum of Namibia, as well as Kevanhu Alfred Muifi, the curator of the Museum of Namibian Fashion. Speaking on the vision for the virtual museum, Ndapewoshali Ndahafa Ashipala from MAN noted: “MAN had two primary requirements for the website. The first was that it should be user-friendly and easy for the curator of the Museum of Namibian Fashion to update on a regular basis with new content. The second was that the site should be interactive so that visitors can post comments on specific images.”
The creation of the virtual museum was also made possible through collaborations between MAN and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Gerda Henkel Foundation, the Ethnological Museum (EM) of Berlin, the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, the University of Namibia (UNAM) as well as the National Museum of Namibia (NMN). To contribute any item, photograph or information to be featured as part of the Museum of Namibian Fashion collection, contact MAN on info@museums.com.na or by calling +264 61 302 230. Rukee Kaakunga is a Windhoek-based Communications Specialist, Blogger and Freelance Fashion Writer. Contact her via email: rukeekaakunga@gmail.com and follow her on Twitter @rukeeveni and on Instagram @rukeekaakunga.
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Foodies
SPINACH SALAD 2 x 300 g shredded spinach 250 g chopped bacon, fried crispy 1 x 200 g tin water chestnuts, drained and sliced 6 cloves of garlic, sliced and fried crispy 250 ml croutons (175 g) 2 eggs, hard boiled, quartered 100 g Feta cheese, broken into pieces Home-made vinaigrette (page 50) Roasted cocktail tomatoes (optional)
Hentie Burger
• Put the spinach on a salad platter. • Arrange the crispy bacon, sliced water chestnuts, crispy garlic, croutons, boiled eggs and the feta cheese on the shredded spinach. • Scatter some oven roasted cocktail tomatoes on top. • Serve with homemade vinaigrette
Discover more of Antoinette's delicious recipes in Life on a Table To order your copy contact Bonn Nortjé at Venture Publications: bonn@venture.com.na
16
Wellness
Re-entering society with
Social awkwardness
T
he seasons have changed, and with that people are eager to explore as well as to connect. However, despite wanting these things, so many people are feeling socially awkward after the pandemic that forced us all indoors and away from one another. We have been in our comfortable bubble, tucked away in an isolated cocoon for over a year. Now with restrictions lifting, many feel that the bubble is bursting. Getting back into a pre-pandemic social mode may feel not-so-normal because unwiring the pandemic-appropriate stress response in the brain may take some time.
our need for food and water. Without the support of social systems in ancient times, most individuals would fall prey to the elements, predators, etc. When we are denied our social needs, it can lead to consequences in terms of our mental, emotional and physical health. Through this collective experience of being isolated we all have had a reduction in our level of social contact due to the pandemic. On the upside, this means that many people are experiencing the exact same things as you right now. This makes our collective experience one of social awkwardness, something we can all relate to, and commiserate with as we are going through it together.
Researchers have found that in isolated population groups such as soldiers, astronauts or prisoners, social skills can atrophy just like muscles that are not used. This applies to a greater degree to people who felt socially awkward before the pandemic, for example people with social anxiety. However, now thanks to the pandemic, most people have become more socially awkward.
So as we prepare to re-enter society, what is the single most valuable piece of advice that can help us through the awkward stage? It’s compassion. Self-compassion and compassion towards others. With a little more kindness, towards ourselves and others, we are going to move through this phase and back into a more relaxed state of interaction.
The author of the book Thriving in Thin Air: Developing Resilience in Challenging Times, Dr. Leo Flanagan, says that “Your brain rewired itself to trigger anxiety whenever you come close to another human being. That makes it very difficult to switch back to greeting someone comfortably and cheerfully”. Plus, now we are up against changing safety recommendations and the rising threat of COVID-19 variants. This continuation of uncertainty, as Dr. Flanagan explains, puts us into a kind of limbo that continues to exhaust our brains when it comes to threatening versus at-ease perceptions of others. What’s more, all of these emotions drive loneliness, which is another emotion that has ballooned during the pandemic. The problem with this is that the lonelier you are, the more likely you are to be socially anxious. And loneliness drives feelings of being angry, tired, irritable and even sad. We need connection, we are social beings. We have a need for social contact because it helps us to survive, much like
Remember, too, that we probably are not going back anywhere. Some social routines may have changed permanently. This is especially true for routines or norms that have improved as a result of the pandemic. For example, some companies are choosing to retain a combination of online and in-person operations going forward, having seen the benefits to their bottom line. Whatever the re-entry is for you, be sure to show yourself a lot of compassion because you are dealing with a lot of unknowns. Interacting with people has a whole new layer of confusion because of social distancing protocols, so it is natural that there will be awkward moments. At least we are, for the most part, all in this together, and connected to our feelings of social awkwardness. Our social awkwardness is definitely not isolated. Kirsty Watermeyer
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art-ist
FICTION
Filemon Iiyambo
Frowin Becker
Dalene Kooper
Ndawedwa Denga Hanguwo
NONFICTION
Ndakolute Ndilula
Natasha Uys
POETRY
Ros Limbo
Pauline Buhle Ndhlovu
Alacia Armstrong
VISUAL ART
Namafu Amutse
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Katherine Hunter
Immanuel Natangwe Hafeni
Introducing the
BANK WINDHOEK DOEK LITERARY AWARDS SHORTLIST
T
he singular sound of soliciting kapana sellers, a suburban tragedy with a twist and the legend of Ouma Sofie’s gold are but a few of the scenes and stories amidst the inaugural Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards shortlist.
Uplifting perhaps the arts’ most unsung stars, the Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards will honour achievements in fiction, nonfiction, visual art and poetry. Selected from Doek! Literary Magazine’s literary archive by a panel of independent judges, the shortlisted writers and visual artists offer a promising glimpse into Namibia’s blossoming literary scene, an arena rich in untold stories and mined by writers from all walks of life. Shortlisted for their vivid visual art are Namafu Amutse, Katherine Hunter and Immanuel Natangwe Hafeni. The notable nonfiction nominees are Natasha Uys, Ndakolute Ndilula and Frowin Becker. Ros Limbo, Pauline Buhle Ndhlovu and Alacia Armstrong are the shortlist’s proud poets and this year’s finest in fiction are Dalene Kooper, Filemon Iiyambo and Ndawedwa Denga Hanghuwo. “The 2021 shortlisted writers, poets, and visual artists share some traits which are common to good storytellers: all of them have rich imaginations and the talent, determination and skill to capture their visions, worlds and narratives on paper,” says Doek! Literary Magazine co-founder and editorin-chief Rémy Ngamije. “The fiction crackles with suspense, wry humour and keen observation. The nonfiction is unflinching and honest. The poetry resonates with gentle power. And the visual art is bold and expressive,” Ngamije says. “Without exception, the shortlist presents a curation of some of Namibia’s most promising literary artists who have been published in Doek! Literary Magazine and their works will provide any Namibian reader with resonant themes ranging from migration and homecoming, the friction between history and heritage, confrontations with patriarchal systems and the celebration of the strengths of women, to radical visions of a youth in bloom and, more recently, isolation and reaching for hope during the COVID-19 pandemic.” Now in its second year of publication and noted in a story titled The New Magazines and Journals Shaping Africa’s Literary Scene in The New York Times, Doek! Literary Magazine is a relatively new kid on the literary block but is already making waves with its ambition, focus on community building and validation of Namibian writers.
As Doek! continues to be a stage for the DJs, researchers, students and yogis who are also striving local and continental writers, the Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards serve as an acknowledgement, a celebration, a spotlight and a lure. “Literary prizes offer visibility; they are a chance for literary communities to publicise their achievements to a broader public with the hope of garnering more readers and securing institutional support for the arts,” says Ngamije. “They also offer some sort of goal for other artists on their respective journeys of artistic creation. The hope, really, with these Awards is to draw attention to the stories, poems, essays, photographs and illustrations produced by Namibian writers, poets and visual artists who have featured in Doek!.” From tales about unanswered letters to a famous mother to poetry regarding the sweet emergence from lockdown, stories, poems, essays and visual art from this year’s Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards shortlist can be found at doeklitmag.com. Doek! Literary Magazine is open for submissions until 2 October. The inaugural Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards will take place in November and as news of these affirming and inspiring awards is spreading, the excitement is palpable. “The response by the shortlistees was nothing short of heartwarming – all of them were quite emotional to have their hard work recognised. Literary artists are just like other artists (such as musicians, actors, or dancers) – to be visible as a creator, and to be recognised for producing excellent work is reaffirming for artists in one of the most underserved artistic fields,” says Ngamije who concludes with a reflection on what he would like the world to know about the Namibian literary scene. “I would like the world to know that it is here. That it is alive,” he says. “That, although it might have enjoyed a small role in the continent’s literary tradition, Namibian writers, poets and visual artists will find their voices here at home, and then find their place in Africa and the world.” Martha Mukaiwa is a columnist and writer based in Windhoek, Namibia in between spirited sojourns around the world. Her narrative nonfiction, personal essays, travel writing and short stories have appeared in Travel Africa, Quartz, Fields & Stations, Holiday, The Africa Report, Truthdig, Matador Network, Africa is a Country, The Namibian & The Kalahari Review. Martha is an honorary writing fellow at the University of Iowa. Read more at marthamukaiwa.com.
