FlyNamibia May 2022

Take me home! Your free copy

ISSUE 6 | MAY 2022

www.flynamibia.com.na flynamibia safari | adventure | lifestyle |

conservation | economic pulse | looking global | explore cape town

GOOD TODAY. BETTER TOMORROW.

from the publisher

Stories in FlyNamibia Magazine.

FIRE

“But how could you live and have no story to tell?”

- Fyodor Dostoevsky

A

is for Awesome... and Ads. To advertise in FlyNamibia magazine contact fly@venture.com.na.

Venture Publications (Pty) Ltd. PO Box 21593 Windhoek Namibia info@venture.com.na

Read this issue online!

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

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And collaboration is the future. FlyNamibia 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 personalities.

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WELCOME ON BOARD

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Excited about all things FlyNamibia.

FASHION FIERCE

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Linrico Humphries - Embracing meaningful and sustainable fashion

LIFE ON A TABLE

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Lamb and orzo one-pot wonder Youventsi.

HELLO AGAIN, CAPE TOWN

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Martha Mukaiwa heads back to the Mother City for some long-awaited explorations

THE AML CUP 41

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Fun for a cause in the Zambezi.

SHOP LOCAL-ISH

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The most unique local lifestyle brands and products.

THE TRIBE

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Katutura’s Favourite Son, Cassidy Karon.

10 MINUTES WITH LOCAL TASTE MAKERS

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FlyNamibia and Parted Hair partner to create something beautiful.

GOOD VIBES ONLY

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Your monthly dose of feel good news from Namibia and abroad.

A LIGHTHOUSE ON THE KWANDO RIVER 22 2

The Sijwa Project

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15 MIN SWEAT SET WITH ENA

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There is always time for a workout.

ECONOMIC PULSE

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Moody’s downgrades Namibia (again).

THE ART OF NOT TAKING THINGS PERSONALLY

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Other people’s opinions say more about them than they do about you.

SEEDS OF THE FUTURE LIE BURIED IN THE PAST

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Bellhaus Atelier & Galerie welcome an exhibition by Dewald Veldsman.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN

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How the charcoal industry is creating equality in Namibia.

ROYAL HUSTLERS

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Getting to know Jancke Rentel.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE ACROSS NAMIBIA

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Medical Rescue Africa - Namibia’s leading fixed-wing aeromedical evacuation company.

TRAVEL TALES

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Merry Crisis - a Travel Tale/Fail as crazy as the holidays.

THE PROJECT ROOM

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Michael Mansfield returns with a critical eye in Still Life Stories.

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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16 3

Purchase all your favourite CYMOT products online!

info@cymot.com +264 61 295 6000

www.cymot.com

Need To Knows. with FlyNamibia

How to buy

a ticket online Choose your ticket Select which tickets you would like to purchase. We offer multiple fare options such as: Saver, Classic or Premium

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Windhoek Eros Airport Office SkyLounge Eros Ondangwa airport office Rundu airport office Katima Mulilo airport office

Online card transaction

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Check-in

prior to flight Online check-in opens 24 hours before departure of the flight on Fly Namibia Check-in opens 1h 30min before domestic flight and 2 hours before international flight.

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Luggage

restrictions Items NOT allowed in hand luggage: Lotions and aerosols above 100ml, flammable aerosol, sharp objects, i.e. nail files, nail scissors, Leatherman, matches.

MAX 20kg

Per person 5

Ondangwa - Toivo ya Toivo

Eros Airport

Oranjemund Cape Town

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FLIGHT SCHEDULE

CONNECTING YOU TO

Windhoek, Ondangwa, Rundu, Katima Mulilo and Cape Town FROM

TO

DAYS

DEPARTURE

ARRIVAL

Windhoek

Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo

Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun

07:00

07:50

Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo

Windhoek

Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun

08:40

09:30

Windhoek

Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo

Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun

16:00

16:50

Ondangwa - Toivo Ya Toivo

Windhoek

Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun

17:40

18:30

Windhoek

Rundu

Wed, Fri, Sun

07:10

08:40

Rundu

Windhoek

Wed, Fri, Sun

09:20

10:50

Windhoek

Katima Mulilo

Wed, Fri, Sun

11:00

12:25

Katima Mulilo

Windhoek

Wed, Fri, Sun

13:10

14:40

Windhoek

Oranjemund

Mon, Thu

10:00

11:30

Oranjemund

Windhoek

Mon, Thu

12:30

14:00

DAYS

DEPARTURE

ARRIVAL

FROM

TO

Windhoek

Cape Town

Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri

08:30

10:30

Cape Town

Windhoek

Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri

11:30

13:30

Windhoek

Cape Town

Sunday

14:00

16:00

Cape Town

Windhoek

Sunday

17:00

19:00

www.flynamibia.com.na

+264 83 339 0011

Schedule as per date of going to print. Please check the FlyNamibia website to stay updated on flight destinations, routes and schedules.

