LIN Life in Namibia
L if e i n N amib ia
YOUR
FREE
Lifestyle MAGAZINE
ISSUE 02
2014
Photo: Xenia Ivanoff-Erb www.xeniaivanoff.com
Editor ’s note Welcome to our second edition, and thanks to the readers of the first edition for all the positive feedback; it has been overwhelming.
photojournalist I worked for international magazines and newspapers, covering human interest, health and environmental issues.
My inbox was so full it took forever to go through all your emails! I appreciate every single one, thank you.
I live in Swakopmund with my husband and two children.
Many readers have asked me to provide a little more information about myself. In short, I’ve been a photojournalist for almost 30 years, spending nine years as a press photographer covering news and sport for daily newspapers. As a freelance
i
LIN is a direct result of my innate interest in stories about interesting people and places, and my love for Namibia.
support – it’s only through you that LIN will continue to thrive and grow.
LIN3 will be out for the December holidays, so book your advertising space as soon as you can!
Happy reading and enjoy LIN2! Karin Retief
Talking about advertising, I would like to thank the advertisers for their
email: karin.r@iafrica.com cell no: 0816277692
nside
editorial
Wood Casting 06 Blue Sails 10 Gift of a Smile 18 Stranger in a Strange Land 26 A dream come True 34 Body Art 38 Of God and Nature 46 Upcycle 62 Southern Cross 68
ADVERTORIAL Peter’s Antiques 08 Inspired Creations 24 OBECO 36 Susan Curtis Properties 42 Okahirongo Elephant Lodge 52 Kubatsirana 56 Woermann, Brock & Co 66
COPYRIGHT RESERVED Shadowlight Publishing accepts no liability of any nature arising from or in connection with the contents of this magazine. No material published in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or part without prior written permission from the publisher.
LIN/Shadowlight Publishing ISSUE 02 P 02
LIN Life in Namibia PUBLISHED BY Shadowlight Publishing P.O. Box 2225 Swakopmund Namibia PUBLISHER Karin Retief karin.r@iafrica.com COPY-EDITOR Maureen Miller JOURNALIST Elaine Thompson CONTRIBUTORS Xenia Ivanoff-Erb Marta Majo Nadezna Swanepoel Patricia Blom Christina Koch Anna-Mart Kruger Helene Wiggett Imogen Pretorius
Photo: Xenia Ivanoff-Erb www.xeniaivanoff.com
letters
email your letters to karin.r@iafrica.com
Here are some of the many email letters LIN received after our first edition. Thank you for each and every one. We don’t have enough space to publish them all, but we sincerely appreciate all the feedback, suggestions and story ideas. Keep them coming! Maryke de Vos, a type 1 diabetic herself and founder of the The Namibian Diabetes Lifestyle Foundation, sent us this open letter. Dear Editor at LIN I would like to tell you more about The Namibian Diabetes Lifestyle Foundation and its efforts to help less fortunate children in Namibia to live healthy lives. Without the correct support and medication these children’s lives are at great risk. People suffering from this lifethreatening condition can live healthy lives if they receive the right medication and a change of lifestyle is maintained. But a lack of funding and education often leads to unnecessary deaths. At the Foundation we focus on education regarding the symptoms and treatment of diabetes. Most importantly, we care for 13 young diabetic children. They are aged 16 months to 16 years and live all across Namibia. Our care for these children includes a number of actions. We make sure they receive insulin and test strips every month to manage their diabetes. We make sure they are properly educated and we involve dieticians to help with their diets. We also pay for any blood tests and doctor’s visits that are needed. In some extreme cases, we help with school fees, clothes, food, rent payments and travel costs. We cannot simply ignore these diverse needs, as we want these young children to grow up and have all the opportunities other children have. We want them to have a bright future and complete school. We want them to eat correctly and sleep warm at night. ISSUE 02 P 04
This is a hefty task, and the costs stand at about N$35 000 per month. One of our little troopers at the coast is Jade. She is three years old and requires injections. She lives in Henties Bay with her two aunts, mother, baby sister and grandmother, who has the task of looking after the four children during the day. With six women in the house and only one able to work, you can imagine the strain on this family. But together they do what needs to be done to support little Jade, and she is doing extremely well since joining the foundation. In Walvis Bay we look after Patricia who is 14 years old and lives with her mother and father. Her father unfortunately lost his job and is having trouble finding a new one. She performs well at school and is dedicated to learning all she can about her diabetes. Even though she missed year-end exams twice in the past few years due to hospitalisation, she has passed every year on the merit of her fantastic grades during the school year. She will not let diabetes get her down and is happy not to have been hospitalised since she joined the foundation. In Walvis Bay we look after another little girl, who needs to remain anonymous as she is in a children’s home. She is 11 years old and was abandoned by her parents because of her diabetes. Last year she had to have cataracts removed from both her eyes because of the years of uncontrolled diabetes. Now she has a wonderful house mother who looks after her very well and makes sure she eats properly balanced meals
and receives her injections when needed. She is doing much better with her new blood sugar testing machine and insulin. These are merely three of the cases we have taken on in the past two years, and the need is growing every day. We would love to help every single person, but we are solely dependent on the donations made to us by the private sector. We have a handful of volunteers, pharmacists, doctors and dieticians who have joined hands with us and offer us much needed assistance, and we want to thank them from the bottom of our hearts! Without you, we would not be able to continue our work for very much longer. And that is why we need the public to get involved. We have various fundraising initiatives planned for October and November – please publish these dates in your magazine and help us raise funds for our children. 03 Oct – Care Concert in Wdhk 04 Oct – Care Concert in Swakop 14 Nov – Denim 4 Diabetes venues all over Namibia 14 Nov – Free blood sugar testing in Wdhk, Swakop and WB 15 Nov – Walk for Diabetes in Wdhk, Swakop and WB 22 Nov – Dinner and Dance for Diabetes in Swakop Thank you very much. For more information contact Linda van Zyl, at 081 247 4292 or steynl@iway.na
THE UNIQUE CHARACTER OF FRAMES I am a picture frame enthusiast. Second-hand and art markets are a treasure trove – I collect with passion, and create them myself too. I experiment with paint, have the frames sandblasted, sometimes I bury them in the ground or expose them to the sun, the rain and the salty air. Those that show the effects of time are those that appeal to me most. Photo frames tell us stories, endorse and highlight images. And as Charles Willson Peale said in 1807, “A good picture deserves a good frame and a bad one can survive longer, thanks to a skilful framing”. I am not a professional. If an old frame suits my purpose, I am very happy. Otherwise I create my own frames, which should tell my stories, and
contrasts are the most appealing. You can buy ready-made strips, or build your own wooden frame. For example, I made a frame from a wooden beam that I found on the beach. It did not take too much effort, the seawater had already bestowed a timeless patina on the wood. The brass plates and the handmade studs underline the weight of the frame, making it even more captivating. Even the empty frame for me is an eye catcher. I had a friend’s photograph called “The House in the Snow” printed on canvas and framed in a discarded window frame. A house … a view from the window. A window … a part of every house. The window handle … a term we associate with opening and closing. What’s behind the facade? Where do I go when I leave the house?
The fascinating thing about picture frames for me is the wide variety of possibilities – what has previously “inhabited” the frame? Can you imagine an apartment or a house with no pictures on the walls? I certainly can’t! Joanna Woermann
Little Bakers Club
Dear Editor @ LIN We are Little Bakers Club, a baking and cooking club that teaches children of ages 6 to 15 how to cook and bake simple healthy meals and snacks. They can also create their own recipe for baking and cooking success. The Club was born sometime in April 2014 when my daughter Leanne came up with the idea of hosting a Junior Master Chef party for her 8th birthday and wanted 12 of her friends to attend. The party was such a success that she asked, “Why don't we start a club where children would learn to bake and cook?
And since I love baking, cooking and hosting really cool parties for her and her brother, that was the start of the Little Bakers Club. But it’s about much more than the kids simply learning how to cook and bake. We provide them with the foundation for a life full of healthy cooking, baking and eating, we help improve food preparation skills, teach healthy nutrition in a fun manner, and give them the opportunity to learn about different food from different countries and to improve socialising skills. They have fun while learning important life skills. I have walked a long road in baking and cooking and I have continuously strived to better myself. Little Bakers Club was
a way to give back to society and also to continue my late mother’s legacy. I would like to thank God and my husband, to whom I am forever grateful for his utmost love and support. We are situated in Swakopmund. To find out more, please contact us on: 081 247 7053 Web address www.littlebakersclub.wix. com/home E-mail littlebakersclub@gmail.com Ennie Magson
LIN was so impressed with these unique furniture pieces, we made contact with their creator, Lilla Shamia in Israel and asked her to tell us more about her work.