19
IT’S TIME FOR THE PERFECT BEER
Not For Persons Under The Age Of 18. Enjoy Responsibly. 20
Chris Philippo
THE TRIBE
N
featuring Shishani
amibian singer/songwriter Shishani may be based in the Netherlands but her roots remain firmly placed in Namibia, her motherland. We caught up with her to hear about her latest projects, her determination to stay connected to Namibian stories and when we can expect her again in the Land of the Brave. Where are you finding yourself in the world right now? Right now I’m in Amsterdam. This has been my base for the past three to four years so it’s been a while since I’ve been home, and I miss it. What drives your passion for zooming into Namibian stories? Well, it’s always been a challenge to find a balance because I’m always like ‘guys, you don’t know anything about Namibia, why can’t I find anything in the libraries, why couldn’t I find any CDs in the music shops?’. So there was always this longing to find material from home and I really wanted to contribute towards creating that material. Five years ago I started the Namibian Tales project which was about diving into learning how to sing in Oshiwambo and learning the rhythms. For me, being connected to where I’m from, I always wanted to share that because in the Netherlands, if you’re a person of colour, people will always ask ‘but where are you from?’. Tell us about your all-women collaborations in the Netherlands... Looking back on the projects I’ve done in the past, I realised that I wanted to centre women more. I wanted to record music with an all-women band, I wanted to centre women of colour from all over the world. For me it’s really important to tell our stories and to show women excelling in music as an example to young girls. The voices of women have always been silenced so I wanted to find female artists, and I found all types of artists to create something special together.
Matter movement and all the other issues that have come to the fore, people started to see that they need music that speaks about these issues. As long as I’ve been making music I’ve been making socially-engaged music – even though it was never a hip thing. So all of a sudden the hotline started ringing and opportunities came pouring in. What can Namibians learn from the Dutch music industry? For me it’s all about support. We need financial support, we need venues and we need partners. In the Netherlands we have institutions that provide funding and spaces where people can develop their skills. Therefore I will say it’s all about finance and it’s really about understanding the value of art. All of us are depending on the arts to keep us mentally sane, yet we don’t want to pay artists and we don’t want to invest in the arts. It’s not just about charity when you support the arts, you’re keeping your communities healthy. Can we see you onstage anytime soon? I’m dropping a new single which I’m really excited about. There are also a couple of online events to look out for – and I’m really hoping to come home soon. To keep up with Shishani, follow her on Instagram @Shishani.music and on Twitter @ShishaniV. Watch The Tribe on One Africa TV (GOtv 90, DStv 284, DStv Now) every Friday at 18h30 with repeat shows on Saturdays at 17h30, and Mondays at 21h00. Alternatively, listen to The Tribe on 99FM every Friday at 19h00, and follow The Tribe on Instagram @thetribenamibia and on Facebook @TheTribeNamibia.
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Covid has hit us really hard, how have you survived in this time? For me it has been really interesting because I’ve had even more opportunities during this time. With the Black Lives
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Lifestyle Guide with
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Support the NEW locals
W
hen times get tough, people get entrepreneurial. New businesses are popping up all around Namibia – during Covid! ZINA is taking the extra step to support local and to find out what the idea is behind each of the businesses featured here. DEAR DAHLIA You are probably overwhelmed by all of the options to choose from when deciding what to wear for your next event or photoshoot! But don't worry, you are not alone. Dear Dahlia has seasoned professionals who curated a collection of breathtaking designer dresses to wear on the biggest days of your life, or to your next fancy occasion, so that you will have beautiful memories for years to come. Dear Dahlia Designs also has a continuously growing range of beautiful designer dresses that are available to rent for events or photos sessions.
FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT After nine months of showcasing its premium leather products at local markets on weekends, Namibia’s first Freedom of Movement store opened on the 1st of July 2021 in Grove Mall in Windhoek. Fuelled by the success at markets the local FOM distributors took a leap of faith and signed their first contract for the store. They had doubts and there were uncertainties – many people would discourage new businesses from taking risks in these unprecedented times. However, they wanted to bring something to fellow Namibians that could give them that sense of freedom back: Freedom to dream, explore and to create, which is what the brand is all about. The majority of the FOM store’s products are meticulously handcrafted in South Africa. The product offering includes a wide range of premium leather ‘companions’, with unique names and identities, for customers to connect with their companion and share their lifestyle and adventures. The store managers’ advice: ”We were certain about one thing – there really is no such thing as the ‘right time’ to do something new or change something, all we have is now. So put on your vellies and start that next adventure”.
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Lifestyle with Zina
THIS DRINK WILL IMPROVE YOUR DANCE MOVES! This is an easy recipe for the perfect spring passion fruit gin and tonic cocktail, mixed by Kimberley Krieger.
You’ll need: •
Ice
•
1 passion fruit
•
Mint
•
1 Mckane tonic water
•
1 Mckane ginger ale
•
5 cl gin
•
Lemon juice
•
Lemon slices
STEPS: 1.
2. 3. 4.
omnoms 5.
FASHION TIP
Headbands are back!
Line the rim of your glass with lemon juice and dip it into some sugar. Put 1/4 cup crushed ice as well as 1/2 passion fruit into your glass. Add a double or single shot of ginger ale and one or one half of tonic water. Add the juice of 1/2 lemon as well as some lemon slices. Garnish with fresh mint and edible flowers.
Headbands top the list of popular hair accessories. They can either make you feel totally put together or conjure up memories from primary school which you'd really rather forget. But you may be intrigued nevertheless because over the last few years, this classic hair accessory got a serious makeover.
zina_namibia | www.prostudio.cc/zina 24
Perfectly situated in the heart of Windhoek lies The Sky Cafe at Eros Airport. It’s the ultimate grab and go coffee shop accessible for all transiting domestic passengers. Sky Cafe is made up of a multi talented team who also provide VIP inflight catering, catering for business meetings and events to hosting product launches and year end functions in the Sky Lounge. Pop in. Say hi. Enjoy the warm smiles, delicious coffee and yummy snacks.
0811241575/0812914362 annagret@theskylounge.net jamie@thesklounge.net
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Our Car Hire welcomes you to
NAMIBIA
If you are looking for an exciting and unique way to experience the nature of this beautiful country you are at the right place! We have a wide range of 4x4 vehicles that are suitable for your self-drive tour through Namibia. With no set timetable you can work out the tour that suits your interests and experience the best parts of our country with one of our luxury 4x4s! Tel: +264 61 232871 | 24hr emergency no: 081 129 3355 Email: info@africa-on-wheels.com | Website: www.africa-on-wheels.com 26
GOBABEB DESERT RESEARCH STATION UNDERTAKES BIO-DIVERSITY RESEARCH
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amibia is one of the biggest and driest countries in sub-Saharan Africa. It is characterised by high climatic variability in the form of persistent droughts, unpredictable and variable rainfall patterns, fluctuation in temperatures and scarcity of water.
Some 100 kilometres southeast of the coastal town of Walvis Bay lies the Gobabeb Desert Research Station on the northern bank of the Kuiseb River. At Gobabeb, water is available from only three sources: fog, rain and the river. The station is situated on the ecotone between fog and rain, enhancing its unique capacity for desert research. It also supports a variety of weather stations and monitors to cover aspects of climate – ranging from standard Meteorology and atmospheric gases to fog and dust. In one of the latest studies, Ailly Nambwandja, a Student Associate, is using drone (remote) sensing to monitor photosynthesis in Namibia’s distinct lichen communities. Lichens are a complex life form that is a symbiotic partnership of two separate organisms, a fungus and an alga. Nambwandja’s research,titled Biodiversity Monitoring Using Drone Technology for Monitoring Lichen Responses to Fog, will provide a low-impact method for monitoring lichen flora and lead to better conservation strategies, identifying in particular where surface traffic (on foot or in vehicles) should be avoided. Nambwandja, a natural resources management student at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), used a DJI Phantom 4 Pro quadcopter, equipped with a Sequoia Multispectral Camera, to map and record the responses of lichens to fog inputs. This was to determine the efficacy of remote sensing tools to monitor vegetation and rehabilitation in areas sensitive to disturbance. As for collecting multispectral imagery with drones in the Namib Desert, she explained that the study provided opportunities to learn through trial and error. From July to September 2020, the team undertook 18 trips into the defined study areas for imagery collection at the BIOTA Gobabeb Observatory, Swartbank and the Utuseb Lichen Experimental Sites. It was planned to conduct all flights within three hours of solar noon (immediately before and after noon), or at most within six hours of solar noon. However, this also presented challenges for the team. Early in October, during one of the image acquisition missions at Swartbank, the quadcopter tilted over during take-off and one of its propellers snapped. The mini-USB connection to the Sequoia Sunshine Sensor mounted on top of the DJI Phantom Pro was dislocated in the process.