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Welcome on board

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Safari dreams take flight

pril was a month we had been excitedly preparing for. It was the month in which we finally launched our much-anticipated FlyNamibia Safari routes. In mid-April, as part of our launch celebrations, we invited a selection of guests to join us on our new circuit and offer a small taste of the speed, ease, comfort and of course scenic beauty that this new safari route has to offer. Joining for the first day-long excursion were TravelStart South Africa’s John Friel and Candice May, CEO of the Hospitality Association of Namibia - Gitta Paetzold, Miss Namibia - Chelsi Shikongo, NUST’s Best 1st Year Student from 2021, in the Bachelor of Science Degree programme in Tourism Innovation and Development - Nelao Lukas, professional photo safari guide and Instagram authority, Jandré Germishuizen and Taryn Vogl, tour consultant and avid travel blogger, along with our own marketing and content team.

The day started with an early morning take-off from the capital, treating the party to an aerial sunrise over Windhoek as the plane headed for a southwesterly course over the Khomas Hochland. The ever-changing scenery became even more extraordinary as the mountains gave way to the Namib Sand Sea. After a gentle landing on the Sesriem airstrip, the group disembarked and were met with the smiling faces of Namibia Wildlife Resorts staff ready to whisk them off to a champagne breakfast at Dune 45.

With dune sand in their shoes and something to eat, it was back to the plane for the flight to Swakopmund on a scenic route passing over Deadvlei and Sossusvlei, the shipwrecks of the Eduard Bohlen and the Shawnee as well as Sandwich Harbour.

Upon landing in Swakopmund, Charly's Desert Tours were waiting and ready to take the group to the Brewer and Butcher Restaurant at Strand Hotel Swakopmund for a delicious hearty meal and some ice-cold Namibian beers. A quick stroll on the Mole with its inviting beach overlooked by the iconic lighthouse was the perfect way to let lunch settle before boarding the flight back to Windhoek.

FlyNamibia Safari is a revolution for the Namibian tourism industry. It enables travellers to significantly cut down the hours spent reaching our vast country’s far-flung destinations, giving them more time to truly discover, enjoy and absorb the wonders of this land of endless horizons. Building more memories and making the most of their Namibian adventure. Operated from Hosea Kutako International Airport (which allows for international connections) to Namibia’s most iconic travel destinations:

Sossusvlei, Swakopmund and Etosha, FlyNamibia Safari is geared to make your journey across this incredible land easier, safer, quicker and more beautiful.

The search for the first Face of FlyNamibia Last month we sent out a call to the Namibian public: “FlyNamibia is looking for a brand ambassador” rang across our social media platforms. Not just any ambassador though… This was not a search for a model. We were looking for personality! Someone with a love for life and a love for Namibia. The Face of FlyNamibia will be more than just a brand ambassador. We are looking for an everyday Namibian who will help us celebrate the spirit of this country and its people. We have received hundreds of applications and made shortlist after shortlist, whittling the final choices down through various phases of selection. Our judging panel consisted of FlyNamibia team members from every department in the company. Accounting to marketing, HR to operations. After all, the Face of FlyNamibia will become part of the family. From 300+ we got to 90, then 40, then 20 and then, finally (after hours of deliberation, discussions and votes), we picked a TOP 10. It wasn’t easy. The feat seemed impossible as so many applicants bowled us away with their authenticity and sparkling personalities. The campaign turned into so much more than we were hoping for. It brought smiles and happiness to our faces and our hearts to meet all these wonderful Namibians who were excited to represent our company (even if we only got to ‘meet’ them through their application videos). Each entrant was unique and talented in their own way and we want to thank everyone who entered for sharing your time and energy with us. Some already feel like friends. And thus, with the TOP 10 decided, we left it in the hands of Namibia and the world, our customers and followers, to choose the ultimate winner. By the time of going to print we have received more than 15,000 votes! We will announce the winner at the end of April. So, for those reading this May edition of Welcome on Board, be sure to head over to our social media platform to meet the winner. We are excited to meet them, too!

FlyNamibia is proud to partner with TravelStart. Our airline is now part of the TravelStart booking system and live on all its platforms. Flights with us can also be booked through all major travel agencies, or directly via FlyNamibia’s 24/7 contact centre at +264 83 339 0011. Visit www.flynamibia.com.na for online bookings.

May you truly enjoy your flight experience with us.

Let’s FlyNamibia.

The FlyNamibia Team

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Photography: @shy_guys_photography

Linrico Humphries

Embracing meaningful and sustainable fashion

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lthough fairly new to the Namibian fashion scene, Linrico Humphries is already in a league of his own with his unique and forward-thinking take on fashion.

The young design star had barely graduated from fashion school when the industry started to take notice of his work. Since he completed his studies at the College of the Arts in Windhoek in 2019, Linrico has showcased at the MTC Windhoek Fashion Week and dressed some of Namibia’s biggest celebs. In 2020, he was one of the seven Namibians to receive an award at the Merck Foundation More Than a Mother Fashion Awards which honoured Africa’s newest designers in the Fashion With a Purpose community. Not slowing down on his accomplishments, Linrico once again showcased at Namibia’s premier fashion event in 2021 as one of a handful of designers who created garments for mobile giant MTC’s soon-to-bereleased Blue Tick clothing label.

I caught up with this creator of the edgy, high fashion garments that are not only beautiful to look at, but are a statement of what sustainable fashion in Namibia looks like.