Hilla Shamia
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“My concept derives from the emotional need for a product. I have noticed that people build stronger emotional connections with imperfect objects. As a designer, I have always been more interested in these imperfections than in the obviously “perfectly controlled” product. Much of my work involves nature. Nature is full of seemingly imperfect, unpredictable processes from which everything emerges. “It is these processes in nature that led me
to examine how objects get their character from their imperfections, and how I, as a designer, can create objects in which the defect is a positive and desirable aspect. “I choose to use whole tree trunks. This enables me to preserve the natural form while setting clear boundaries. The square shape enhances the overall sense of artificiality, but nevertheless leaves the memory of the material. I apply the technology of pouring molten aluminium directly on the wood. The meeting point
of the two materials is marked by a charcoaled strip. The wood is then cut up lengthwise and processed in its final form, and inserted into a mould, which defines the furniture’s frame and legs. “The casting process is accompanied by high heat, flames and smoke. When the metal has cooled down and the mould breaks apart, the furniture reveals a dark border between the hot metal and the wood. The object created presents a drama created in the production process. The merging outlines of the materials provide evidence of the leaking aluminium and the carbonisation of the wood, which are now forever frozen. “Like nature, the final product is unique. No two pieces are identical. The incompleteness and randomness give the product its aesthetic value. As in nature, the processes are exposed yet the results are surprising.” Hilla Shamia Tel +972.54.4215171 info@hillashamia.com www.hillashamia.com
Peter’s Antiques T
here really is no other shop in Namibia quite like Peter’s Antiques in Swakopmund. The collection of artefacts, antiques, colonial memorabilia and collectables is mind-blowing. It’s an adventure in itself, walking from room to room discovering, scratching, paging and feeling through hundreds, if not thousands, of interesting objects. As a result of all the years Peter travelled through Africa and the good contacts he has maintained with his suppliers, the current owners, his son Ludwig and wife Mirana, are visited regularly by people from all over Africa. “Suppliers arrive from as far afield as Benin and Somalia, with goods they want to sell. Because of the good trust Peter has built up over the years, we seldom have to travel to find special pieces,” says Mirana. “We buy directly from the suppliers and rarely take their artifacts on consignment. They appreciate that kind of support from us.” Peters’ Antiques also offers products from Mirana’s home country, Madagascar, like wild silk scarves, ox horn products and straw baskets. The shop has five rooms, each room as interesting as the other. But it’s in Room three, called “Namibian Art - Yesterday and Today”, where you can see a
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sign saying “Baby Steps Collection” you will surely stop for more than a few minutes. When their youngest son, Fanilo, was diagnosed with autism, Ludwig and Mirana realised they needed to start a fundraising initiative for his lifelong and very expensive therapy. Through Peter’s Antiques they sell children’s clothing, hats and accessories tagged with an Autism Awareness ribbon. Profits from this initiative go towards Fanilo’s therapy funds. Another beneficiary Ludwig and Mirana are helping is the non-profit organisation called Autism and Asperger’s Namibia through profits made by other crafts like the Makalani nut products, to help other children all over Namibia.
ADVERTORIAL
TOGETHER WE CAN!
L
udwig and Mirana HALLER, co-owners of Peter’s Antiques shop, with big brother Lova, created the “Baby Steps Collection” – a fundraising and Autism Awareness initiative for their son and brother Fanilo. Because of autism, Fanilo needs and might need lifelong and expensive therapies. You will find the “Baby Steps Collection” in room three at Peter’s Antiques. The trademark is a decorative ribbon on the front and back of each garment. The clothes and accessories in the collection will fit children aged 0-10 years; the quality is good and the outfits are sold at a fair price. Two or three of each garment are available in different sizes, to maintain exclusivity. The garments make great gifts for family and friends, moreover children look smart in these cute outfits as the ribbons enhance the look. Why the name Baby Steps? “Because as a family living with a child with autism, we appreciate every tiny bit of progress
he makes. We do not take anything for granted, as we know Fanilo can do and learn anything, but we have to respect his pace, even if it’s baby steps.” Children will enjoy wearing the clothes. At the same time, they’re made aware of children like Fanilo with Special Needs and they will learn to understand and accept their differences.”
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blue sails After years of looking, Werner and Edith found the perfect spot on the beach in Swakopmund to build their dream home.
Photos: KarMa Photography
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“Mr Geiger of Edelstahlbau cc in Windhoek made the steel rail for the staircase and the woodwork was done by D.G. Fritze Joinery in Swakopmund. I saw the design in a magazine and adapted it to my specific style and needs. I did not want the staircase to be solid and block the light, but needed it to be light and add to the open feel of the double volume. I chose the colours because they decrease the glare and give a wonderful glow at sunset.�
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“When he is home, this is my youngest son Matthias’s room. I call it the Safari Suite and choose this style as it’s the only room without a sea view and lends itself to a different theme from the rest of the house. We often get overseas visitors and they love this room because of its African decor.”
“The significance of the fish theme in the entertainment area is the miracle of Christ feeding the thousands. I hung five, one for every family member.”
“The cupboards were made by Iron and Wood and I designed them. I wanted a modern but country look and it had to fit in with the rest of the beach house. The counter top is granite from Walvis Bay and supplied by Iron and Wood.”
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“I place personal items of my children in rooms as décor pieces and each time I see one I say a prayer for them. This particular hat reminds me of all the wonderful camping trips we had as a family. My godchild gave me the porcupine quills, which she picked up on her farm.”
“We call our house “Blue Sails” and the “porthole” in our front door accentuates the nautical theme. It allows you to get a sea view while still standing outside the house. A circle is also a symbol of eternal love. It was designed by me and made by DG Fritze Joinery.”
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“The deck is a wonderful entertainment area - it starts with alfresco breakfast, then lunches under an umbrella, sundowners and barbeque, all the while enjoying being so close to the ocean. “The chimney was made with stone cladding from Eastern Concepts, the idea being to make it stand out as a feature without overpowering the rest of the house. “The double glazed windows were made by Kneer-Suedfenster (http://www.kneer-suedfenster.de/en) and are the best feature of the house. They are burglar proof, reduce outside noise, are dust proof and insulate the house. The product was imported by Horst Fritze of Fritze and Quelle (Pty) Ltd. “The exposed ceilings, roof design and building of all the decking, clapboarding (which is great at insulating the south side) and conservatory were all done by Weimann Carpentry CC. “The chairs are from Magic Pine in Swakop. “I chose this specific blue color as it reflects the color of the ocean and gives a shadow effect. “The white symbolises the sails of a sailing yacht, auburn the wooden deck and beige the beach sand. “I wanted a beach house with a nautical theme not only because we live on the beach, but because the ocean plays an important part in the history of our family. “My Dad was a skipper, my great-grandfather a ship builder and my family originates from the coastal region of northern Germany.
“It’s no wonder that all three my sons and my husband love fishing, surfing and everything the ocean has to offer!”
g
SPECIAL REPORT FROM RWANDA
ift of a smile Story and Pictures: Karin Retief
LIN ISSUE 01 MAY/JUNE 2014 06
Dr Susan Kruger, plastic surgeon from Namibia, and Dr Mwepu, plastic surgeon observer from the DRC, in theatre with 84-year-old Simon Sebikari. LIN ISSUE 01 MAY/JUNE 2014 07
Six-year-old Immaculee Nikwigaba, the “Girl in the Yellow Dress”.
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Y
ou did not have to look for her, the girl in the yellow dress, she flowered above all the others. She stole my heart that very first day, and when she walked home a few days later, her face still a little swollen from the operation, you could already see how her perfect little features had emerged, like magic.
I was in Kigali, Rwanda, on assignment for Operation Smile South Africa, a not for profit organisation that offers surgery free of charge to people with cleft lip and cleft palate malformations. Each mission consists of a group of volunteers, including plastic surgeons, anaesthesiologists, nurses, paediatricians, occupational therapists, dentists and other medical and administrative people, all giving their time and expertise free.
Each potential patient is seen by a surgeon, anaesthesiologist, dentist and paediatrician, before they are accepted on the list for surgery but not everyone mades the surgery list, as factors like being sick or being underweight disqualify them. Eventually everyone will have the chance for surgery, as OSSA has regular missions to Rwanda. Before he went into surgery I met Muhammad Ali Mukamusana, not named after the famous boxer but after his father’s religion. His mother Chantal had invited me to visit her at home in a suburb of Kigali. To get to her house, which she shares with her husband, mother and seven children, you walk through a maze of small alleyways. On the way we passed a clay oven where a neighbour had just removed freshly baked bread, the sweet smell still thick in the air.
Prep teams had come to Rwanda months before to spread the news via radio and newspapers. A few days before D day the families started to arrive at the hall of a church that had been converted into accommodation quarters. Some had walked for days to get here, while others spent all their savings on taxi and bus fare.
On our first briefing session we were told to not bring up the genocide of ’94. The Rwandans’ attitude towards it after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was not to talk about it; it was treated as a forbidden subject.
Day one sees about 400 people waiting in silent hope at the entrance to the hospital. Not all are patients, as children are accompanied by adults and adults accompanied by relatives; nobody arrives alone.