“As far as we could determine, the cost to replace these, using funds available from Gobabeb, is reasonable and competitive. We have therefore ordered a Sequoia Sunshine Sensor from DroneNerds in the USA in order to continue the project. For ordering replacement propellers, extra batteries and a DJI Phantom Drone we will use our Nedbank Namibia’s Go Green Funds, to make these payments as soon as possible,” the determined young conservationist said. Nedbank Namibia initiated the Go Green Fund in 2001 together with the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF). Over the past two decades Nedbank, in partnership with NNF, has supported more than 160 conservation projects across Namibia which focus on the protection and wise management of Namibian habitats and indigenous plant and animal species. The Gobabeb Research Station is a crucial part of building an understanding of climate and its drivers, but it is just one of the many projects that Nedbank supports. Already considered a pioneering initiative and Namibia’s corporate torchbearer for environmental protection, the Go Green Fund has disbursed funds amounting to millions of dollars to a host of deserving projects and initiatives. The Fund further promotes the sustainable use of natural resources, enhances the understanding of indigenous species and natural ecosystems, and it disseminates information on environmental issues among communities. “It is important to note that the mission planning should consider measurement requirements in conjunction with practical limitations, such as battery use and flight duration, since the accuracy and resolution of the data collected by the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are affected not only by the parameters of the flight mission itself but also by ground control points (GCPs), plate design, platform, sensor configurations, topography and meteorological conditions. What’s more, UAV survey requirements are obviously linked to the specific research question being addressed. Therefore, the data type and quality (resolution, precision, accuracy, repeat frequency, etc.) required for each variable being assessed should be identified in advance, to achieve sufficient detail for appropriate intra-survey and inter-survey”, Ailly Nambwandja says. “In summary, it is insufficient to simply load a flight plan, attach and calibrate a multispectral camera, and then execute a data collection mission. These findings were consistent with advice from literature, which recommends that, prior to conducting drone flights for data collection, a set of informal experiments should be conducted to find the optimal set of camera and flight parameters that would eliminate such artefacts from acquired imagery,” she added.
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This is Namibia
Discovering
Damaraland
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The highlight of this region is Twyfelfontein – Namibia’s first World Heritage Site – with its wealth of rock engravings. Other special attractions are the majestic Brandberg with its treasure trove of ancient San rock art and daunting backpacking challenges, the Petrified Forest, Burnt Mountain, Organ Pipes, the Spitzkoppe, and the Erongo Mountains. TWYFELFONTEIN AND SURROUNDINGS Namibia’s first World Heritage Site (status awarded in 2007), Twyfelfontein (meaning doubtful fountain), is a massive, open-air art gallery that is of great interest to international rock-art connoisseurs. The 2,000-plus rock engravings, estimated to be 6,000 years old, represent one of Africa’s largest and most noteworthy concentrations of rock art. Contemporary research suggests that the creators of the rock art were San medicine people or shamans who went into an altered state of consciousness and connected with the spiritual world when a trance was induced. This could be used for purposes such as rain-making and healing the sick. The engravings depicted the images they saw after returning to normal consciousness. About 50 km away is the Petrified Forest, where a cataclysmic event millions of years ago deposited giant tree trunks that subsequently turned to stone. Today the Namib’s living fossil plant, Welwitschia mirabilis, grows among these prostrate fossilised trunks. South of Twyfelfontein is the Burnt Mountain, a panorama of desolation with coloured rocks contrasting vividly against the grey-black surroundings. The Organ Pipes, a mass of vertical basalt columns in a ravine gouged out by a river, is another geological curiosity in the area. Southwest of Twyfelfontein is the Doros Crater, where fossil remains have been found among the rocks.
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FINGER ROCK
Dominating the landscape when travelling westwards en route to Khorixas, 95 km west of Outjo, is the Ugab Vingerklip (Finger Rock) situated amongst the rugged Ugab Terraces. About 35 metres high, this distinctive monolith was shaped by erosion spanning many millennia.
MESSUM CRATER
Fine specimens of the desert plant, Welwitschia mirabilis, can be seen at the Messum Crater southwest of the Brandberg. Between 132 and 135 million years old, Messum has a diameter of 18 km. Messum is regarded as a volcanic feature that forms part of the Goboboseb Mountains to the northeast. It dates from the Etendeka period and, according to geologists, was the source of many of the intrusive and quartz-like extrusive rocks found in the area today. The crater was named after Captain W Messum, who was an explorer of the coastal regions of Southern Africa, which he surveyed from the ocean between 1846 and 1848. While driving to the Messum area you should, however, not overlook the lichen fields. The western part of Messum lies in the Dorob National Park and you will need a permit, obtainable at the Henties Bay Tourism Association.
THE BRANDBERG
The imposing Brandberg massif is a challenge to hikers, especially its peak, Königstein, which at 2 573 metres is the
Willie Olivier
This is Namibia
Rock engraving at Twyfelfontein
To preserve the extremely rich rock painting heritage of the Brandberg, hikers planning to ascend the mountain must be accompanied by a guide provided by the National Heritage Council. The guides know the mountain intimately, including where to find water which can be a challenge for those unfamiliar with the Brandberg. Find more Namibian travel inspiration at www.thisisnamibia.com Follow @thisis_namibia on Facebook and Instagram for extraordinary Namibia travel stories.
Paul Van Schalkwyk
highest point in Namibia. The Brandberg is famous for the White Lady painting which can be seen on an overhang in Maack’s Shelter, named after the surveyor who first reported it in 1918. Maack’s Shelter lies in the Tsisab Gorge, a wild and beautiful ravine located amongst a vast jumble of rocks that are remnants of many ancient landslides. Although the figure of the White Lady, surrounded by paintings of numerous animals, has faded over the years, a pilgrimage to see it is well worth the effort. Walks to the shelter are conducted daily by National Heritage Council guides from 08h00 until 16h30 when the last walk departs. The round-trip takes around two-and-a half hours and is best done early in the morning.
White Lady of the Brandberg
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RMB RIDE FOR RHINOS 2021
T
he arrival of riders for the 2021 RMB Ride for Rhinos coincided with World Rhino Day on Wednesday 22 September. While the theme for this year’s World Rhino Day is Five Rhino Species Forever, the yearly RMB Ride for Rhinos is an event that is intended to create awareness for the plight of one rhino species in particular – the black rhino.
The last free-roaming population of black rhino is found in Namibia. To achieve this feat, tremendous efforts went into saving and protecting what was left of a decimated population in Namibia’s northwest during the late 1980s. Thanks to the tireless work of the Save the Rhino Trust, and later through the conservation efforts of conservancies and other organisations, the black rhino population in this area could grow to what it is today. In recent years, however, illegal trade in rhino horn has once again called for extraordinary endeavours to protect this valuable species for future generations. This year marked the 7th RMB Ride for Rhinos. It took place in the Palmwag Concession with Wilderness Safaris Desert Rhino Camp as the base camp treating riders to its luxurious
lodging facilities. As always, this exclusive event is limited to a small group made up of cycling enthusiasts who are up for the challenge of riding in the extremely tough and rocky terrain of Damaraland. The three routes of the three-day event consisted of everything from bumpy jeep and game tracks to some riverbeds and even a King of the Hill section to test the already tired legs of the participants. Though challenging, the opportunity to see the stunning terrain of the Palmwag Concession from the seat of a bicycle is an exceptional experience not had by many. An experience that builds a camaraderie and creates lasting friendships. Being in a protected area, wildlife sightings of springbok, ostrich, gemsbok and giraffe are part and parcel of the ride. Over the last seven years some riders have been lucky enough to see elephants and lions and, of course most importantly, black rhinos. The 2021 RMB Ride for Rhinos took place from 22 to 26 September. Ride for Rhinos is an initiative by Venture Media in partnership with main sponsor RMB, Wilderness Safaris and CYMOT. Funds raised through the ride are invested into various black rhino conservation projects in north-western Namibia.
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NEW IN THE CITY Ah, summer in Windhoek. The sun is infernal, the beers are arctic and the mosquitoes are plotting. Yet as we make our scorched but cautious return to public places (preferably with patios), the city – God bless her – feels fresh with a few sweet surprises. While it’s not an exhaustive list and there are surely things I’ve missed, here’s what’s new in the city. THE WINDHOEK MURAL PROJECT
Photography credit: Martha Mukaiwa
The city centre is a place of hasty hustle but if you’re missioning down Fidel Castro or Werner List Street in the vicinity of the College of the Arts, The Windhoek Mural Project is bound to halt your hurry. Founded by the ENK Institute for Public Art in collaboration with Bonlife Namibia and Neo Paints, the project will feature five Namibian artists painting a series of murals in and around the city. First off the mark from a cohort that includes artists Michelle Isaak, Taanyanda Matheus, Edith Wasserfall and John Kalunda are two murals by Nambowa Malua. African Women is a bright ode to the continent’s tireless and uplifting mothers, sisters and daughters. Contrast of Two Plains is a tribute to the Ovahimba people and an appreciation of Namibia’s contrasting landscape with psychedelic elements symbolic of shifting realities and the country’s growing appreciation of creativity. “People are affected by what they experience in their towns and cities. We therefore believe public art has a unique ability to give Namibians a better feel for their environment,” says the ENK Institute for Public Art’s founder Emmanuel Enkara. “I think you get the ‘feel’ of a country from the art it produces. Food, dress, music, visual art and film form our national identity. Before #Vision2030 is achieved, we need to give visual artists the chance to build our country and to tell contemporary stories through public art.” The ENK Institute for Public Art also aims to empower artists through project-based income streams while encouraging tourism through the enlivening of our towns and cities. Public art is even more vital during a pandemic. “One thing that has happened during the pandemic is that people have turned to jogging and walking,” says Enkara. “Public art can be that exciting addition to everybody’s day when the world feels like such a bad place right now”.