AN EARLY INTRODUCTION TO FASHION

Like many Africans, Linrico did not become acquainted with

the concept of sustainable fashion by following the recent trends around the world. He grew up in a society of people who stretched the lifespan of garments over generations.

“I remember attempting to stitch my first bralette top for my twin sister. I made it out of upcycled denim. My sister was usually my muse for all attempts at making clothing in order to sharpen my skills as an aspiring designer,” he says. But while his sister inspired him to think out of the box by creating repurposed clothing in a design process that results in less waste, it was his mother’s love for luxury clothing that birthed Linrico’s taste for vintage, high fashion looks.

His love for creating garments out of sketches from a very young age eventually prompted his parents to encourage him to follow his passion and study fashion.

GROWING A BRAND

Since launching his brand, Linrico has had the opportunity to collaborate with companies and brands across Namibia.

He has made sure to continue elevating his brand by improving features such as labelling, switching up its logo and generally refining all garments that he produces.

After four years of growing and learning, he now describes his brand as one that is androgynous, multi-disciplinary and swanky.

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His vision is to ultimately have the brand become globally recognised. He wants to represent Namibia and its cultures, to tell its stories on the global stage. He wants to get there by being authentic and unapologetic in creating unique capsules that stand out.

“Other than that, I would also love to contribute to the sustainable development of our society and that of the environment with which we interact and in which we live.”

THE FASHION DESIGNER’S ROLE IN SOCIETY

So what inspires Linrico’s creativity? He says that “family, love and a passion for the gift God has given me” are right up there as his biggest reasons to keep going.

His dream for Namibian fashion is to see designers switch things up and experiment with different design methods and styles and to “really embrace Namibian culture.”

GETTING INTO THE 2022 PATCH COLLECTION

As a designer who is big on sustainability, Linrico obviously continues his preference for regenerative and restorative production with his 2022 PATCH Upcycle resort collection. The collection is all denim.

All reused fabric. All very experimental with a great outcome.

Each day has its own inspiration that drives me to create androgynous high fashion.

“Each day has its own inspiration that drives me to create androgynous high fashion,” he says.

His design process can be influenced by many things on any given day. From content that he sees in a magazine, something that pops up in the streets, or a random incident at home.

Any and all of these things can translate into a piece of clothing for this talented designer who sees fashion as a way of expressing his view of the world.

As a designer who is literally contributing to the conversation on fashion’s contribution to communities, Linrico says that the conscious Namibian fashion designer is one who creates opportunities for individuals to express themselves through what they wear.

“The PATCHED capsule collection is a unisex resort campaign uniquely crafted from deadstock denim by Linrico Humphries and a community of individuals who believe in saving the environment by upcycling the closet items they no longer wear,” Linrico says. The collection consists of denim shirts, jackets, corsets, tops, bucket hats, jeans and accessories. But as experimental as his designs are, Linrico’s ultimate goal is to have clients feel luxurious when wearing his clothes.

His work, as seen in this bold new collection, continues to reflect his consistency as designer. It reflects his unique take on authentic, future-facing fashion that is ahead of its time – especially in Namibia.

Follow Linrico on Instagram @linricohumphries_.

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

LAMB AND ORZO ONE-POT WONDER

YOUVETSI

My cousin, actor Frank Opperman, once played a Greek in a TV series. A Greek restaurant in Melville in Johannesburg is named The Big Time after that series. We went there to have a traditional Greek evening, complete with breaking plates Zorba-style. Ever since I had this lamb dish I looked all over for a recipe - before the advent of Google. Here is my version of this very delicious, very easy one-pot comfort food.

2 kg stewing lamb Hentie Burger

2 cloves of garlic, crushed Salt and black pepper 10 ml dried oregano 5 ml dried mint 30 ml tomato puree 60 ml olive oil 2 x 410 g cans of chopped tomatoes 225 g orzo (pasta shaped like rice) 300 ml boiling water 125 ml pitted black olives A dash of lemon juice 125 ml dry white wine 2 onions, chopped 30 ml chopped oregano or mint for garnish 50 g grated Parmesan cheese •

• •

• • • •

Season the meat on all sides with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then brown it in oil on both sides and remove from the pan.

Fry the onions and garlic until tender, return the meat to the pan.

Add oregano, mint, tomatoes, lemon juice, tomato purée and wine. Simmer for half an hour.

Put the meat with the sauce in an ovenproof dish.

Add the rice pasta, black olives and boiled water.

Cover and bake for 1 hour at 180°C. Remove from the oven, garnish with fresh oregano and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

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

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Hello Again, Cape Town

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othing welcomes you back to Cape Town like that first glimpse of Table Mountain.

You’ll be slumped in the back of an Uber after a long trip, ready for bed, booze or both and suddenly there she’ll be. This grand and prehistoric table, ever set for incredible eats and endless adventure.

After two years of being grounded by the plague, Table Mountain’s iconic flat top and guard of Lion’s Head and Devil’s Peak are a sight for sore eyes. The Mother City is only two hours from Windhoek as the crow flies but, after everything, it feels like alighting on another planet.

To travel is more of a privilege than it has ever been.

The increase in protocol, the PCR tests and masked plane rides steal some of the joy of setting off and dull the sense of escape but Cape Town’s sights and sounds return it with the promise of great food, friendly people and your fancy of festivity.