But when we sat down in her lounge, Chantal, through a translator, suddenly looked at me and said, “You know, when they came we hid in the fields and when we came back ... “ and then she looked away.
And it is in this cosmos of people that I saw six year old Immaculee Nikwigaba.
I sat there in silence with her, listening to the sounds of children playing, a song on a radio in the distance and chickens pecking at something outside our door.
When we made eye contact, she let go of her mother’s hand and ran to me, holding her arms out for me to pick her up.
The magnitude of what she saw as a child was impossible for my mind to comprehend. There was nothing I could say. I realised why I’d been experiencing the Rwandan people as reserved. They are still in shock, and display of emotion is a privilege for the next generation. Theatre day, and I find that the hospital, a few days before abuzz with activities, now has settled in stillness. Four operating theatres have been set up with a postoperation room where children waking up from anaesthesia are attended to, as well as adults who have received local anaesthesia. Dr Susan Kruger, plastic surgeon from Namibia and Dr Mwepu, plastic surgeon observer from the DRC, are busy prepping 84-year-old Simon Sebikari. I had asked him a few days before, with the help from a translator, why he would want to have the operation at this age. With mock annoyance he pointed to his face and said, “Does this look good to you? Besides, I am married to my second wife and want to look good to her.” I ask Susan why she takes time out of her busy schedule to come to Rwanda to do volunteer work. “I feel like I am doing medicine again. You know, we get so many people for cosmetic surgery, it feels good to do real plastic surgery.
“That is what I love about my work, to make a positive change in someone’s life.” And that is humbly said. The surgeries give a life back, not just a face.
She had a wide smile, lively inquisitive eyes and it wasn’t long before she took my sunglasses and proudly went to show her mom how she looked.
Simon Sebikari, “I am doing the operation because I want to look good to my wife.”
Dr. Susan Kruger from Namibia enjoys the moment when her 84-year-old patient, Simon Sebikari, sees his face for the first time after surgery.
All the mothers I spoke to said their children were shunned, treated as outsiders by the community, their disfigurement often believed to be the work of witchcraft. Some mothers thought they had done something wrong during pregnancy and carried the guilt. Now meeting other mothers with similar children and knowledge gained from Operation Smile, they have found peace with the knowledge that there is no known reason why a child is born with a cleft lip or palate. Like most of the older patients, Susan’s patient is receiving local anaesthesia. His hand shoots up in pain and when I take it, he squeezes my hand hard. I sense it’s not just the pain, but that he is frightened as well. I try to calm him with encouraging words and although he doesn’t understand me, I feel his hand starting to relax.
I stay for his whole operation and 45 minutes later, when Susan puts down her tools, an elegant looking grandfather sits up.
Reflection of Immaculee’s face on the glasses of plastic surgeon, Dr Conrad Pienaar, during surgery.
When she hands him a mirror and he sees himself for the first time in 84 years with a whole face, he stares and touches his face, all the while shaking his head in disbelief. The next day I accompany Immaculee to surgery. Dr Belinda Kusel, anaesthesiologist registrar from South Africa, is carrying her in, showing her the lights and equipment in a playful manner. Immaculee had practised putting on the mask the day before, and by the time the anaesthesia begins to work she hasn’t felt a minute of anxiety. Dr Conrad Pienaar from Cape Town is her plastic surgeon. He looks like a surfer on holiday with his blonde curly hair, but when he takes the scalpel, he is an artist.
It is indescribable to see the face of Immaculee appear. It really is like crafting a sculpture. Slowly, as the minutes tick by, I see her perfect, beautiful face become whole and I think of how this little girl with the yellow fairy dress will one day look in her school uniform, in her first party dress and in her white wedding dress. A day after her operation, Immaculee is examined by her plastic surgeon, Dr. Conrad Pienaar.
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And I can just stare in wonder.
@LIN
After a 45-minute operation and a few days in recovery, Immaculee walks home with her mother, knowing the days of children teasing her are finally over.
Uschi Ramakhutla is the owner of a new arts and crafts shop called Inspired Creations. Uschi believes there is an artist in everyone, you just need inspiration to explore your own style. With a huge selection of supplies and workshops offered by her, you are bound to find the inspiration you are looking for! Find her shop at WB Vineta Shopping Centre, next to Fast Signs.
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ADVERTORIAL
Inspired Creations!
Painting by Uschi
Craft supplies, workshops, crafting space andeverything else you need to craft, make art and have fun.
Here everyone is an artist! Shop 19, WB Vineta Shopping Centre, Aldridge Street, Swakopmund.
stranger in a
STRange land
LIN spoke to creative photographer, Christina Koch, about her passion to capture light, shape and texture and rework them into photographic art. Without any formal training in either photography or manipulation software, Christina is well known for her unique style, which she has cultivated since 2007. Most photographers use that which they see in front of them, but Christina creates something new from nothing. She starts with a blank canvas, just as a painter would. With the image software Photoshop she chops, adds, paints, cuts, pastes, manipulates and plays to create her powerful masterpieces. When she was a child she had a little snapshot camera, but did not think about “saying” anything with the pictures she took. “My eye did not work then. It was purely to document moments with friends and family,” she says. After her camera was stolen she went through a phase where she felt memories should not be captured on film, but stored in your head. Luckily for all the fans of her work she borrowed a digital camera from a friend while she was travelling in Botswana, and everything just fell into place. ISSUE 02 P 26
Image: Karin Retief
Image: Christina Koch
“I was hooked immediately, as my personality suits digital perfectly. I don’t have patience to work on a painting for days. I love instant gratification. Digital is perfect for that. I can ‘paint’ with light and I can immediately see what works or what doesn’t, it is my shortcut to traditional painting,” she says. For Christina, meditation is a way to connect with her inner self. During this meditative state, a door opens and reveals a vision, which inspires her work. Yet there are times when she creates an image purely because she wants to tell a story or symbolise something.
Image: Christina Koch
The likeness of her friend Pepe is one such image. “I believe he is an angel in disguise and I wanted to illustrate this by using wings in his portrait.” Christina emphasises that you don’t need to spend a fortune or go to faraway places to find inspiration. “For example, when I go for a walk on the beach and see an interesting stone, it will trigger an idea to use it with a picture I took of soft clouds. The end product almost creates itself through elements I put together,” she says. “I want to make people aware that beauty can be found in ordinary, everyday things. We miss the beauty of things right under our noses, because we see them too often.” More of her work can be seen at: www.prayingmantisphotography.smugmug.com/ and her contact no is 081 124 5858
Title for this story is from the song, Stranger In a Strange Land by U2
Image: Christina Koch
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“Photography for me renders my imagination in tangible form. I use life as a starting point. It’s always about seeing something, knowing how you want it to look, and making it so. Making it so is the easy part; seeing it in the first place is what makes a photo. I am lucky to live in Swakopmund and here between this wild coast, the dunes, and the hard desert and excellent quality of light photographs awaits you around every corner. There is so much beauty and it gives me pleasure to see it and then capture it. Our whole planet is like this. I think no matter where you live. Beauty is everywhere. I am not a purist. I like do fiddle with my photos. Sometimes a lot and sometimes not at all. When I am out there with my camera everything else disappears. It becomes meditation ... peaceful and content. No matter how busy a day gets. At the end of the day I walk on the beach ... or in the dunes and all is good...” Christina Koch
Image: Christina Koch
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Image: Christina Koch
Image: Christina Koch
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Image: Christina Koch
F
rom a South African magazine to an international advertising company – it seems a young secretary, Keshi Frans from Swakopmund, is going places! A while ago she stole the heart of Elle DECORATION editor, Laureen Rossouw, who was in Swakopmund doing a feature on architecture. Laureen was so impressed with Keshi that she added another element to the shoot in order to include more of the youngster. This year South African producer Lesley-Ann Mulder from Outbound Films auditioned her and 30 other hopefuls for the part of a teacher in a film advertisement for DHL International, which was being filmed at Spitzkoppe. She got the part and the experience of a lifetime, working with one of Europe’s most esteemed film directors, Frederic Planchon.