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Photography credit: Martha Mukaiwa
THE SKINNY COW EATERY
Instagrammers, assemble! Because The Skinny Cow Eatery is a content creator’s fever dream. Located at Elysium Fields at 40 Berg Street, this pretty and profoundly pink new spot marries the aesthetic decadence of a cake-eating Marie Antoinette with velvet booths, neon pink signage and a flowery photo wall for the social media age. The brainchild of The Collective Boutique’s Nikita Rix, The Skinny Cow Eatery’s artisanal confectioneries and colour scheme are all part of a sumptuous plan rooted in the psychology of pink. “Pink is obviously feminine. Pink is also very cheerful. It’s about bringing people together and it represents love, celebration and cheerfulness,” says Rix, a psychology graduate who drew inspiration for the eatery from a selection of spots in Cape Town and London. A self-proclaimed foodie and a bit of a naming wiz, Rix chuckles when asked: What’s in the name? “Have you ever seen a skinny cow? It doesn’t exist. And if it
does, it’s probably not very happy.” The juxtaposition is Rix’s pushback against the guilt doled out about women’s bodies, appetites and cravings. “There’s always someone guilt tripping you for having a good piece of cake or a nice burger. It’s really time to challenge that. I’m a foodie. I love eating. I like burgers. I like nachos. I like waffles.” Hear, hear! As pink as its ‘Love Bun Burger’, The Skinny Cow’s menu includes a selection of gorgeous signature drinks and delicately prepared cakes. “The food is just as important as the space,” says Rix, who welcomes a diverse clientele. “I welcome everyone who wants to take a really good Instagram photo,” says Rix with a laugh. But the truth is, on a Thursday afternoon, the couples, mother and daughter dates, gal pals and even the serious businessmen enjoying the space are all about their angles. Certainly a moment and the sweetest new spot, Rix’s advice to incoming visitors is simply this: “Treat yourself, love yourself and have an experience. You only live once.”
Photography credit: Nautilus Media
‘TELL EM’ by LIVINGE DENNIS
Though, technically, Livinge Dennis is from the coast and Tell ’Em, his latest music video, was shot there too, I add it to the list because Dennis rose to national fame on Windhoek’s stages. Inspired by his travels through Africa and a parting sentiment from his mother, Tell ’Em is an uplifting, soul-stirring track that showcases Dennis’ impressive vocal prowess, love for the place of his birth and infectious joie de vivre. “The song seeks to change the traditional narrative of Africa and its people. Tell ’Em is an African anthem about our dignity and humanity written in Africa for the world because people are always trying to humiliate Africans,” he says. “What I would love for Africans to “tell ’em” through the way we showcase and celebrate ourselves in our videos, stories and in all types of art is that we are proud to be African and that this space and this earth that we walk on is ours”. Tell ’Em is available to buy and can be watched on YouTube. Martha Mukaiwa
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Open a Global Account to Save and Transact in $, € and £
The FNB Currency Card is linked to your Global Account, allowing you to invest and transact in three foreign currencies. So if you’re travelling, you don’t need to carry foreign currency. You also don’t need to transfer foreign currency into your Debit or Credit Card. You can simply swipe for purchases or withdraw cash at foreign ATMS.
First National Bank of Namibia Limited, Reg. No. 2002/0180. 36
For more information, please contact the Forex desk: +264 61 299 8668 | forexdesk@fnbnamibia.com.na
15 min sweat set with Ena
Full Body Fitness
T
he most asked question, when it comes to fitness and living an active lifestyle, is not which methods are best or how can I train most efficiently. The most asked question always seems to be: How do I stay motivated?
Motivation as a sustainable driver to live a healthy and active lifestyle is a myth. Being motivated is a feeling, and feelings change. Being disciplined, however, is part of a person’s character. The difference between two people, one with and one without discipline, is that the disciplined person will train and exercise even though he does not feel motivated to do so.
Walkouts
Haven’t been very disciplined lately? That’s okay! We’re lucky in that discipline can be cultivated, but we need to put in the work to make it part of our character. Let’s start right now. Regardless of how you’re feeling, challenge yourself to push through the exercises below. Throw on your active apparel and just start today – you don’t need any equipment, so no excuses (although an exercise mat or soft surface is preferred).
Knee Push-ups
Workout You will need: • 15 minutes • Water (always stay hydrated!) Complete the circuit three times (as you become stronger, challenge yourself to a fourth round). Rest between circuits (after the eighth exercise). NB: Keep your abdominal muscles engaged (tight) with every exercise! 1. Alternating Lunges – 16 reps (8 per leg). 2. Squat Jumps – 10 reps. 3. Walkouts – 6 reps (returning to an upright position after every repetition). 4. Knee Push-ups – 8 reps. 5. Plank – 30 seconds. 6. Donkey Kickbacks, right – 10 reps. 7. Donkey Kickbacks, left – 10 reps. 8. Leg Lifts – 10 reps.
Donkey Kickbacks, right
Donkey Kickbacks, left
For more content on sustainable health and fitness or training programmes, you can find Ena on Instagram (@ena_visagie_) Ena is a qualified Personal Trainer, assisting individuals through online coaching while sharing her journey and passion for fitness on social media. She has also obtained a degree in Marketing and Business Management.
Leg Lifts
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VIRUSES
Living or non-living?
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A
s exhausting as it is to talk about COVID or anything associated with it, there is nevertheless a great deal of interesting science behind the concept and associated terms. The word virus itself is a vast notion with all sorts of subject matter stemming from the main theme.
This article attempts to explore another angle of the term virus as well as an age-old argument among scientists the world over: are they living or non-living organisms? It is simple enough to observe our surroundings and distinguish what is natural and what is man-made. However, while looking at the natural components of the world, how do we know what is living? For example: how do we know that a tree is alive but a stone is not and why or how this is even relevant to any of us. At this point in your life, you might have already been told by a medical professional that antibiotics are for bacterial infections only and should never be used for viruses. If you are unfamiliar with medicinal science this may have puzzled you. The word antibiotic comes from both Greek and Latin. The prefix anti is simple enough and means opposing/against/contrary. Bios is the Greek word for life, and therefore antibiotic literally means against life, i.e. destroying life. Antibiotics work on bacteria and bacterial infections, but not on viruses. What does that say about viruses? And how do we treat them? Scientists have come up with a simple, yet still-debated, classification in an attempt to interpret the differences of living and non-living organisms. In order for anything to be classified as living, it must show the following (summarised) characteristics: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Consist of cells Acquire nutrition and therefore use energy to grow Reproduce Able to respond to stimuli Respire Maintain homeostasis
With these criteria in mind, we can attempt to resolve the question Are viruses living or non-living? 1. Living things must consist of cells This point has an obvious verdict. Viruses do not have cells. The smallest unit of a virus is known as a virion and is made up of genes wrapped up in a protective protein shell called a capsid. Viruses do not have all the tiny components that cells have, such as a nucleus or cytoplasm. 2. Living things use energy and grow Living things use acquired energy to grow. They become larger in size and/or more complex. For example, after a sperm cell and an egg cell fuse, they divide into millions of tiny cells, grow into a fetus, then a baby and eventually a full-grown human being. Viruses do not exhibit growth in this sense. A virus functions by colonising a host cell. It manipulates the cell to build new viruses which are reproduced in their fully-formed state, so each virion created will not increase in size nor in complexity. Simply the number of virions increases. The host cell uses a lot of energy to accommodate the virus and create new virions. The virus naturally benefits from this
energy use but does not use the energy itself. In very simple terms: viruses do not need food. 3. Living things must reproduce This is similar to the above. Living things have a primal urge to pass on their genetic information. Simply explained: reproduction is to produce offspring which are smaller and simpler than the parent but will grow and develop into replicas of the parent. Viruses reproduce via the host cell as explained above. Viruses do not reproduce baby viruses which grow into the dangerous versions we face in our daily lives. An exact copy is replicated. Our immune systems are usually able to handle small amounts of virions. It’s the millions of virions replicated in a short time frame that overpower our immune system and damage our cells. Although viruses do replicate, it is not the same as reproduction. This point is still debated, however. 4. Living things must respond to external stimuli As with point 2 above, this one is also still being debated. Viruses do not respond to stimuli such as light, touch or sounds in the way that humans, or bacteria do, but there is no other proof to definitely say that viruses do not respond to anything. A response can be defined by an immediate reaction to a change in the external environment. Examples include closing your eyes or squinting when faced with a bright light, or quickly removing your hand from a hot plate. There is simply not enough proof of viruses’ responses to stimuli to conclude this point definitively. 5. Living things respire In physiology, respiration is a number of metabolic reactions that convert chemical energy from oxygen molecules or nutrients into energy and waste (e.g. carbon dioxide). This is a fairly intricate process and unique for every species of living organism. The details are irrelevant, however, because viruses do not participate in any kind of respiration. Once again, the host cell does all the work. 6. Living things maintain homeostasis Homeostasis is the constant state maintained by all living systems. This includes the internal, physical and chemical conditions. It is the condition of optimal functioning for the organism and includes different variables depending on the organism, e.g. body temperature and fluid balance. All these conditions exist within pre-set limits. Point 1 was obvious: viruses do not have cells. Cells contain the organelles that allow living things to monitor or change their internal environment. An individual virion is unable to do this. All points can be expanded and debated further as there is still no unanimous conclusion. This information, however, can be useful when it comes to treating viral infections. Antibiotics are ineffective for treating viruses. Antibiotics aim to kill bacteria – but can something that is not technically alive be killed? Antiviral medication is used to treat viruses and aims to stop the replication cycle of the virus rather than kill it, as that would require killing the host cell as well. Therefore, a careful balance must always be kept in mind. The golden rule: consult a professional when in doubt.