As I’m shuttled towards the City Bowl on the inevitable N2, I chat to my Uber driver about how things are going in “The New Normal.” Like Namibia, South Africa battled the scourge of Covid-19 with a series of rolling, necessary but undeniably devastating lockdowns.

The V&A Waterfront is absolutely teeming with tourists spilling out of bars and restaurants, their array of accents reminding me that all around the world people survived, set out and are trying to thrive.

One night, when an electricity issue knocks power out around the city, it seems as though the whole world descends on the Waterfront. The Cape Wheel turns, filled with the smiling, shining faces of people making the best of the city, the power cuts and whatever waits in the wings.

For a moment, even though I am masked, a little anxious and still finding my feet, the pandemic recedes. And the travel writer I have mournfully tucked away for the worst part of two years starts composing the kind of lighter-hearted stories she’s felt too guilty to even think about.

(More of those in writings to come.)

I grew up in Cape Town.

I went to boarding school at Rustenburg Girls’ High School in Rondebosch, then spent four years at the University of Cape Town at the foot of Table Mountain, when not bunking lectures in favour of lazy days at the beach.

Cape Town, like Windhoek, is home and I’m happy to report that it’s okay.

Restaurants, nightclubs and bars were shuttered. Stay at home orders were strictly enforced, tourism evaporated into thin, threatening air and people did what they could to survive.

Table Mountain is as glorious as ever.

To hear South Africa’s story is to hear much of our own and, as my Uber driver and I compare international notes, we reach the present day where – after immense loss of life, vaccine drives and in the thick of summer – things actually feel okay.

The people, God bless them, are rallying and resilient.

“Cape Town is back!” he says, agreeing with me as I test the phrase as a means of all-encompassing description.

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 #JournalistsToo, Iowa Magazine, 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.

Over the next week, I realise that my Uber driver isn’t prone to exaggeration.

Minus masks which many people still wear in malls and indoors in public places, Cape Town is almost everything it used to be.

The winelands are a wealth of social distance and of the delicious.

And you, Starved Traveller, should you ever set sail, are welcome.

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Not For Persons Under The Age Of 18

Fun for a cause in the Zambezi

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The AML Cup

n a sunny Saturday in early April the sports field at the village of Choi in the heart of the Zambezi Region is alive with energy and the sound of spectators noisily supporting their respective netball and football teams. The reason for the excitement is the inaugural African Monarch Lodges (AML) Cup. A tournament that was fiercely contested by local teams from the Mayuni Conservancy over two days and culminated with the finals of the two different sport codes played on Saturday afternoon.

While the tournament is great entertainment for the locals and winning the cup is the ultimate goal for competing teams, the AML Cup serves a greater purpose in the community. It acts as an incentive to keep villages and the surrounding ecologically sensitive areas clean for the benefit of the wildlife, the environment and most importantly the people who live there.

The idea for the clean-up campaign came about in 2021 when the owners of African Monarch Lodges, Dusty and Tinolla Rodgers, were made aware of a small child and its mother struggling with sores on their hands and feet in a nearby village. Luckily, at the time, one of their guests was a doctor who visited the family and identified their condition as scabies. Human scabies is caused by an infestation by the human itch mite that burrows into the upper layer of the skin where it lives and lays its eggs.

Dusty, Tinolla and their guest (a doctor from Namibia) organised for the mother and her child to be sent to Windhoek for medical treatment and recovery. As a result of this, they were determined to find a way to promote the cleaning of the communities’ immediate environment and prevent medical conditions that can occur due to waste lying around openly.

As these rural areas have no municipal services to take away refuse, it is an ongoing problem requiring community participation to solve.

On a visit from the Miss Supranational Pageant owners in October of 2021, a young boy from a local village had the courage to ask for some footballs. His heartfelt request

sprouted the idea of The AML Cup in conjunction with a clean up campaign. Apart from hygienic reasons, an additional aim of The AML Cup was to create an after school activity for kids to keep active and fit as well as providing a healthy outlet for them to have fun.

Six football and netball teams representing different villages in each zone of the Mayuni Conservancy competed in The AML Cup. The winning teams and runner-ups were awarded medals and cash prizes for their achievements. The winning netball and football teams were also presented with a floating trophy each.

While the tournament was a great success and provided excellent entertainment, a bold undertaking such as this is not an easy process, especially without the support of other companies passionate about the greater cause. The AML Cup was created in collaboration with Miss and Mister Supranational who helped to promote the event through their social media platforms as well as supplying the medals for the winning netball and football teams. Mister and Miss Supranational 2021, Varo Vargas and Chanique Rabe, as well as the founder and president of the pageant, Gerhard Parzutka von Lipinski, attended the event and handed out the medals.

Other sponsors who helped to make this event possible were Elephants, Rhinos & People, Seapride Foods, Woermann, Brock & Co, Polo, Coca Cola Beverages Namibia and Plastic Packaging Namibia. Coca Cola generously sponsored 40 recycling bins which will be distributed within the Mayuni Conservancy to help promote responsible waste management.

The AML Cup will become an annual event to raise awareness and promote a clean environment. Keeping the Mayuni Conservancy litterfree will also be an ongoing campaign.