Image: Karin Retief
LIN caught up with Lesley-Ann, who has worked with the likes of Will Smith, Colin Farrell and Paul Walker, and Keshi to tell us about the experience. Lesley-Ann, what was your first impression of Keshi? On meeting Keshi for the first time, I was struck immediately by her graceful poise. She exuded confidence and was exceptionally calm, considering this was the first time she had participated in a film casting for a high end international TV advertisement. What made her stand out from the others? Her ability to present herself professionally in front of camera. It’s as though Keshi had been doing this for some time; it did not take long for her to get into character and perform the part with ease. Keshi is an extremely confident, special young lady with a lot of spirit! Her natural beauty, along with a special glow from within, got her the part almost immediately. The director, Frederic Planchon, found her to be exceptional and easy to direct; he commented on how good she looked on camera and that her natural talent could take her far. That is a big compliment from such an esteemed and respected director! How did she handle herself on the day of the shoot? With ease! She engaged with the children immediately and spent most of her time with them between shots, as there was a lot of waiting around while we shot the technical aerial footage. Keshi took this opportunity to get to know them, practise with them and find out more about each child, without any prompting from us. By the time it came to working with her and the children in the classroom setup she knew each of them by name and managed to keep them engaged and interested in the process, which can become laborious and tiresome for most people, even qualified teachers. She certainly made the children feel more comfortable in their roles through the time she spent with them beforehand. They loved her! All producers and camera operators were amazed that this was the first time Keshi had ever done anything like this. ISSUE 02 P 34
Keshi featured in Elle DECORATION Keshi, describe the process and how you felt. When I heard they were casting I wanted to participate, but I was so scared. I did not know what was going to be expected of me and I was scared of strange people. The casting was nervewracking, but I decided it was like playing in a movie and I had to imagine I was a teacher and play the role. I think I was a strict teacher! And the day of filming? JO! What an experience! All the people staring at you and all the lights and cameras! But it was very nice; I made a lot of friends and met so many interesting people. Usually I am shy with new people, but everyone made me feel so welcome that I relaxed and started to enjoy myself. I am still in contact with some of the crew. I still cannot believe I was chosen, dreams do come true!
a
dream come true
Image: Karin Retief
The design of House Keulder is contemporary, displays elegant, sustainable west coast desert architecture and is a good value-for-money investment.
W
hen Theunis and Desmeon Keulder built their new home, they wanted a place where the family could spend the whole weekend indoors if the weather was unpleasant outside. They wanted an indoor swimming pool as a main feature; the contemporary house had to provide easy living and low maintenance and utilise the magnificent ocean views. In short, a holiday home that was also their permanent abode. They asked Bob Mould & Scheffer Architects, to take on the challenge. Project architect Phil-Mari Engelbrecht says, “Conceptually, the spatial layout makes full use of the sea view and was largely designed to accommodate the harsh environmental factors and climate, while still being contextually appropriate. This resulted in a composition of primary, well-proportioned shapes with clean contemporary lines and inspirational interior spaces.”
The inside of the house has a light and open feel with flowing spaces. Well-balanced textures create an enjoyable holiday feel while maintaining a sense of sophistication.
Theunis Keulder says the architect did an amazing job in visualising their ideas and transferring them to paper. One of the factors ensuring the smooth building process was the input he received from OBECO. He says, “Herman Geiger from OBECO in Swakopmund got the plans of the house and worked out all the specifications for sanitary ware and tiles. You cannot imagine how much that helped us! It really took a lot of pressure off us and we enjoyed the process as a result.”
Undermount Sinks – Franke, Lever Kitchen Mixer – Axor Hansgrohe
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Bath – Victoria and Albert Bath Mixer – Copenhagen by Ixia
Shower Fittings – Talis, Chroma and Unica by Hansgrohe, Shower Rack – Bathroom Butler, Trap – Viega, Glass Door – Showerline
Unigue Lodges
Desert Breeze Lodge
theStiltz
For the Romantic Adventurer
In its prime position above the ephemeral Swakop River overlooks a vast and sensuous apricot dune sea, offering you the ultimate desert experience. Although only a five minute drive from the town centre, its Spectacular location provides peace and tranquility. Here you can relax and enjoy the privilege of savoring the ancient Namib Desert.
9 Bungalows: 3 twins, one honeymoon bungalow. All Bungalow accommodates 2 people each and one family bungalow which accommodates up to 4 people.
Slabs of rough rock and large sculptures add power and raw energy to the setting, with large wooden beams accentuating the modern features of the lodge. The 12 bungalows and three-roomed villa have been creatively Constructed with attention to shape and form, providing bursts of colour that bring the desert setting to life. Each bungalow has a balcony and sitting area, while a fireplace offers warmth and a cosy atmosphere on those cool west coast evenings overlooking the dunes. The Desert Breeze is where to experience Namib grandeur, while relaxing in comfort and style. Location: S22° 40’50” E 14° 33’10” Tel: +264 64 406 236 E-mail: info@ desertbreezeswakopmund.com Web: www.desertbreezeswakopmund.com
AUAS Safari Lodge
16 Comfortable furnished, all en-suite rooms, with a private terrace. Auas Safari Lodge is situated in the heart of Namibia’s unspoiled nature, 45 minutes by car from the Windhoek International Airport on the B1 turning onto the D1463, thus making it an ideal starting point to a tour of Namibia, or as last destination before your journey home.
Unique in every aspect, staying at the Stiltz offers the most spectacular views in Swakopmund overlooking either the Atlantic Ocean, the river-bed, the sand dunes and the bird rich lagoon at the river mouth. If that does not take your breath away, the architecture of these wooden bungalows built on stilts will. Each private bungalow has been attended to in the finest detail, interlinked by wooden walkways to the other and the main breakfast bungalow.
That is if you really feel like leaving your bungalow! The Stiltz is eco-friendly and has just received a two flower eco award for environmental awareness.
Location 45km South to south east of Windhoek on the D1463. S 22° 46’47 E 17° 19’1,9
Location Strand Str. Swakopmund S22° 41.18 E 014° 31.514
Class: Lodge, 3 Star
Tel: +264 64 400 771 Fax +264 64 400 711 E-mail: info@thestiltz.com Web: www.thestiltz.com
Tel: +264 (0)61 240043 fax: +264 (0)61 248 633 E-mail: info@auas-safarilodge.com Web: www.auas-safarilodge.com
No job is too big or too small!
bannersSTICKERS LOGO BILLBOARDS DESIGN - SHIRT SAFETY SIGNS T PRESS
business cards
Class: B&B, 4 Star
You will fall in a defiant space, yet you are only Minutes away from the charming town centre with plentiful restaurants, loads of activities and all the amenities you could wish for...
For the African Game Lover
WEDDING CARDS
We also have 2 luxury villas accommodating up to 6 people. All accommodation provides a balcony with views of the dunes, the lagoon and the ocean, en-suite bathrooms with shower and Mini bar.
REAL ESTATE BOARDS COPIES
WB Shopping Center Shop 18 Vrede Rede Street 081 7444774 064 40 3253
Vineta
body art
Image: Marta Majo
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Image: Karin Retief
t
attooing is as old as humanity itself. Generations ago in Western societies it was considered the mark of an outcast. Today it is high fashion for both sexes of all economic classes, with musicians, artists and movie stars leading the way. For a young woman from Swakopmund, Annelize Ras, the decision to decorate her body came to her in a dream. She says she had never thought of having a tattoo, but one night she had a dream showing her body tattooed with Jangroentjies (Malachite Sunbirds). She says, “That’s when I made the decision to have a tattoo, and I went to Charmain Foster of Tattoo Fever in Walvis Bay. I told her the theme should be wild flowers.” Together they created a design featuring flowers, grasses, leaves and a dandelion blowing in the wind. In the future she will add a sunbird extracting nectar from a flower. Annelize says, “I think people do tattoos to look pretty, to be part of a group, to shock – or it can be symbolic. There are so many reasons, really.
“Mine is for decoration, showing my love for nature.” Izzy Fourie, a tattoo artist from Swakopmund, sees people from all walks of life at her tattoo shop. One man, who had just lost his father, came in to have his dad’s name tattooed on angel wings. A few days ago a woman in her 70s came in for a tattoo. “You get the ‘prison’ tattoos,” ISSUE 02 P 40
Image: Karin Retief Izzy says, “these are the ones people do themselves and they come here to fix them up. It is very difficult, as they are usually very deep; I call them scars rather than tattoos.”
She says, “It was %$#@&* painful! “After the first four hours we took a 15-minute break and after that break I could not bear the pain any longer, was unimaginable.
Izzy says she always discusses the reason for a tattoo with a client before starting. She makes sure they fully understand that this is something that will decorate their bodies for a lifetime.
“My body’s ability to handle it was gone. But there was no turning back and I wanted to finish the process. Charmain carried on while I was sobbing, biting hard on my teeth and trying not to cry like a baby!”
She says, “A teenager once asked me for a ‘tramp stamp’ on her lower back, which I refused to do. I decided that she was too young to realise the symbolic meaning (her availability to men) of this.”
The whole process took seven hours.
Annelize had no idea what to expect in terms of the pain involved, but knew it would be a big challenge because of the size of the image.
She loves her decoration and says it reminds her of her yearning to live close to nature, her love for flowers, her femininity and the “fynbos” she adores. @LIN
Afterwards she realised it felt like giving birth. Not the pain factor, but the feeling of absolute relief and happiness in knowing the pain was over.