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THE TROUBLE WITH TRADE
M
uch has changed in the last 18 months. Namibia’s trade balance, the difference between its imports and exports, has not. Global supply chains froze overnight. Supply bottlenecks formed around the world as ports shut down to control COVID-outbreaks, the Suez Canal was rendered temporarily impassable and lockdowns set off a sea-change in global consumption habits. Through it all Namibia’s trade balance remained constant. The figure looks broadly the same now as it did in 2014. Since imports and exports tend to rise and fall together, a trade balance is not so much a dynamic measure of economic performance but rather a structural characteristic of a nation’s economy. A trade deficit may sound ominous, but it says little about the macroeconomic trajectory of a nation if viewed in isolation. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the most widely accepted proxy for prosperity, is the sum of national consumption, investment and government spending less the difference between exports and imports. A widening trade deficit, where imports are growing faster than exports, in an economy where GDP is growing rapidly is generally balanced
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out by increases in investment and fixed capital formation. Not all countries can export more than they import, and a country that has a negative trade balance may also have a populace that is spending healthily, attracting foreign investment and seeing meaningful government benefits. Trade deficits do not preclude prosperity. However, a growing trade deficit in an economy that is contracting, or experiencing low growth, is more of a problem. Namibia has run a trade deficit throughout the year. This was also the case in 2020, at the bottom of what was a 4-year recession, as it was in 2015 after years of sustained growth. Namibia has a structural trade deficit: we import most of what we consume. In the years prior to 2015 the trade deficit mattered little. Foreign direct investment flows brought money into the country and contributed to rapid GDP growth. But now, in 2021, the year after the formal economy shrank by 8.5% and with the country mired in a low growth environment, a wide trade deficit is more of a cause for concern. If the economy shrinks it must follow that either consumption is decreasing, government spending is faltering or investment is drying up. If the trade deficit outweighs the sum of all foreign investment and other capital flows into the country, then Namibia’s foreign
Economic Pulse
the government issued the second Eurobond in late 2015. Changes in domestic asset requirements for pension and long-term insurance funds have further supported the reserve position by repatriating savings previously invested abroad. The trouble with repatriation of savings and government debt derived from foreign currency inflows is that in a limited growth environment the government cannot borrow from abroad forever, and savings grow more slowly once repatriated into a slow growth environment. Thus, at some point the trade deficit will become a burden on the reserve position and currency peg. Thankfully, that should not be the case in the near term.
currency reserves will be drawn down by efforts to finance that deficit. These large foreign currency outflows are of particular concern to Namibia. Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini (Swaziland) and South Africa form the Common Monetary Area (CMA). The CMA is a multilateral monetary union that has, among other agreements, pegged the value of the non-Rand currencies to the value of the Rand. The smaller economies thereby forgo their ability to conduct independent monetary policy in order to benefit from the relative stability of the Rand. To remain in the CMA, Namibia is required to maintain foreign currency reserves – be that in Dollars, Pounds or Yuan – at least equivalent to the total amount of local currency in circulation. The structural trade deficit necessarily means that Namibia requires capital inflows in either the form of foreign investment or repatriated savings to maintain a healthy international reserve position and the currency peg. At present the international reserve position is healthier than it has been in some time, largely due to the inflow of capital in the form of the IMF loan to the government. The last major boost in the reserve position came when
As mentioned, the reserve position is healthier than at any point in the recent past, even in hard currency terms. While some large foreign currency outflows may be expected when the first Eurobond is redeemed in November, pressure on the currency peg is currently low. It is equally heartening that the economy is expected to grow in the coming year. Thus there is precious little chance that a widening trade deficit in a shrinking economy becomes the reason that Namibia’s foreign currency reserves fall far enough to threaten its place in the CMA. Pandemic or not, this rarely scrutinized statistic has remained mercifully invariant. There is a way to go before the pandemic era has passed and much may still change. Namibia’s trade balance probably won’t. Kimber Brain Kimber Brain is a junior economist 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
NETWORK
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SUBSCRIBE TO TRAVEL NEWS NAMIBIA ON Visit www.travelnewsnamibia.com to subscribe to our digital publication on Zinio or to order physical copies of the magazine.
Venture Media is the pioneer of Namibia tourism promotion. We are the leader in spreading the tourism word around the world. We distribute accurate, credible, up to date and regular tourism-related information on paper, in social media, on the World Wide Web, and on mobile apps. We have reached hundreds of thousands over almost three decades. Be part of our community and let’s do it together. In 2021, we're focussing on telling and sharing STORIES THAT MATTER across our various magazines and digital platforms. Join the journey and share your stories with audiences that understand and value why certain things matter. Why ethical business, conservation, tourism, people and communities matter. How these elements interrelate and how we can bring about change, contribute to the world and support each other. Whether for an entire nation, an industry, a community, or even just an individual.
www.venture.com.na
or email us at info@venture.com.na for a curated proposal. 42
I
Königstein Capital
n 2009, after 30 years’ experience in Namibia’s financial services industry, Königstein Capital was started by its current partners. Over the last decade our clients have entrusted us with just under N$ 1 billion. Our investment team has built up a solid track record in the private equity and unlisted markets in Namibia.
What we have done through the Property Funds Königstein Capital has partnered with various property developers over the years to deliver over 2,200 housing and 36 commercial units all over the country. Our funds have also been invested in several infrastructure projects that delivered over 940 erven to individuals seeking land on which to build their homes. The ripple effects of these investments go far beyond the property itself. It includes 1700 jobs which were created during the construction phases of these developments, the creation of economic opportunities for entrepreneurs and the forming of new communities. What we have done through Spitz Capital and the Spitz Investment Fund With our private equity funds we have ventured into the healthcare, agriculture, biomass and manufacturing sectors. One of our flagship investments is the Namibian Oncology Centre, a first of its kind in Namibia. It opened its doors in 2012 to serve cancer patients who previously had to travel abroad for medical treatment. Mashare Irrigation, another portfolio company of Spitz Capital, produces cash crops such as wheat, maize and potatoes for the Namibian market. The company currently has 400 hectares under irrigation with a further 280 ha under development. When in full production, the company will cover more than 5% of the country’s demand for maize and wheat. One of the anchor investments in our portfolio is Mashare Berries whose investment value to date stands at over N$100 million. We view it as one of our crown jewels as it meets all of the most important factors when we consider investments. They are: being an investment in scalable Namibian opportunities that produce sustainable returns, have a job creation impact and earn foreign currency. Mashare Berries is the first large-scale blueberry farm in the Land Of The Brave. Mashare Berries not only employs over 50 people full-time, during harvest it also provides seasonal employment to over 1,200 people. Blueberries are exported to end consumers in Europe, the UK, Russia, Hong Kong and several countries in the Middle East. The berries are picked by hand which provides new employment opportunities in the Namibia’s region with the highest unemployment rate. Another one of our portfolio companies is Namibia Plastics.
This company aims to produce locally and export regionally. It specialises in the extrusion of specialist plastics and highquality prints. The factory was opened in 2017. Königstein Capital investment focus Namibia has an excellent infrastructure. It has one of the best road networks in Africa, a recently expanded worldclass deepwater port in Walvis Bay, a recently upgraded international airport, a competitive financial industry, rule of law and a stable power supply network. These assets create a competitive environment for companies operating in Namibia to service the region as well as international markets. We believe there is a great opportunity in leveraging these assets and making long-term investments that will generate competitive returns. Our country is grappling with high rates of unemployment, in particular among young people. In a country such as ours, rich with resources and untapped potential, especially in agriculture, we are specifically seeking investments that can help stimulate employment and job creation and drive real economic growth. Our vision is to make investments that generate sustainable returns, leverage the Namibian platform, thereby creating jobs and contributing to economic growth. Namib Growth Fund Against this backdrop Königstein Capital is raising its 5th fund called Namib Growth Fund. This new fund will be administered in terms of Regulation 13 of the Pension Fund Act. It will focus on investing in opportunities that generate sustainable returns, leverage the Namibian platform, create jobs and contribute to economic growth. The Namib Growth Fund will focus on what has already been tried and tested: export-oriented businesses that can service both local and international markets, stimulate job creation and leverage Namibia’s competitive advantages. Investment will be the driver of the next Namibian growth phase and we believe that our pipeline of investment opportunities presents an excellent start to this chapter.
www.konigsteincapital.com
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Amanda Dambuzza’s
Contributed
Money lessons for the modern woman
Amanda (second from left) pictured with Momentum Namibia’s Managing Director, Evangelina Nailenge, Executive Officer for Metropolitan Retail | Momentum Metropolitan Namibia Ltd. Ingah Ekandjo and Financial Wellness Expert, Afra Schimming-Chase, during her recent trip to Namibia.