AML is committed to partnering with various other businesses to assist with keeping the environment clean in a sustainable manner for the sake of the health and hygiene of the community as well as the safety of the beautiful wildlife which roams these areas.

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EXPERIENCE the nature of this beautiful country, Namibia

Image: Matej Smucr

Tel: +264 61 232871 | 24hr emergency no: 081 129 3355 Email: info@africa-on-wheels.com Website: www.africa-on-wheels.com

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FIMBI Leather bags are forever, and in the case of Fimbi they are forever stylish also. Located in the loft of the Namibia Craft Centre in the heart of Windhoek, Fimbi specialises in handbags, wallets, belts and bags.

Owner Elsie Imhof designs and manufactures Fimbi’s timeless handbags right here in Namibia along with four local women, and they really are crafted to international standards. Fimbi draws inspiration from the environment, which is reflected in their broad and generously cut, meticulously stitched and ultra chic leather pieces. Their range is the leather lover’s daydream.

Windhoek: Namibia Craft Centre

SHOP LOCAL-ish

The most unique local lifestyle brands and products that will guide, motivate and inspire you to express your identity.

BARE ESSENTIALS Long gone are the days of basic pillar candles. Why not light something a little more lavish? Enter Bare Essentials with their wide selection of hand-poured, ridiculously aesthetic and locally crafted candles. Everything from marble statue esque busts, sneakers, bold bubbles and human figures – Bare Essentials put a wick in it. If the classy candles aren’t enough to woo you, their organic shaped mirrors and coasters as well as Y2K-inspired accessories are bound to have you on a chokehold. Bare Essentials is the perfect pick for gifting your favourites or sprucing up your own life. @bare_essentials__

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THE RED SHELF Sustainability is not just a buzzword; it is a lifestyle! And what better way to shop sustainably than buying pre-loved? The Red Shelf offers a curated selection of second-hand clothing, shoes, books and jewellery, meaning you don’t need to sift through endless drab to thrift an absolute gem. Imagine stumbling across a pair of secondhand Gucci boots or the ultimate cookbook – now stop imagining and head over to The Red Shelf! With shops in Windhoek and Swakopmund, you’re sure to find an old treasure and sleep better knowing it is helping make the world a better place. @theredshelfnamibia Windhoek: Namibia Craft Centre & Maerua Mall Swakopmund: Bonus Marktplatz

FRANK+SCENTS Have a look at the ingredients list of your skincare products. If you can’t pronounce it, it probably shouldn’t go on your skin.

Frank+Scents is all about all natural – everything from their body balms to bath oils is small-batch crafted in Swakopmund, championing the tenfold benefits of essential oils. Whether you want to feel energised, relaxed or need a little immune boost, there’s something for everyone in their range, including petroleum-free chest rubs for your little ones. Check out the Frank+Scents exfoliating body polish which includes Namib Desert dune sand, Atlantic sea salt and Baobab oil. Easy to pronounce and so much better for your skin! @frankandscents Swakopmund: Trendhaus Online: www.frankandscents.eco Are you a Nam or SA-based small business lifestyle brand? List your label with us for only N$750 per month. fly@venture.com.na

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Windhoek 99FM | Rehoboth Okahandja 99FM | Swakopmund Walvis Bay 99.4FM Otjiwarongo 94.1 FM | Oshakati Ondangwa Ongwediva 104.5 FM 9 9 F M . C O M . N A

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AM Photography

THE TRIBE

The Tribe Exclusive – Cassidy Karon

E

verything about Cassidy Karon screams superstar.

From his lyrical prowess to the creative ingenuity in everything he touches – the man is a walking example of peak Namibian pop culture. Katutura’s Favourite Son, as he dubs himself, returned to the Tribe Exclusive to talk about his second album and all the other projects that he has been busy with.

How does it feel to finally have your second project out?

The second project is a tricky one, especially coming from my background. You can easily release a project with one hit and dissolve into the industry. But I took this album as a debut, a completely different opportunity to present myself. I am just so happy that people have accepted and received it the way that they have.

What does this mean for Paradox, is the group still alive?

Paradox is still alive. We have albums recorded and waiting to be released but getting to the next level wasn’t realistic yet.

We needed much more to get us to that next level, otherwise we’d be playing the same game over and over again. So we thought, the next level for us as individuals is wide open, why not explore that? But Paradox is still very much alive, it’s a much loved brand and the fans keep asking us when they will get new music. So it’s all coming.

How did it feel to be recognised by the NAMAs as Namibia’s Rap King?

You know, it took me 11 years to win. We started in 2009 already. That year we were nominated at the Sanlam Music Awards in the Best Hip Hop category, but we lost. In 2011 we lost again. And again in 2021. So, winning was a personal achievement for me. It was so poetic because by then we had given up and just made the music for the love of it.

Winning was really a pat on the shoulder.

What inspired your current album title, Katutura’s Finest?

I was trying to find a way to portray the situation in Katutura without making it negative or all about struggle. I wanted to show that we are in Katutura but we are thriving and there is so much favour around us. I thought of the title before I even made the music but I knew that I wanted to show people a different picture of Katutura.

Let’s talk about collaborations, who are the people that you wanted on this project?