Beautiful Surprise
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SOLE MANDATE
Hettie Beukes 081 374 97 87
I
t’s like a scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark. A small window in a door reveals nothing interesting, but when you open the door the scene is so unexpected that you’re stunned into disbelief. Richard Downing of Downing Designs was reminded of this clip from the movie when he was approached by a client and briefed to design a stylish home with exquisite finishes, but without pretension. “I wanted to design a house with a surprise,” he says. “I started at a central point, focusing on an imposing teak staircase, and the rest of the house grew from this centre outwards. “Although I created huge spaces, I still kept a sense of community within the home by allowing all the rooms to live towards this central point.” And that is exactly how this house reveals itself.
The outside design of the house has elements of the 1960s “box” look combined with uncomplicated, clean and asymmetric lines. Fibre cement cladding adds texture. Walking towards the house you are drawn to a vista, a gateway leading you forward and revealing the main house on your left and a versatile building to your right which can be used, among other things, as an office space, play area or studio.
When you open the front door, your first impression is space and light, and your focus is immediately drawn to the commanding staircase. “The design of the staircase was a once-off and it was very complicated to construct, but a student from Germany doing his apprenticeship at D.G. Fritze convinced me that he could do it. He took it on as his personal challenge,” Richard says. Like the perfect combination of sugar and salt in a recipe, the kitchen has an industrial feel while the lounge and living areas with their dramatic curtains, huge north-facing windows and impressive lights hanging from the ceiling, create a romantic atmosphere. “It is what I call Industrial Elegance,” says Richard. The double volume open loft theme is a modern concept and adds to the remarkable expanse of the living space. By mixing textures, colours and elements, the area creates its own pockets of living space, each with its own character and feel. For example, artist Nadine Downing created a modern washed and textured look with cement screed and white paint on the clay brick columns, to contrast perfectly with the industrial stainless steel, wood finishes and porcelain tiles. ISSUE 02 P 44
Kitchen for a chef with gas cooker, extractor fan and huge walk-in pantry. The laundry/dishwashing room is a walk-in, close the door behind you space with a 2.5m washing line and enough space for a dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, fridge and freezer.
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The loft area is a cosy family room, yet offers a big space and connects the two kids’ bedrooms on the one side and main bedroom on the other side. Leading off the loft area is a staircase to the outside terrace, from where the ocean and desert views are endless. In fact, the main bathroom, loft living room and one of the children’s rooms have the same breathtaking view. The outside terrace adds another outside living area and is cleverly designed, with approved building plan regulations that allow a roof to be constructed should the need arise.
The built-in barbecue is bigger than normal, beautifully framed with sleepers. The bar and entertainment area can comfortably host an eight-seater dining table, while sliding doors to the outside area offer green grass and a large play area for the kids. Walking past the barbecue area, you find a guest bedroom and bathroom, which opens up to a private garden.
Hettie Beukes (C.E.A.)
The house has an open, light and elegant feel, without compromising the homely feel of cosiness and warmth. Title for this story is the song “Beautiful Surprise” by India Arie
of Susan Curtis Estates for more information
081 374 97 87
Of
God
and
Nature
LIN
meets up with architect Sanderine Bierman at Bobby Jo’s Café, for coffee and a chat. It’s her birthday and it’s hard to keep a conversation going, as every second passer-by stops at our table to congratulate her. This spontaneous daughter of local and much loved Dr Bierman is steadily making a name in architectural circles, not just in Namibia but in South Africa as well. She has the gift of grasping the essence of a client’s needs and transferring those needs visually to that particular client’s lifestyle. Her talent extends not only to the creation of individual spaces like homes, but public spaces are also transformed with personal style under her hand. The recently finished Swakopmund Luxury Suites is one such example. The client wanted to refurbish an old ’80s style building, with limited dark space, into luxury suites.
The environment was an important factor to consider in the design of House Hugo.
“Working closely with the clients gave me a good understanding of their style, and I worked from that platform. I wanted to create a soft and minimalistic theme, not too cold, and it was important to stay true to the structure.”
Sanderine’s décor choices for her client, Swakopmund Luxury Suites, were based on “soft minimalism” and creating sensual contrasts through combinations of textures like glass, concrete, wood and steel.
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To bring as much light in as possible she used mostly white and light greens, browns and blues. Each room has its own personality, but the essence and feel of the building itself follows a similar theme. A pale or monotone pallet can become very unfriendly, though, and to create a homely feel she played around with textures like cement, wood, stone, glass and clay. “I love creating a home, to create a lifestyle for a client. For this particular client I wanted to create a sensual feeling of calm. When a traveller enters the building, hot and tired after a long journey, he must be transported by stimulated senses to a serene place. “When he walks down the entrance hall and trails his hand along the wall, he will feel a contrast of cold steel and texture on the wall and the warmth of the sun through a split in the roof. “Passing a huge glass bottle, he will notice the dancing rays reflecting in the sun and have a sense of water, the smell of the wood, the feeling and sound of stones moving under his feet.” All these senses instil a feeling of calm. “If I enter a building all my senses go into overdrive. I am a child of nature, which is where I connect with my inner self, where I feel free and can breathe.
Lourensford Wine Estate
“And this reverence for nature is what I bring to my buildings and décor. Nature is a master artist from whom I’ve learned, still learn, how to combine elements.
had to work with an existing building, when designing a new home from scratch other factors need to be taken into account.
“Look closely at a leaf and you will discover its artistry in design, colour, texture, form and function – all the elements you need as an architect!
The environment was an important factor to consider in the design of Kirsten and Eugene Hugo’s new home, which she completed while still working at Mackintosh Lautenbach Architects.
“Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was associated with the aphorism ‘God is in the details’; he had a great influence on architecture with his ideas of minimal framework of structural order balanced against the implied freedom of freeflowing open space.” In contrast to the Swakopmund Luxury Suites, where Sanderine
The area and its proximity to the ocean and natural factors like desert wind influenced the design and choice of materials. Every project has its own unique requirements, and the architect chosen brings not only experience and knowledge of design, but also the inner self.
“I grew up in Swakopmund, and by default the desert and ocean are woven into every aspect of my being, as is my love for architecture and décor. I don’t think I can be with one and not the other. “My life revolves around love for family, friends and nature, and I get inspiration from the smallest detail in a grain of sand or leaf, its shape and pattern. God truly is in the detail,” she says.
Sanderine Bierman Architects sanderinebierman@gmail.com
Luxury
in the heart of Swakopmund
S WA K O P M U ND
LUXURY SUITES
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No 228C Corner of Tobias Hainyeko Str and Am Zoll Website: www.swakopmundluxurysuites.com Email: swakopmundluxurysuites.com Tel: 064 463298 Fax: 064 463299
PEREIRA ISSUE 02 P 50
We bring seafood excellence to your table
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Try these delicious recipes!
Kidney Beans with Squid
Hake casserole
Seafood Stew
Ingredients: 3t olive oil 2t garlic cup of chopped onion 1 big red pepper, chopped 1 block of clean squid 300gr baked beans 2t parsley Preparation: Defrost squid. Saute onion, garlic and red pepper in pan with olive oil on low heat. Add seasoning, 2t of parsley. Once mixture is poached add the squid, allow to cook for 10-15 minutes over low heat. Add tomato and cook for 10 more minutes. Add the baked beans, simmer for a couple of minutes. Serve with rice or potato bake.
Ingredients: 3t olive oil 6 asparagus 1t crushed garlic half onion, cut in small pieces parsley 1 tomato 8 pieces of hake 2 red or green peppers Prepatation: Saute the onion, garlic and tomato in an earthen pan in 3t of olive oil on moderate heat. When hot, add the hake slices. Season and add parsley, cook for 10 minutes. Adorn with asparagus and peppers. Dish goes well with side potato bake or rice.
Ingredients: 2 cups of chopped fennel 1 cup chopped onion 4t crushed garlic 2t tomato paste 1 cup dry white wine 4 cups chicken stock 1t fish sauce 2 medium tomatoes cut in pieces 8 pieces of hake 800g mussels and 800g prawns pepper, parsley, 1 lemon, salt, 2t olive oil Method: Heat oil and fennel, stir for 3 minutes. Add onion, garlic and tomato paste. Turn up heat and stir until paste darkens. Add white wine, stir for 3 minutes. Add chicken stock, tomatoes, fish sauce, pepper and hake, simmer few minutes, add prawns and mussels. Simmer till mussels are cooked. Add the juice of half a lemon, sprinkle with parsley.
PEREIRA
O
kahirongo
Elephant Lodge Story & Photos: Anna-Mart Kruger & Helene Wiggett www.hawkphotography.org
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“WOMAN” by Zin Maisiri ISSUE 02 P 54
ADVERTORIAL and excellent service. The astonishing vista after the rains is a landscape photographer’s dream.