H
er magnificent Sandton home has been featured on Top Billing, giving viewers a peep into a house built from the bottom up with structural and decor elements that speak to the South African author and businesswoman’s inspiring journey. And if you follow her on Instagram, you are also likely to get a peek into her life and the beautiful memories which she constantly creates for herself and her family. But before she could enjoy the exotic family vacations, champagne lifestyle and the much desired “soft life” that she now lives, Amanda’s story was one of struggle and abuse. It was only through resilience and determination that she was able to create her dream life and achieve every goal she set out for herself. So how does someone with a difficult upbringing like Amanda’s rise from the challenges to create the kind of life she enjoys
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today? What are the financial lessons she has learned along the way that have helped to propel her to where she is? I was privileged enough to interview Amanda Dambuza before her keynote address at a recent Momentum Namibia high tea event in celebration of women and these were the kinds of questions I wanted to ask her. This chief executive and founder of a successful project management consulting firm was generous enough to let me in on some of her financial wisdom, sharing her top tips for financial independence for modern African women. What are the money lessons that you are teaching your children to set them up for a better future? I didn’t get a single money lesson as a child and everything I know I’ve had to learn as an adult. Most of us only finally get it once we’ve made a couple of mistakes, so for me, that’s why money lessons are one of the things I’m serious about when it comes to my children.
Firstly, I teach them that before there’s money, someone must earn it. From when they could speak, I taught them that if you have hands, use them. When you have talent, you never have to go to bed hungry. One of the things they do is art – which they’re very good at – so I started teaching them how to make money from it. I started selling their art and they made a lot of money. When they were babies I opened bank accounts for them and they now have to earn that money through things like chores around the house. I teach them how to earn money, but I also teach them the value of money. When did you truly learn the value of investing and financial planning? The lessons were learned after many mistakes. I bought my first property at around the age of 23 but I really started being moneywise at about 26. When I started working I was earning R3500 and 10% of that was going to my retirement annuity.
profitable ventures. It’s so important that we don’t leave that to chance. Yours is the epitome of a “soft life”. What would you say are the building blocks to financial freedom and spending without guilt?
I believe there is no emancipation for women without financial freedom.
Many of us were not raised to value the importance of building generational wealth. How can modern women break this cycle? You can’t keep transferring poverty from one generation to the next, it just keeps setting us back. One of the things we did in my house is that we bought apartments and the aim is that our kids don’t have to rush to pay a lot of rent or buy a house once they finish school. We want them to have experiences – to go and travel the world. I want them to be able to build up their investment portfolio and think about the future. If you have children, you must have a life cover because when you are gone, there’s going to be a gap. My children have investment portfolios and I put away money for them so that when we are gone, the one thing they never have to worry about is money.
The thing is, someday you’re going to die and leave all of this behind. So what’s the point of working so hard and not enjoying what you’re working for? I think resentment grows when you’re not spoiling yourself. I understand why some women are scared to spoil themselves, especially given the way we were raised, but it’s a critical component of my work to get women to understand that they deserve to spoil themselves.
To read more about Amanda’s story and find out what shaped the woman she is today, order her autobiography Baked in Pain on her website amandadambuza.com. Rukee Kaakunga is a Windhoek-based Communications Specialist, Blogger and Freelance Fashion Writer. Contact her via email: rukeekaakunga@gmail.com and follow her on Twitter @rukeeveni and on Instagram @rukeekaakunga.
How important is financial freedom for women? I believe there is no emancipation for women without financial freedom. Wherever there’s financial dependency, there’s a higher chance for a woman staying because they have no option and that’s not the kind of legacy we should leave for our children. I also believe that when you have money, you never have to be at the mercy of someone else, for example having to take a job or stay in a job that you don’t enjoy. Financial freedom for me is choosing what I do with my money, what charities I support and how I ensure that my children don’t ever have to beg anyone for money. Financial freedom is everything. So the girl child is only going to flourish if we start to feed them financial freedom from birth. I have a rule that my extra income must be twice as much as my primary income, because then I know that even if I lose my job for any reason, I can still have the same life well into retirement. How do you envision financial freedom to look like for your children once they leave the nest? I picture a life where they’re not trapped in anything and where they actually chase their passions. We want to support their dreams, guide them and help them turn those passions into
Despite her upbringing, Amanda turned her life around when she ventured into her first business enterprise at the tender age of 23. More than two decades later, she’s built an impressive career as a successful businesswoman breaking boundaries in the innovation and technology sector.
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Francois de Necker
Art as Coincidental Abstraction
“T
o me, the greatest challenge is to paint the same subject over and over, and have it look completely different every time.”
With a history of impact on the local art scene dating back to the early seventies, celebrated Namibian artist, Francois de Necker, makes no secret of the fact that “art is hard work” and creativity doesn’t simply flow when summoned. Inspired by what he calls “coincidence”, the artist says, “I don’t follow a standard reference and hardly ever start a new artwork with a predetermined idea of what I’m going to paint. My art is the result of a coincidental meeting of imagination and potential, where, once I’ve made contact and started the dialogue between myself and the painting, the shapes and forms flow, and it feels like there is no end…” De Necker’s latest exhibition, which took over two years to prepare, reflects the artist’s signature themes and expressions of imaginative local landscapes, but with an adjustment in scale that symbolises a personal transformation to a smaller studio and living space. Presented on vintage paper sourced in France (which has been in the artist’s possession, unused, since 1981), the paintings display recurring elements that have become emblems of de Necker’s work – distinctive shapes and forms, accentuated in vibrant tones and textures, and balanced by carefully placed splashes and scratches of light.
In combination with his paintings, De Necker’s latest body of work also features a collection of what he calls “flat-sculpture” – a tongue in cheek term for three-dimensional montages compiled with discarded material, a creative outlet that has formed part of his personal practice since the start of his career.
My art is the result of a coincidental meeting of imagination and potential, where, once I’ve made contact and started the dialogue between myself and the painting, the shapes and forms flow, and it feels like there is no end…
Although hesitant to reveal much about the intention behind his work, preferring the viewers to connect to the artwork in their own manner, the artist does share that each of his paintings is blessed with two lives: the first when it is created, and the second when its new owner becomes immersed in what others have called “a contemplative world of abstraction”, which allows for a fresh interpretation of the artwork. It is this very skill of
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opening up his artworks to the viewer that has led aesthetes to compare the artist's representation of abstraction to “…a form of visual distillation without disconnecting from ‘reality’, that most elusive of constructs in art”, as Professor André du Pisani put it in his keynote speech at the opening of Forms & Figures in 2016.
De Necker has exhibited throughout southern Africa and Europe and his work features in both public and private collections. In addition to his reputation as an established artist, De Necker played a key role in developing art education in Namibia – from teaching art as a subject to initiating a number of creative institutions, including the Department of Visual Arts at the University of Namibia and the Tulipamwe International Artists Workshop. He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2014 Bank Windhoek Triennial for his continuous contribution to the local arts sector. Visit Francois de Necker’s latest creative collection at The Project Room from 23 October to 06 November 2021.
The Project Room - Namibia www.theprojectroom.com.na
Marita van Rooyen
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O
n any given day you will find Samanthé Heyns hard at work creating and executing impactful marketing campaigns and strategies for one of Namibia’s biggest brands.
Currently serving as Brand Manager for Tafel Lager, Samanthé is a passionate marketer with a deep interest in inspirational storytelling. As 99FM’s Royal Hustler for this edition, she let us tap into her mind to find out what makes her tick, what drives her and what her hopes are for the future… The beginning of it all Born in Rehoboth but raised in Windhoek for the most part of her life, Samanthé is the youngest of four children. As a child she dreamt of becoming a teacher until the marketing bug eventually bit her.
There is something else that Samanthé loves about her work: "The beauty of telling a Namibian story through a Namibian brand – that's what fulfils me." When it comes to remaining relevant as a marketing professional, Samanthé does not compromise on networking and building people relations. “Insight is the key, you might think digital transformation is the key, but without insight, you won’t be able to take a brand on a journey. So always open your ears and listen,” she advises all young marketers.
ROYAL HUSTLERS Talking marketing and impactful storytelling with Samanthé Heyns
She graduated with an Advanced Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Red & Yellow Creative School of Business in Cape Town. Her career has been a prosperous one with some of her previous roles including a stint as Marketing Coordinator at Pupkewitz Motor Division. She later also worked at CocaCola Namibia and Puma Energy Namibia before joining Namibia Breweries Limited. Staying on top of the game in marketing While her career has been fulfilling in all respects, Samanthé’s greatest roles are those she serves every single day as a loving wife to her husband and doting mom of two. To answer the pertinent question of what gets her out of bed every morning, she responds: “Besides being a mother, it is the beauty of the brand that I’m working on, engaging with people, there’s always an opportunity to engage with people and get as much out of them as possible.”
With Tafel Lager’s 100th anniversary coming up, Samanthé together with her team are once again working on campaigns aimed at rewarding their loyal customers. These campaigns are built on what the customers love and value about the Tafel Lager brand and telling their stories through their national consumer campaigns which include the ‘Namibian Like You’ campaign as well as the Tafel Lager Brave Warriors sponsorship. “In all those stories that we tell about Namibian consumers, we try to bring it out through the brand. So it’s all about things Namibian, for Namibians. That’s why it’s called Namibian like you.” “As a Royal Hustler today, if there’s one thing that I can tell you, obviously COVID has highlighted gaps but as a Namibian, take those gaps, see them as opportunities because now is the time,” Samanthé says to all those aspiring to make it especially during these times.
Tune in to The Royal Hustlers on 99FM every Monday to Friday from 07h35, with Namibian Royal Hustlers featured on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
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Building Biodiversity through
Soil Rejuvenation
How richer microbial activity and soil diversity return after bush thinning
David Shipingana (left), a Forest and Safety Officer at the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), who has worked on the soil research projects there, together with Matti T. Nghikembua (right), the Senior Ecologist and Forestry Steward at CCF.