I first completed the project and then decided who I wanted on it. So we have the likes of DJ Spuzza, Sally Boss Madam and Diolini. I have other artist friends who didn’t make the cut because I knew 100% that this was a focus project. I knew who I’m selling it to and who I’m doing it for.

//Concept clothing, does it still exist?

It’s still alive. Just like I did with the music, I’m building the label in the background. I can’t stay on the same level, so for the next level I have to do a bit of work in the background.

We even have the KFS (Katutura’s Favourite Son) collection coming out soon – in collaboration with //Concept.

As this brilliant creative continues to shake up the entertainment industry, we will watch in awe while taking notes.

Follow Cassidy on Instagram @cassidykaron, on Facebook (Cassidy Karon) and on Twitter @CassidyKaron.

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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10 minutes

with local taste makers

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Parted Hair

y next guests need no introduction. In the span of two years they have trailblazed the Namibian hair scene, fostered a loyal following both online and in their unisex salon space and most noteworthy: they brought back the mullet. Nobody thought it to be possible. Parted Hair is the love-child of two ridiculously ambitious hairdressers – Viggo and Jamie von Scheliha.

Together with their talented band of hair magicians, Parted is chopping off the split ends and blow-drying a whole new approach into the Namibian hair scene.

Like most wonderful stories, this one begins with love.

First and foremost a love for hair, which brought Parted’s co-founders together while studying in the Western Cape.

Viggo and Jamie hustled the Cape Town salon scene, did numerous house calls and finally found their niche in 2017 – uniting the male and female salon experience under one roof.

The men’s and women’s hairdresser setup has always been mutually exclusive, most probably due to the practicality of catering to a single sex and their hair experience desires. And yet, what could be more practical, in this day and age, than to bring men’s and women’s hair into a single space? What could be more with-it than creating a cool collaborative space where men’s and women’s hair can be celebrated and shared? Name it, I will wait.

After successfully running their unisex hair shop in the Mother City and starting a family, Parted made the big move to Namibia at a time when absolutely nobody was cutting their hair. Lockdown. But like a phoenix rising from the offcuts on the salon floor, Viggo and Jamie opened their shop in Windhoek on 6 September 2020. Ever since they hopped onto the scene, you simply cannot ignore them.

Parted’s social media presence, along with their incredibly talented team, is what sets them apart from the rest.

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At Parted it is about creating your unique identity, changing the bits that need some work, and maintaining the love-affair with yourself and your hair.

It is not the yuppy kind of social media presence though, it is their portfolio displayed in perfect squares, exciting video content, giveaways and challenges.

While chatting to Viggo and Jamie I recall a time when I sat in a hairdresser’s chair – one I had never been to before, and the lady next to me complimented me on my bravery. Needless to say my bravery was wasted. A stylist butchered the bangs I was sporting at the time, so much so I decided to grow them out entirely and I am still recovering from the PTSD. If you are visiting Parted for the first time, there is no need to gamble with your hair. Every stylist’s work is featured on their Instagram @parted.hair so you can browse the ample talent and book with a hairdresser who matches your vibe. Deciding on which hairdresser to go to should be based on their portfolio, not your bravery.

Parted prides itself on its three principles: create, change, maintain. But it is so much more than just hair philosophy. Hairdressers are also our part-time psychologists in more ways than just oversharing with your barber. At Parted it is about creating your unique identity, changing the bits that need some work, and maintaining the love-affair with yourself and your hair. Viggo says “Parted” means parting with your old self and emerging bolder, better and ever more confident with every cut.

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When asking the co-founders about the feathers they have undoubtedly ruffled in the industry, Viggo frankly says, “If you are original enough, if you are unique and bring something different to the table, there is no competition.” Jamie adds that they do what they do, and how they do it, not to claim carte blanche of the industry, but to push Namibians to be a little ballsy with their hair, and for the local hairdressing industry to develop as a collective.

Their approach speaks for the next generation of Namibians who feel most alive when outside their comfort zone. It speaks to a new era of hairstyles, stylists and subsequent swag. Parted is as much for the everyday hairdo, as it is for the absolutely outlandish. Viggo, Jamie and their cast of energetic hair stylists really believe that hairstyling is art, a lifestyle.

Very much like the mullet, Parted is business in the front, and a party in the back.

Charene Labuschagne This photoshoot was a collaboration between Parted Hair and FlyNamibia Magazine’s content team. Each Parted stylist’s creativity is showcased through doing another colleagues’ hair.

Head over to @flynamibia_magazine on Instagram for behind the scenes videos and posts as we feature the stylists behind this original production.

Hair by @parted_hair Makeup by @missjeyarts_makeup Photography by Le Roux van Schalkwyk Art Direction by Charene Labuschagne Video by Ruari Hammond

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GOOD VIBES ONLY

LOCAL

Diagnolab donates 100 000 sanitary pads

Good news from Namibia and around the world

“We believe that in this day and age, no girl should miss school because of a lack of sanitary pads or access to menstrual hygiene,” Diagnolab chief executive Hambeleleni Matsi said on what motivated National Diagnostic Laboratory to donate. Determined to challenge the taboo surrounding menstruation in some Namibian cultures, Matsi represented Diagnolab at the delivery of 100 000 loose sanitary pads to the Office of the President.