Place of Beauty Perched on a hill above the banks of the Hoarusib River, Okahirongo Elephant Lodge is a refuge for all those seeking a break from boisterous cars, cellphones, buzzing air conditioners and the hectic rush of urban life. Here at possibly one of the most remote lodges in Namibia, you’ll encounter a genuine safari experience. Okahirongo Elephant Lodge fulfils its promise of absolute silence and complete privacy – at the same time dazzling your senses with its mix of stylish tranquility and eccentric architecture, ultimate comfort
Okahirongo Elephant Lodge is located 55km from the Skeleton Coast in the Purros Conservancy, home of the desert-adapted elephant, lion, black rhino and giraffe. Laze next to the turquoise infinity pool, read in the cool comfort of the library or relax and savor the African chic in one of the al fresco lounges – all you could ask for in this spectacular setting. At some point in the evening candlelight will lure you to one of the two elegant, airy dining rooms, or to the traditional “boma” (African meeting place), where you will dine on sumptuous Italian-Namibian fusion food, complemented by excellent wines. The menu changes daily, with many of the fresh ingredients grown on site.
Terracotta buildings are cleverly positioned to make the most of the grand views over the rugged Purros valley with its lush green river bed and purple mountains in the distance. Each of the seven units looks out over the boundless wilderness and has been fitted with pure luxury: en suite bathrooms with an inviting bathtub and two showers, one of which is outdoors. A private gazebo with day beds and cushions extends an open invitation to chill out in the shade, daydreaming or star watching. The décor is a rich combination of earthy tones, dark African wood and unrefined natural surfaces – textures reminiscent of the ruggedness of the landscape. Okahirongo Lodges and Camps PO Box 30078 Windhoek Namibia Telephone: 00 264 65 685 018/20 Fax: 00 264 65 685 019
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helping hands A Day in the Life of Anja Rohwer, founder of the DRC Women’s Project in Swakopmund. Words and Pictures: Karin Retief
Kids from the DRC Grow Together Kindergarten painted this mural at their school, portraying Anja.
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Ten women are sitting around a plastic table, their heads bowed in concentration on their beadwork, but lively conversations are the order of the day.
Arts and crafts from various women’s projects are sold at Kubatsirana, meaning “Helping Hands”, Anja’s non-profit shop in Libertina Amathila Street.
M
y five-year-old daughter Nina and I are waiting for Anja in Kubatsirana, the arts and crafts shop meaning “Helping Hands”, a not for profit shop for all the projects Anja supports. A little girl with orange and green beads in her hair and a bright pink tracksuit top runs in, starting a conversation with Nina. Anja is in close pursuit. “I am having a hard time keeping up with her, she is so excited to be in Swakop!” she smiles. The child’s name is Hope and she is from the Orlindi House of Safety, an orphanage in Windhoek founded by Claudia Namises which has been supported with running costs by Anja’s late mother. After her mother passed away, Anja took over her monther’s many charity projects. Anja says, “Hope came to us when she was three months old. We honestly did not think she was going to survive. She was a premature baby and her HIV positive mother died while giving birth to her. She was born without an opening at the end of her digestive tract. But I looked at her and said, “I have hope for this little one to make it, she is a tough little one. That is where she gets her name from.” And make it she did. Although still small for her age, she is a healthy and happy child and well taken care of by the loving staff
at Orlindi House. Anja found a sponsor, Conrad Gietl from Germany, for Hope’s reconstructive surgery and when she turned five she had the six-hour operation. Complications meant that the hospital stay lasted three days, and Hope started refusing food, too afraid to eat. Anja promised her a trip to Swakopmund to see the ocean for the first time if she started eating, and when she was discharged from hospital Anja went to fetch her. Now we all leave town in Anja’s Land Rover to visit the Democratic Resettlement Community (DRC) outside the town, where around 6 000 people live in informal housing and where her project is situated. On the way she tells me a little about this specific project, which she did not inherit from her mom but started on her own. “I first got a soup kitchen off the ground in 2008, providing the only meal of the day for some of the children. “Of course, it’s not enough to give someone food; I wanted their mothers to become independent, to learn skills and earn a living wage. So in 2010 I established the DRC Women’s Project where unemployed women are taught skills in the making of arts and crafts from beads
Anja promised Hope a trip to Swakopmund to see the ocean for the first time if she started eating, and when she was discharged from hospital Anja went to fetch her in Windhoek.
and recycled materials. The women sell the finished products to Kubatsirana and other outlets, where they are sold to the public without a percentage being added. “I realised that their children needed care when they were busy working, and the DRC ‘Grow Together Kindergarten’ was a natural extension a year later.” We arrive at the DRC Women’s Project and are greeted at the gate by Project Manager Karin Amunjela, who waves us in wearing a bright red coat, in stark contrast to the monotone surroundings. Anja calls out to her, “You look so beautiful – it must be the weather!” Ten women are sitting around a plastic table, their heads bowed in concentration on their beadwork, but lively conversations are the order of the day. A few children are on breasts, some crawl around and under the table; two dogs are stretched out lazily in the sun. It is hot and dusty, so unlike the mist we had just left behind. I sit down with Karin in her office, while Hope and Nina join the kids on the jungle gym. This dynamic woman is a single mother of nine kids and board member of nearby Hangeneni School.
DRC Women’s Project Manager Karin Amunjela says what makes the project so successful is that the women work for themselves. “It’s up to them how many products they want to make, we buy every item from them, so the more they make the more they sell.”
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“There are currently 25 women at the beading project. A project that was very popular was the ‘travelling dolls’. It was a good seller,” she says. “The DRC Woman’s project is a good achievement because it
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Children play on the jungle gym of the Grow Together Kindergarten, while their mothers work on their beadmaking projects at the DRC Women’s Project.
allows for women to work for themselves.” Back outside one of the bead workers, Fransina Haingula, says she has been working with the project for three years and can make up to N$1 200 a month, depending on how fast she makes her products. The activities she enjoyed most were the Christmas dolls and doilies. Before the enterprise she was unemployed and struggling to survive with her two children. She says the project has been a life saver. “Now I have skills to make my own business, the more I make the more money I take home. My favourite colours to work with are yellow, black and white.”
May God bless her and all that she has done for me.” Driving back, Hope and Nina are sitting in the back seat paging through a book on dinosaurs. When I prompted Hope to talk about the operation she says, “I had to carry a ‘sakkie’ all the time, I could not kaka normally, but now I can run and play.” “Yes, and this year we are buying you a swimsuit,” Anja adds. “You mean I can swim?” she shouts happily, as this has not occurred to her. “What do you like to do?” I ask.
The project has changed the life of every woman who has joined, for the better. Sharon Matamata is a single mother of two who was promoted from the beading table to running the soup kitchen, where 65 children receive food twice a week. “When I came here I had no skills, but Anja send me on a course at COSDEF where I learned all about cooking and hygiene. Now I have a house with electricity – before, I lived under plastic sheeting with my two children. I am so proud of Anja. I never expected to have this life.
“I like to dance, sing and read and I love my Mommy (looking at Anja) and my Nana (Claudia from Orlindi house), they have taken care of me since I was a baby, but I am not a baby anymore.” She has lost interest in the conversation and returns to Nina and the book. I ask Anja, who is a qualified graphic designer, why she does this work. “I just do it,” she says. I sit back to enjoy the drive back to town and think to myself, there really is no better reason.
Photo: KarMa Photography Upcycled light made from discarded plumbing and table from an old wood crate were handpicked in Europe by Joanna Woermann.
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don’t just recycle,
upcycle
by converting waste materials into new, quality products with increased value. DARE INTERIORS Danien van Niekerk, Manageress of the WellNess Centre in Swakopmund, needed to open a “hobby shop”. Her passion for collecting vintage products and upcycling throwaway goods had filled her house to overflowing and there was simply no more room. The timing was perfect – she was expanding her interior décor business at the same time. She called her new space “DARE INTERIORS” as a tribute to her mother, who has been her biggest inspiration. “What I fondly remember from my childhood is my Mom always busying herself with one project or another. I accompanied her to auctions, where she sniffed around for unique or interesting pieces, sometimes fixing them or otherwise reselling them. “She started recycling products long before it became a fashion trend. I inherited from her this love of making old things new and of collecting vintage goods, and I named my shop after her because she opened that door for me.” Danien says of the interior décor side of her shop, “I love revamping spaces for clients. It could be an old office needing a facelift or a home in need of some fresh ideas. I once had a client who could not sell his house. I focused on a few key areas with a little bit of paint and some clever makeover work – he sold his house shortly afterwards.” You will find Danien’s colourful shop at the WellNess Centre in Libertina Amathila Street, Swakopmund. Email: dare_interiors@live.com Danien organises a flea market on the last day of the month at The WellNess Center. To find out more or book a stall, contact her on 081 129 0029.
Old tennis racket with mirror. Vinyl records converted to clocks from Kitsch Collectables.
Sea shells, calendars, plastic bags, plastic bottles and throwaway offcut material strips, made into new products with increased value, from Meme Ikhoba.
infinite infinity
Swakopmund Jetty Photo: Xenia Ivanoff-Erb www.xeniaivanoff.com
T
he changes Woermann Haus has seen over the years are best described by an old German proverb, “Kaufmanns gut ist ebbe und flut”. A good merchant’s luck is like the ebb and flow of the tides ... sometimes low, six hours later high. In recognition of the service Woermann, Brock & Co has provided to Namibia, LIN takes a closer look at the history of the much loved Woermann Haus in Swakopmund and joins in the celebration of the company’s
120th birthday.