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“D
ata has shown that if you restore your habitat you will increase grazing capacity. That will also translate to more economic benefits because you are able to increase your wildlife or cattle carrying capacity. But there are also other benefits, like the water infiltration capacity on your land will increase, meaning you get more water in your boreholes”, says Matti T. Nghikembua, the Senior Ecologist and Forestry Steward at the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF).
“I like data because it shows that”, Matti adds. We also have publications which show that bush thinning increases prey availability. For example, species such as gemsbok like open habitats. If you clear bushes, their numbers go up, they reproduce more. You are increasing the activity of those animals, and that is good not only for tourism but also for wildlife as the predators, especially the cheetahs, can hunt freely.”
CCF classifies scientific research as the backbone of its conservation activities. According to Matti, “We study everything from soils to reptiles and small mammals to predators. It’s about understanding the ecosystem in which cheetahs live.”
Elaborating on the ecological benefits, Matti adds, “There will be an increase in biodiversity because you are also diversifying the habitat. A species like kudu, for example, prefers thick bush. If your farm is uniformly thick with bush you are probably only farming with kudu and leopard, because they like to be concealed.”
Another focus area of research is to understand how bush encroachment affects biodiversity, says Matti. “We have done soil studies looking at soil conditions in an area that is encroached and again after you’ve done a harvest (bush thinning). We also looked at what the benefits were to trees and shrubs.” CCF, with study areas all over its property, is investigating how bush encroachment affects biodiversity. Its research projects include studies on habitat restoration and biomass technology development such as its Bushblock, a clean burning fuel log. CCF’s Research on Soil and Grass Biodiversity The findings regarding soil and grass biodiversity are especially interesting. As Matti says, “Soil is such a complex thing, but what we found is that when you do thinning, changes will occur in the soil’s microbial activities.” CCF Forest and Safety Officer David Shipingana, a former student at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), worked on the soil research projects. He explains, “We started studying the soil at CCF in 2017. We looked at the impact that thinning has on the soil composition, how it affects the soil’s chemical and nutrient composition.” Soil provides a home for nutrients, beneficial bacteria, fungi and more. The CCF team found in its research that the “soil community changes, and you find much richer microbial activity after you have thinned”, Matti says. He adds that initially there will be a brief dip in soil activity, but afterwards activity will improve to a state better than before thinning was done. “You then start finding more species and increased microbial diversity. This is what grasses are looking for in their habitat because each species provides a service in the soil, and the more diversity, the more services in the soil.” A Balance for optimal Productivity The team also found that there is a balance point which induces optimal productivity on the land when the habitat is not clear-cut but thinned in moderation, leaving some bushes behind. “Clear-cutting disrupts the soil composition and there will be an imbalance in the chemical composition of the soil”, David says.
Economic and Ecological Benefits “There are benefits in the restoration process”, David says. “When people realise it’s beneficial either way, economically and also ecologically, we can do so much more.”
Productivity of the land is essential, Matti emphasises. “If you restore the habitat, there will be enough room for wildlife to come back. Wildlife will go where the habitat is productive. We have also been engaged with communal areas and conservancies in the Greater Waterberg Landscape where predators are causing a lot of economic losses, simply because the habitat is so degraded. There is an overabundance of bush, and the grass is overgrazed. Where the livestock go, because the soil is productive, is also where the predators go.” Matti goes on to explain, “You will wait a very long time if you wait for ecological processes to occur. With bush thinning, however, you help bring productivity back to the land, in a very short period of time.” The Future for Biomass When asked what is needed going forward, Matti says, "I would say that it is possible for us to restore rangelands, but we need to learn from past mistakes and we need to collaborate. Projects of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Namibia Biomass Industry Group (N-BiG) help, and people need to know about these initiatives because they have become information hubs for our country.” In David’s opinion “the biomass future in Namibia can be very promising, there is potential and opportunity, if people all pull together.” CCF's mission is to ensure the long-term survival of cheetahs and their ecosystem through a multi-disciplined and integrated conservation program of research, management and education. By understanding the cheetah’s biology and ecology, and by sharing this knowledge, CCF has become a champion of the Namibian biomass industry. Read about the CCF Bushblock program here: www.cheetah.org/bushblok/about-bushblok/ Kirsty Watermeyer
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It’s about connecting you to the Kavango & Zambezi. RUNDU WDH >> RUNDU >> WDH SCHEDULE: Depart 11:00 - Arrive 12:00; Depart 12:40 - Arrive 13:40 DAYS OF OPERATION: Tuesdays, Thursdays
KATIMA MULILO WDH >> KATIMA MULILO >> WDH SCHEDULE: Depart 11:00 - Arrive 12:25; Depart 13:05 - Arrive 14:30 DAYS OF OPERATION: Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays
It’s about time.
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+263 83 339 0011 www.flywestair.com
5 things to do in Katima Looking to explore Namibia’s northeastern regions? With FlyWestair’s new flights to Rundu and Katima Mulilo, discovering the beauty of Namibia’s wetlands has never been easier. In the issue we get to know the wonders that await in Katima Mulilo!
K
atima Mulilo, on the banks of the Zambezi River, is the largest town in the Zambezi Region. Since several different languages and many more dialects are spoken in this distant corner of Namibia, it is known as a cultural melting pot. It is a town where most modern conveniences are found. Traditional villages are dotted all around it. All in all, Katima is a welcoming town that invites visitors to explore its cultural heritage as well as the untouched captivating beauty of its surroundings. The Zambezi River is very important not only to local livelihoods but also to the fauna and flora it supports. Here are five things to do when visiting Katima. Birding Calling all twitchers! The region offers excellent birding opportunities for both novices and experts. Over 400 species of birds have been recorded in Zambezi. The best birding spots are a boat on the river or its tree-lined banks. Be on the lookout for Schalow’s Turaco, African Finfoot, White-backed Night Heron and Pel’s Fishing Owl. The summer months from November to March host an abundance of migrant birds. The most famous are the colourful Carmine Bee-eaters which come to breed in large colonies. A visit to the market A vibrant, typical African market in central Katima Mulilo provides a glimpse into the daily lives of the locals. This diverse trading hub offers everything from vegetables and dried or freshly caught fish to live cows and goat meat. Take
a closer look at the interesting products sold at the many small shops and stalls, or pop into the curio shop stocked with the skillfully crafted wooden items and baskets for which the region is famous. Fishing Cast your rod from the riverbank, or for an even better experience rent a boat to go searching for some big ones. Late April to December are the best time to reel in a tigerfish, while mid-June to November offers the best opportunities for bream species. A day trip into one of the parks Mudumu and Nkasa Rupara National parks lie to the southwest of Katima and are easily reachable within a two-hour drive. The parks border the Kwando and Linyanti rivers respectively and are known for big herds of migratory elephants and buffalos. The parks also support healthy populations of other species of game including lions, lechwes, waterbucks, roan antelopes, hippos and crocodiles. Boat cruise It doesn’t get much better than drifting with a gin and tonic in hand on the open river after an eventful day. Sundowner cruises are not only relaxing but also a great way to spot crocodiles, hippos and other life attracted by the mighty river. Tour operators also offer sandbank braais where the boat cruise includes a delicious meal prepared in a unique setting.
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Through the lens of
Johan Nieuwoudt
J
ohan Nieuwoudt has been taking photos for the last 11 years. He bought his first digital camera while on holiday and started by photographing everything around him, at the same time figuring out the different settings. Self-taught through watching YouTube videos and downloading photography courses, Johan honed his photography skills for three years until he was able to charge for his work. “Over the years, my focus in photography has shifted numerous times, and it still shifts with my mood and my surroundings. I enjoy photographing exotic portraits, especially older faces, as they tell a story without saying a word,” Johan explains.
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Photography Feature
He also enjoys photographing landscapes and cityscapes, having travelled extensively in Southeast Asia and Southern Africa with the aim of capturing images that are unique, not only in their beauty but also their ability to inspire people. Some of Johan’s photographs are currently on display at Mirror Mirror in Swakopmund. To find out more or to purchase some of his work, contact Johan at lourensnieuwoudt@gmail.com. Follow him on Instagram at @fotoza.
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Making strides in
RENEWABLE ENERGY
During the course of Expo 2020 Dubai, Namibia will be featuring key focus sectors. Among those, the country will be highlighting its vast renewable energy generation potential which may afford our generation with the opportunity to produce green hydrogen at unparalleled scales, thereby supporting global objectives to decarbonise the planet.