Source: The Namibian

Dr Helena Ndume scoops international awards Namibian ophthalmologist Dr Helena Ndume was recently awarded the Lions Club International Humanitarian Award and the Forbes Woman Africa Social Impact Award. “This achievement is about teamwork, starting with the overall leadership of the government, in particular the health ministry, that created an enabling environment for the blindness prevention programme,” Ndume said. The Lions Club International Humanitarian Award accolade comes with approximately N$3,7 million which Ndume says will help the national programme fight against preventable blindness through consumables and machinery necessary to carry out operations, as well as sending one of the doctors to specialise in ophthalmology.

Source: The Namibian

Food security and habitat protection project launched The project is aimed at supporting communities in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia in the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA) by maintaining the diverse ecosystem and strengthening its capacity to adapt to climate change. The project is funded by the German federal ministry of economic cooperation and development (BMZ) and will be implemented by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Germany together with in-country partners.

“As part of the Namibian agricultural policy, the government has further set objectives to capacitate farmers with the knowledge, skills and attitude necessary to improve sustainable agricultural production” said Zambezi regional governor Lawrence Sampofu.

Source: The Namibian

Namibia reaches 88% success rate in tuberculosis treatment In a speech commemorating World Tuberculosis Day, the Minister of Health and Social Services, Kalumbi Shangula, said that Namibia is only 2% short of reaching the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) target treatment success rate. Shangula added that the ministry recorded a decline in the HIV positivity rate amongst TB patients from 60% in 2005 to 30% in 2021. This signifies success in the provision of TB-HIV services and prevention. “These interventions include intensified screening, the introduction of WHO-recommended rapid molecular testing for TB as well as point-of-care TB testing amongst individuals with HIV, all in addition to and the scaling up of shorter-term tuberculosis preventive therapy,” Shangula said.

Source: The Namibian

The security staff at Baltimore Museum of Art curate their newest exhibition Guarding the Art is a special exhibition at the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) in Maryland, USA, which engages 17 members from the museum's security team in doing more than just directing visitors to the bathroom.

Each member selected three pieces from BMA’s collection of 95,000 artworks that they would like to exhibit. The guards were then tutored how to curate, set lighting and write placards. BMA Chief Curator Asma Naeem said the exhibition asks some profound questions about who is art for?

Who are museums for? Who gets to talk about the arts? Who holds the knowledge? Are there other kinds of people who have knowledge about art that we want to be hearing from? And the answer is: Yes, absolutely.

Since they are always looking at the art and hear people talk about exhibits, the guards fostered a love, curiosity and knowledge of the art profession to successfully curate an entire exhibition.

Source: Good News Network

THE WORLD Chat checkouts in grocery store to combat loneliness A Dutch supermarket chain called Jumbo introduced kletskassa (chat checkouts) in 2019 in collaboration with the Netherlands’s Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. For many people, especially the elderly, grocery shopping is a social outing. As the checkout process becomes more digitised with the introduction of self-checkouts, the kletskassa allows shoppers to take their time and chat with cashiers instead of rushing through the process. It has proved such a great hit among shoppers and staff that Jumbo reportedly plans to add chat checkouts at another 200 stores by the end of 2022.

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A Lighthouse on the Kwando River

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n the bank of the Kwando River, on the edge of Bwabwata National Park, lies a little haven. Born from the generous hearts of Dusty and Tinolla Rodgers, The Sijwa Project started in 2019 with a humble greenhouse and plastic repurposing plant. Three years later it has become a lighthouse for the local community through employment and education accredited to this African Monarch Lodges (AML) initiative.

Having visited the project in its founding year, and then again in early 2022, it was incredible to witness the growth that Sijwa has achieved. In its infancy, the project employed eight local community members who not only tended to the garden supplying AML with fresh produce, but also filled discarded plastic water bottles with soil from the river banks which were used to construct their workshops. Walking onto the lot this time around, the walls of their glass bead workshop and sewing centre are adorned with the starshaped bases of all those bottles, protruding in symmetrical perfection. And their team has grown to 20 Mayuni community members. It is hard to believe that on our previous visit all this was only a dream.

The Sijwa Project resulted from the ever more important challenge faced by lodges in such remote areas – their waste and how to manage it sustainably. Additionally, the communities surrounding African Monarch Lodges properties are largely subsistence farmers or without any type of employment. These two factors made for a remarkable opportunity to engage local people in income generating activities, while simultaneously reducing, reusing and recycling the lodges’ waste.

to set up the school for its 40 students. Chani, holding an honours degree in fashion design, compiled a curriculum and thus the Sijwa Junior Sewing School was founded. She proceeded to win the international Supranational title and along with the accolade came global attention to her work at The Sijwa project. A group of young women who had never held a needle and thread or earned an income prior to training here now create unique garments exclusively made at The Sijwa Project, designed by Chani and South African designer Isabel de Villiers, who trained the ladies on embroidery and how to sew her bestselling garment ‘The Isabel Kimono’. Their handcrafted items (including placemats and tote bags) are in high demand and the staff at African Monarch Lodges fashion the namesake dress inspired by the Monarch butterfly, designed by Chanique Rabe.