The historic Woermann House, built in 1904, was used as a residence, office and guesthouse for high ranking officers of the Woermann shipping line, which served the west and east coasts of southern Africa. The building was bordered by the Damara Bank (today the First National Bank), the power station (now the parking next to Kukis pub) and several shops, of which the oldest is occupied today by Mr Price. The original Damara & Namaqua Handelsgesellschaft mbH was established in Hamburg in 1894 for trade in the German colony of South West Africa. It was renamed Woermann, Brock & Co after the first partners, Adolph and Eduard Woermann, Max Brock and Arnold Amsinck, and its headquarters was in Swakopmund. From 1900 until the beginning of Word War 1, there were up to 32 branches of the company all over Namibia. Goods offered ranged from maize to water pumping equipment. The business was already divided into general goods, technical, agricultural and mining divisions.
07
Ankerplatz is a visual celebration of colour and form, blending the old and new in perfect contrast.
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Photos: KarMa Photography
ADVERTORIAL Only the initiative of Dr Weber and concerned Swakopmunders saved it from being demolished. After a while the building again fell into a sort of Cinderella sleep until the late 1990s, when the municipality, together with the Woermann family, had the vision to make Woermann Haus more accessible to both tourists and Swakopmunders. The idea was to build a mall leading from both Sam Nujoma and Moltke Streets towards the back yard of Woermann Haus.
The character of the new design is a modern adaptation of the German craft “fachwerk” and the colour derives from its historical background.
In Swakopmund the company erected the beautiful Woermann Haus and the Damara Turn, as well as the first power station in southern Africa. In 1924 the historic building was taken over by the Municipality of Swakopmund, who used it, among other things, as a school hostel. After heading the company for 30 years, Eduard Wardesky passed away in 1929 and was succeeded by Wilhelm Brock.
When he retired in 2001 due to failing health, he entrusted the management to his sons Jesko and Ingo Woermann. It took Woermann Haus, like the ebb and flow of the ocean, a few ups and downs on its journey to becoming one of the landmark buildings in Swakopmund. In the mid-1970s the building was in such bad condition that it was to be pulled down.
Ankerplatz was a vacant area which was transformed from a “space” to become a “place” by giving it contextual meaning, which derived from cultural and regional content referring to history, culture, colour, texture and uniqueness. Surrounded by historical buildings and linked with the new, the courtyard is enclosed and exposed, with vistas to add to the distinct character and quality of this urban area. The theme was inspired by the “Jolly Art” of the German artist, Friedens Reich Hundertwasser, giving Ankerplatz a happy and relaxed atmosphere, enjoyed by both tourists and locals.
In the 1950s the company rose from the ashes of war and depression with Wilhelm Brock in Swakopmund and Willem Engberts in Windhoek, together with resourceful men such as Ascan Woermann, Wemil Heinricksen, Erich Woermann and Wilfred Matheis, to become the well-loved and iconic Namibian business of today. Konrad Woermann took charge of the management of Woermann, Brock & Co in 1960.
Strolling around Ankerplatz at dusk transports you to a fairyland.
Michael Weber donated the anchor for the Ankerplatz in the Woermann Brock Mall. The Mall combines the past and the future and the anchor has symbolic meaning, as the Woermann family came from a shipping line background. Like a ship finds rest when the anchor is dropped, locals and tourists alike find a few minutes of rest in its company.
Southern Cross Steven and Toya Louw spent 11years sailing around the world on their catamaran Cheers. They tell their story to
Elaine Thompson
Story: Elaine Thompson Photos: Toya and Steven Louw It is the calm after the storm. After a weekend of scorching, gusty desert winds, I find myself on a crisp, clear Monday morning making my way to Walvis Bay to chat with Toya Louw about her travels. The ocean is mirror-like, and the dunes look newly minted; it’s nature at its most beguiling. And it sets the tone for our conversation perfectly.
T
he unpredictability of the elements is something Walvis Bay-born Steven and native Swakopmunder Toya Louw know only too well: having crossed oceans and sailed three circuits of the Pacific, they have weathered their fair share of rough seas and howling winds. They have come to appreciate and respect the sheer wildness of what Mother Nature can throw at one. Now, after 11 years spent sailing around the world on their catamaran Cheers, as well as crewing on the 62-foot gunboat Cucubelle, they’re back in Namibia, enjoying the relative luxuries of a land-based life. Inspired by their friends Heiko and Diane Metzger, who set off to sail around the world, Toya and Steven Louw decided in 1995 to make the necessary arrangements to follow suit. After another seven years of planning, they rented out their house in Lüderitz, sold Toya’s backpackers’ lodge and handed over Steven’s diamond diving business to his partner to run while they started their circumnavigation of the world. In 2000 they purchased a 36-foot catamaran and finally in April 2003 set sail on the adventure of a lifetime.
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It must be almost impossible to pick out the highlights of your travels, but please share some with us.
While sailing through the Pacific we would apply for visas for ourselves and had to apply for a separate permit for our yacht.
Our first journey, which was from Walvis Bay to St Helena, took eight days. On arrival we caught our first big wahoo at sunset. Thereafter we soaked up the history in Jamestown and enjoyed the warm clear Atlantic snorkelling and diving. It was a great introduction to sailing. When we continued our journey we had perfect conditions crossing the Atlantic and spinnaker-sailed most of the way to Salvador in Brazil.
Most countries had never had a boat visiting them from Namibia! We’d stay in a country until we had to leave when the visas ran out. We spent a year in Fiji, and left when, sadly, extending our visa was no longer an option.
Thereafter we sailed through the Caribbean and then crossed the Panama Canal into the vast Pacific. This was a highlight of our entire sailing career, as we spent time on some of the most remote islands. A really memorable moment was watching tow-in surfing in Teahupoo in Tahiti. There we witnessed 15-25-foot waves and photographed some of the world’s best surfers such as Shane Dorian and Laird Hamilton in action. Of all the assembled surf photographers, Steven and I had the best vantage point: we were in a dinghy right up close to the action, with him steering us into position and me clicking away frantically!
Photo: Toya Louw
Sometimes we didn’t see land for up to a month, and when we did make landfall, we’d explore by mountain bike, replenish our fresh fruit supplies and spend time with the locals. We fished and became quite adept at catching some sizable fish such as sailfish, dorado (known there as Mahi Mahi) and tuna, and then would pick fruit when we were on land. We always asked permission first, though, if there were people around because every papaya or pampelmousse tree has an owner! Some islands had nothing on them other than thousands of coconut palms. I remember the trip from the Galapagos to Fatu Hiva fondly, as that was our first stop in the Marquesas Islands.
After 21 uninterrupted days at sea, it was a rather emotional landfall seeing these massive mountain peaks rising out of the sea with lush valleys and waterfalls and fruit trees everywhere. Fatu Hiva is known as one of the most picturesque landfalls in the world. In Borneo in South East Asia we did a river trip into the jungle and saw the endangered orangutans, which are rapidly being wiped out by palm oil plantations. Diving in the Pacific was spectacular: we had 50-metre visibility and encountered manta rays, sharks and schools of beautiful big pelagic fish. Sometimes we travelled inland when we found a safe place to leave our boat. We left our boat in Venezuela where we hauled out for maintenance and did some travelling into the Andes, where we went paragliding and saw the highest waterfall in the world, the Angel Falls. We spent six months in Brazil, where we found the people to be incredibly friendly and hospitable. It’s a huge country and it’s slow going on a sailing boat; we could have stayed much longer, but in those days only six months was given on your boat visa. It has now changed to two years.
And on the flipside, what were the worst times? Bad weather! When we sailed out of New Zealand, after a 10-day trip from Opua to Savu Savu in Fiji, we had terrible weather for seven days, beating into head-on winds, hoping the weather would improve. Instead it just got worse and worse.
Most places didn’t know where Namibia was, so more often than not we had to show them on a map!
What made you decide to take a break from sailing? I’m sure you haven’t given it up for good yet.
How did you and Steven manage those long periods when it was just the two of you on board, very far removed from civilisation? How did you manage to not go crazy in those close confines?
After being away for 11 years and having such an exciting lifestyle I’m now really excited by the conveniences that life on land offers.
When you’re manning a yacht with one other person, you have to function and identify as a team because your lives depend on it.
I can go shopping and buy what we need, I can drive a car again and visit my family and friends whenever I want to, and I’ve just bought a washing machine and dishwasher!
Sailing is hard work; you alternate and share duties and support one another, because the alternative doesn’t bear thinking about.
Both Steven and I are at a point where we want to call some place home and have a base, and Namibia is that for us.
Considering just how much sailing we did and how many countries we checked into, we had surprisingly few hassles. Generally officials were friendly and excited to see a Namibian-registered boat in their waters.