C
limate change and global warming are perhaps among the very top global pressures that our and future generations are faced with. Some believe we are well past the point of no return, others believe we are fast approaching it, and then there are those who choose to live in a warm and calm bubble of disbelief. In Africa, where we live more closely to nature than people on any other continent, we do not have the luxury of sticking our proverbial heads in the sand and ignoring the very real fact that climate change mitigation should be at the very top of our priority lists. And though, ironically, we are not the main culprits, especially as a sparsely populated country like Namibia, we could very well be the solution. Enter Namibia’s commitment, advances and future hopes for being a leader in renewable energy in Africa. Harnessing Nature Namibia has an incredible competitive advantage when it comes to the production of renewable energy from solar, wind, biomass and hydro sources. With well over 90% sunny days, strong winds along our Atlantic coastline, an unfortunate abundance of encroacher/invasive bush species in our central bushlands and mighty rivers along our northern borders, we are well-positioned to harness nature in the most sustainable way for clean energy production. The small population size of our nation also plays to our advantage in this regard. Namibia’s peak power consumption is approximately only 640 MW per
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annum. And yet, we still import almost 40% of our electricity from neighbouring South Africa. South Africa in turn is Africa’s largest greenhouse gas emitter. To put our country in perspective, Namibia emits five times less carbon dioxide per capita than both South Africa and Germany. We emit ten times less than the USA, and 23 times less than Qatar. Harnessing the sun – Namibia’s high solar irradiation values, which clearly stand out even by African standards and rank among the highest in the world, make us an obvious candidate for solar-generated energy. Harnessing water – Ruacana Hydroelectric Power Station on the Kunene River, Namibia’s northern border, has a generation capacity of 347 MW. Unfortunately, the power station can only be operated at maximum capacity during the rainy season, but it still meets 32% of the country’s total power requirement. Harnessing bush – In terms of bioenergy, the use of wood from invasive bush encroachment offers a potential source of biomass plants. Namibia has over 30 million hectares of woody biomass which could, if harvested correctly, power southern Africa with sustainable energy. Harnessing the wind – High, constant wind speeds are found along Namibia’s southern coastline, especially near Lüderitz, which offer ideal conditions for the construction of wind power plants.
The Fuel of the Future So what does Namibia’s diverse range of energy generation potential mean for a future powered by renewable fuel? The answer: Green Hydrogen. In an interview with CNBCAfrica, James Mnyupe, Economic Advisor to the President of Namibia, explained Namibia’s plan for a Green Hydrogen Revolution. The outlooks were lauded by CNBCAfrica as: “arguably one of the largest and potentially transformational projects on the African continent and perhaps the world.” Hydrogen has long been lauded as the “fuel of the future,” and Green Hydrogen Energy (GHE) has the potential to slow climate change and create a sustainable future for not only southern Africa, but the world. One of GHE’s biggest advantages is its potential to be used across various sectors, including transport, mining, manufacturing and of course electricity generation. Namibia’s Green Hydrogen ambitions are large, yet appear to be attainable. It will provide opportunities to further industrialise the country and, based on figures shared during the interview, these investments could potentially double the size of the Namibian economy. The most important determining factor that makes hydrogen production green is, of course, using clean energy in the process. According to Mnyupe, Namibia’s Green Hydrogen project aims to generate 5 to 7 GW of renewable energy. That’s almost ten times Namibia’s total power needs. With gains such as these, the country will be able to position itself as a green energy exporter to the southern African power pool where Namibia currently imports most of its electricity from.
greenhouse giant South Africa’s emissions, helping it towards meeting climate-neutral goals. Various spinoff projects, such as ammonia production, green mining initiatives (imagine De Beers producing green diamonds) and much more, can also be expected as a direct result of Namibia’s Green Hydrogen revolution. Namibia ticks all the boxes and could have among the lowest hydrogen production costs worldwide, and on a large scale. There are a few key elements that position Namibia strategically for this project: • vast renewable energy generation capabilities • the electrical grid infrastructure already exists • the ports of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz are both capable of exporting green hydrogen to potential international buyers. One drawback, though, is Green Hydrogen production’s need for large quantities of water, which of course is one of the things Namibia is not known for. The answer? Desalination. Namibia already has the largest desalination plant in southern Africa. Another area with vast potential for growth and investment. The government of Namibia, through the President’s Harambee Prosperity Plan II, is inviting private sector players both locally, regionally and globally to invest in Green Hydrogen projects in Namibia. Find out more at www.namibiaexpo2020dubai.com
In an ironic turn, Namibia will then have the potential to decarbonise the largest emitter on the continent and off-set
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Microplastic Pollution Solution
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Looking Global
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lastic pollution is not a myth. It is a common narrative. For most it has become background noise due to the overpowering influx of information and stories surrounding the matter. Many of us are well aware, however, that our planet has a very big and very real plastic problem.
The main problem branches out into smaller and smaller dilemmas (as most global issues do). One of these dilemmas is actually caused by particles smaller than small. They are physically tiny yet the impact is astronomical. This dilemma is known as microplastics. Microplastics are defined as tiny fragments of any type of plastic which are less than 5 mm in length. Their minute size poses the greatest risk to the environment due to the difficulty of filtering them out of the ocean – sadly the final resting place for most debris and garbage. The fact that the tiny particles are now available to a broader range of species is their main potential and one of our greatest threats. They enter the food chain right at the bottom and can embed themselves into animal tissue completely undetected. Although currently there is not a great deal of long-term research available, studies have proven that microplastics can be carcinogenic and thus potentially very harmful for human life. The 2019 winner of the Google Science Fair has gone ahead and developed a method to solve this problem for humanity. A young Irishman called Fionn Ferreira was at his local beach when he noticed a rock with remnants of an oil spill on it. Small plastic particles seemed to be stuck to the oily surface. He realised the implication and decided to investigate.
the layer of oil or, essentially, this liquid magnet. He then added magnetite powder which binds itself to the oil and plastic. The plastic/oil/magnetite mixture, now a ferrofluid, was then simply removed via magnetism leaving behind clean, gleaming water. If this is confusing, here it is in one simplified sentence: the oil attracted the microplastics due to a chemical process and the immersion of a magnet sucked it all up. Although his tests included plastics from different sources (e.g. plastic bottles, microbeads from skin-care products, car tyres, etc.), they proved that 87–96 % of microplastics can be removed from water with this method. Although not a brand-new idea, its application and the results are phenomenal. Plastic is a complex problem. It is an essential part of most people’s lives. Many countries are slowly banning certain types of plastics and this is undoubtedly an excellent start. But banning plastic completely will have a ripple effect of smaller problems. For example, if we were to ban the plastic bottles that shampoo comes in – what would be an alternative? How about a glass bottle? The material alone as well as the manufacturing process make glass more expensive. Plus, it is substantially heavier than plastic and so transport costs will increase. Are you willing to pay more for your handy old shampoo? Expense aside, how will you squeeze the last bits of the shampoo out? What if you drop the bottle in the shower?
There are a million ways forward to tackle the plastic pollution problem, but first and foremost there needs to be one united, colossal, global clean-up.
After various experiments he stumbled upon something called ferrofluid and an idea from an article written by Dr Arden Warner. In very simple terms it is a liquid containing a magnetic suspension, which surprisingly enough attracts microplastics. In fact it is extremely simple chemistry based on the concept of polarity. Plastic particles are non-polar, and the oil element of the ferrofluid is also non-polar. If you don’t know much about chemistry, an easy summary is that non-polar materials attract other non-polar materials. Fionn added oil to a suspension containing a known concentration of microplastics. The plastics migrated into
There are countless examples and the major conclusion remains that plastic is convenient and cheap and replacing it might create more headaches than imagined. However, it is polluting the world on a monumental scale and faster than we can comprehend. Inaction is no longer plausible. There are a million ways forward to tackle the plastic pollution problem, but first and foremost there needs to be one united, colossal, global clean-up. That much is abundantly clear. We must rid the oceans and the landfills of all types and sizes of plastic, including microplastics. Pioneer Fionn Ferriera, at 19 years old, has paved the way with a simple, yet effective method. In 2020 he founded a business called Fionn & Co., which focuses on microplastic removal technology. There can only be success from this point on. Daniela Steenkamp
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3 Oct 1863 President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation designating the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day.
Henry Ford's Model T, a "universal car" designed for the masses, went on sale for the first time.
1 Oct 1946
3 Oct 1990
Twelve Nazi leaders were sentenced to death at the International War Crimes Tribunal in Nuremberg, Germany.
After 45 years of Cold War division, East and West Germany were reunited as the Federal Republic of Germany.
8 Oct 1993 The U.N. General Assembly lifted economic sanctions against South Africa following the end of apartheid. The sanctions had been imposed since the 1960s.
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The goal of Sudoku is to fill a 9×9 grid with numbers so that each row, column and 3×3 section contain all of the digits between 1 and 9.
The Statue of Liberty arrived in the United States all the way from France in October 1886.
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World Mental Health Day
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World Teachers Day
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International Coffee Day
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4 October World Animal Welfare Day
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1 October
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Roman Emperor Claudius died after eating mushrooms poisoned by his wife, the Empress Agrippina.
INTERESTING FACT ABOUT OCTOBER
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International Coffee Day is celebrated on 1 October every year to recognise millions of people across the world from farmers, roasters, baristas, and coffee shop owners, etc. who do hard work to create and serve the beverage in the consumable form.
Belgium gained its independence, after having been a part of the Netherlands since 1815.
The Space Age began as the Russians launched the first satellite into orbit Sputnik I .The remarkable accomplishment by Soviet Russia sent a shockwave through the American political leadership resulting in U.S. efforts to be the first on the moon.
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1 Oct 1949 The Republic of China was founded with Mao Zedong as chairman.
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11 Oct 1899 The Boer War began in South Africa between the British Empire and Boers of the Transvaal and Orange Free State. The war ended in 1902 with the Treaty of Pretoria in which the Transvaal and Orange Free State became British colonies.
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DID YOU KNOW?
This month in history:
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Love Namibia
DESERT MORINGA | The moringa tree is often called the “tree of life” as almost every single part of it can be consumed. The leaves and fruit are often browsed by elephants, giraffe and springbok and the bark, wood and roots by smaller animals. It is also known as the Phantom tree or Sprokiesboom in Afrikaans. Paul van Schalkwyk
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