It helps that Steven and I are a close couple who love being together, but even so there were times when we needed our own space.
This is where we are from.
Checking into Indonesia was a challenge, as they took three days to clear us in and wanted to charge us lots of money to bring our boat into their country.
Even just jumping in the sea and going for a swim to the shore and a walk on the beach helped! Sailing can make or break a relationship or you as a person.
These were instances where a bribe was being elicited, but they were isolated incidents.
But we managed and are now learning how to be a couple on land again.
Waves crashing over the boat continuously and leaking hatches were not fun. Given the hoops one is made to jump through when undertaking international air travel, did you ever experience any serious immigration complications?
Customs in Brisbane weren’t particularly friendly and there is a lot of paperwork and red tape involved in visiting Australia.
Being able to speak a little of the local language when you enter a foreign place is a big help!
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While you are sailing you keep busy with routines such as your night and day watches, which are three hours on and then three hours off, fishing lures trolling behind the boat at all times, navigation and doing research on your next destination, cleaning and maintenance, baking fresh bread and cooking, reading, learning languages, planning your route and planning your trip around the weather.
Having said that, Cheers is on hardstand in Thailand, so we’ll have to go and fetch her at some point and cross the last ocean home. It’s still in our hearts to travel, so I don’t think we will ever settle down for good. We do have ideas of getting back to the Pacific, but via another route one day. Most important gadget on board Cheers? Our watermaker that we purchased in St Maarten, which produced 50 litres of fresh water per hour! An Iridium satellite phone so we could download weather reports and get emails and for safety, and an EPIRB (distress beacon). Scariest moment? Crossing seven shipping lanes as we sailed the Malacca Straits into Singapore. Having too much sail up and flying down a big wave at 18 knots. Being chased by a fishing boat off the coast of Venezuela at night. A memorable moment? Seeing a live volcano erupting while standing on the rim of it in Tanna Vanuatu. Steven: There are many of those, but one very long memorable one was spending six months surfing in Sumatra! @ LIN
Title for this story is from the song Southern Cross by Crosby, Stills and Nash.
Nadezna Swanepoel’s blog Nadezna works as a Psychological Counsellor, Auditory Integration Practitioner and Neurological Feedback Practitioner Cell: 081 234 0651 E-mail: nadeznaswanepoel@gmail.com
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Practising Loving Kindness
pictetus, a Greek philosopher observed, “We are affected not by things but by the view we take of them”.
After a long day, caught in the midst of the Namib heat, we reached our destination on day one.
Practising loving kindness to ourselves and to others is the first step towards changing the way we perceive the world.
Negative views are formed by habit. Experiencing the same emotions, the same reactions, moves us further away from the mindfulness that requires conscious awareness.
While walking through the campsite and investigating the area, an immediate enchantment for all that is wonderful was experienced by some, unaware of the negative.
Without knowledge and awareness we will not realise what ways we are in. We do not realise that acting strongly through these negative views comes from not considering the situation that is a driving force of the behaviour, or the being of others.
Compassion and listening lead us to the genuine essence of people, what reactions we are all having. We all have our unique package; we all gravitate towards a part of “me”. Warmhearted understanding is thus crucial.
Criticism and fixation on all that was wrong and negative was reflected by the others.
A recent trip through a barren part of our country with a group of friends, and reactions to the upheavals we had to endure, provided me with powerful observations of the modes we react from.
These can become habitual personal styles of being and reacting; reactions that we favor to whatever we perceive. With knowledge and empathy with ourselves and with others, change can take place.
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All the reactions can be divided into one of the three toxic modes; greed, anger or ignorance.
As you become more attuned, aware of your modes and still, your mind becomes clear. The crystal clarity of water can be compared to a clear mind driven not by the mud of confusion but by the clarity of wisdom. Movement towards mindfulness is what we should strive for.
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Caged bird By Maya Angelou 1928 – 2014
The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind and floats downstream till the current ends and dips his wings in the orange sun rays and dares to claim the sky. But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage can seldom see through his bars of rage
is wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing. The caged bird sings with fearful trill of the things unknown but longed for still and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom The free bird thinks of another breeze and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees and the fat worms waiting on a dawnbright lawn and he names the sky his own. But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing
Photo: Christina Koch
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Edit: Caroline Pajewski
The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom
The Festival Of Colours As seen through the lens of Imogen Pretorius from Walvis Bay.
Holi is an ancient Hindu festival marking the beginning of Spring, enabling us to rid ourselves of past errors, to forget and forgive and to celebrate the victory of good over evil.
evolve Zelda Lourens Evolve Entertainment 081 1246 081
Photos: Sharmine Livingstone of Desert Catering CC
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Q&A The performing arts take many forms, and fire spinning must surely be one of the most visual and theatrical. LIN interviewed Zelda Lourens to find out more about it. When did you start fire spinning? I started fire spinning in 1998 during my travels to Australia. The instant I saw it, I thought, That is me! My soul recognised it. I love the flow, the movement. It’s like a combination of dance and martial arts. Can you tell us something about the technique? You don’t start with flames. You start with a set of poi balls, which are basically balls on a string. With one in each hand, you swing them around rhythmically. There are different moves with the poi, but the basic move that connects the flow is the Weave. This is crossing your hands over each other in a figure of eight motion. Once you have mastered the Weave, you can proceed to try the Fire Poi. The Fire Poi is made from kevlar, which is bound together in different ways to form a ball. This is then attached to chains, with handles at the ends. The handles are loops made from leather or other durable materials for handling. Where do you do most of the spinning – at parties, corporate functions, etc? Most of my bookings are for corporate functions and take place in The Dunes, Moonlandscape or at the beach in Swakopmund, although we also take bookings throughout the country. Where did the Fire Poi start? If you look at fire performances in a broader term globally, there are many different art forms that use fire. Different techniques form part of the historic culture of some tribes in the world. These include Antigua, India, Polynesia, Cuba, Bali – the oldest practice of fire performance is in Samoa. Samoa, for instance, had the Fire Knife or fire club, a demonstration of the warriors’ ability through twirling, throwing, catching and dancing. Ancient Aztecs performed a fire dance dedicated to the God of Fire, and today some of these fire rituals are also performed for tourists. Since the mid-1990s fire performance has grown in popularity, both as a hobby and as a professional fire skill. Today fire shows of all kinds can be found at music festivals, nightclubs, on beaches in tourist destinations and as street performances. I also read that the Burning Man Festival in the USA had a huge influence on the growth and awareness of fire performances.Today I make use of palm torches, staffs, angel wings, and I have performers that do fire breathing and also use a fire umbrella! Do you teach? Yes I do, and I LOVE teaching. I don’t give weekly classes, but am available for anyone that would like to learn. Most of the time I organise weekend workshops. Students need to practise on their own, and when they are ready for more, they come back.
Godfried’s grandmother greets Zelda in Thaba Village, Uganda.
Future plans? I am planning a big Fire Show at the end of the year, which will be a public event. I am teaming up with Moon Goddess Dance Studio, Dance Factory, Ombazu Drummers and a few other surprise performances for a Fire, Dance and Music Extravaganza. The Carnival of Flames will take place in December in Swakopmund. This is very exciting for me, as it is basically the culmination of the last 16 years of performance and events. This is the first show of its kind at the coast, and I am hoping that it will turn into an annual event. Do you have a life philosophy? I want to be the best I can be. To be light and free, and spread joy wherever I go. The simple things in life make me smile, like a beautiful sunset, or my dog running happily on the sand dunes. I love to see more of the planet. I think we are blessed to be alive and to live on a planet with SO much diversity in nature and its inhabitants. I would easily roam the planet for the rest of my life, taking in its beauty and mingling with its different tribes. Tell us a little of your favourite travelling experience. I recently travelled through East Africa on an overland truck for 50 days. Among the six different countries we visited, Uganda was by far my favourite. I loved the local villages with their mud houses scattered on the rolling green hills, with little footpaths crossing from home to home. In West Uganda, we went to visit our guide, Godfried’s village. called Thaba Village.He took us on a short trip in a dugout canoe to his home which is more like an islet, and we had to start climbing as soon as we got off the canoe, as there was hardly any flat area to dock. We climbed up the slippery slope to where Godfried’s family lived. Kids came to meet us and followed us around, singing and clapping hands happily in a gesture to welcome us to their village. It was such a fantastic atmosphere. Then Godfried’s grandma came to greet us. She is the elder of the village and the greeting I received from her was so overwhelming that I still cry today just thinking about it. It felt like my own grandmother was greeting me after a long absence, and I felt I had come home. In my travels I do sometimes feel that I have connected with the people and places before, in another life, but nothing as strongly as what I felt in Thaba Village! I felt loved and I felt happy. I had the sense that this was one of my happier lives. @ LIN
last shot
Photos: KarMa Photography
Kids enjoy a boat trip at the Walvis Bay Yacht Club, allways a favourite venue for a family outing.
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