They are not just sewing for the sake of fashion, however.

The Sijwa sewing workshop recently began producing reusable sanitary pads in an effort to destigmatise and simultaneously educate rural communities about menstruation. In many isolated parts of the country girls skip school during menstruation, largely due to a lack of access to feminine hygiene products. The reusable sanitary pads, considerately made by the Sijwa seamstresses, aim to keep girls in school and deconstruct the narrative that menstruation is shameful. Avril Payment Solutions has been this cause’s greatest supporter and managed to distribute 300 pads into the region. In total, 2000 reusable sanitary pads have been made and released from The Sijwa Project.

The project equips them with skills that can change the trajectory and quality of their lives in tangible ways.

When the construction of the workshops was completed, it was time to fill the spaces with even greater initiatives. The next phase included starting the sewing workshop and glass recycling. A group of young and ambitious community members were trained on how to create glass beads by crushing empty liquor bottles, making moulds and even building a kiln to melt and reshape the glass. Once cooled, the beads are polished by hand with sand and water. The glass beads vary in colour from dark green to brilliant turquoise, and different sizes are stringed together in the workshop to produce fashionable yet authentic jewellery and keychains.

Dusty and Tinolla’s greatest dream is to teach the community skills. They approached The Collective Boutique and Myeisha Namibia to form a collaboration to train four local community members to sew, by providing a professional trainer, fabric and sewing machines. The incredible initiatives of Sijwa inspired another Namibian to get hands-on in uplifting the community. Then the national titleholder of Miss Supranational Namibia, Chanique Rabe visited the project and began discussions with Tinolla and Dusty about introducing a junior sewing school at The Sijwa project. Avril Payment Solution sponsored all the sewing machines required

Sijwa’s permaculture garden now covers the space of two large greenhouses.

Other than peppadews, rocket, aubergine, papaya, beans and many others they also grow ginger, turmeric and garlic which are absolute staples in the African Monarch Lodges’ kitchens.

By preparing the soil, planting and tending to the garden, Sijwa employees are given the opportunity to learn about sustainable gardening practices. Concepts like crop rotation, how to deal with flooding and essential nutrition from fresh produce are valuable lessons that they can take back from their employment at Sijwa to their communities.

The project keeps growing from strength to strength as more initiatives are introduced by Dusty and Tinolla, who maintain a keen interest in the everyday challenges faced by community members. Tackling sustainable solutions to human-elephant conflict is the next project on their roster and it is sure not to be the last. The Sijwa Project continues to provide local people with income, but more sincerely, equips them with skills that can change the trajectory and quality of their lives in tangible ways.

Charene Labuschagne

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15 min sweat set with Ena

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A workout that works with any schedule

any of us have either heard someone say or said ourselves at one point or another “I am too busy to exercise”. We also know the simple truth: no benefits without exercise.

Time is precious, but physical health is crucial if we still want to be comfortably active at later stages in life.

The workout below is a synergy of time efficiency and effective exercise.

15 minutes is all you need. I even want to take it a step further and encourage you to exercise in the mornings. There are a number of reasons why breaking a sweat after getting up can really set us up for a great day: • It boosts blood circulation to our organs, muscles and tissue, increasing the number of calories we burn throughout the day.

• It kick-starts the metabolism.

• Sweating makes us thirsty, which can help to increase our water intake throughout the day.

• Sweating allows our skin to release toxins.

And how convenient that you just find yourself reading a piece with a totally doable, full-body and core workout.

Full-Body Sweat Session You will need: • 15 minutes • Water Each exercise = 30 seconds Rest = 1 minute after the 8th exercise Complete the circuit 3 times (and if you have more time, challenge yourself for a 4th round) 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Jump Rope (mimic the movement if you do not have a rope – it works the same!)

Walking Lunges Mountain Climbers Single-leg Glute Bridges (left) Single-leg Glute Bridges (right) Knee Push-ups Prisoner Squats Heel Taps

This is a quick and easy workout to incorporate into your day, and it is one you can stick to for weeks. The key is to keep it challenging, so when it gets too easy, you can add weights where applicable, increase the work-out time of each exercise, or add more rounds.

Shoot me a DM and let me know how it goes @fervent_wellness

Knee push-ups

Easy ways to up your health: • You have heard it – drink more water!

• Take a calcium supplement. It builds and maintains our bones, enables muscles to contract and supports our heart’s most basic function – beating.

• Make a point of not skipping your exercises for more than two days.

Ena holds a BCommerce degree in Marketing and Business Management, but because of her passion for fitness she also became a qualified personal trainer. She works with individuals via online training and coaching.

You can find her on the socials at @fervent_wellness & @enavisagie_8.

Glute bridges

Prisoner Squats 37

Moody’s downgrades Namibia (again)

Economic Pulse

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n 5 April, the ratings agency Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s) announced that it had downgraded the government of Namibia’s long-term issuer and senior unsecured ratings one notch from Ba3 to B1, with the outlook changed from negative to stable. This article seeks to answer why Moody’s took the decision, what the downgrade means, how it impacts us and what the government can do to improve its rating going forward.

Let us start with why Moody’s took the decision to downgrade Namibia. Ratings agencies like Moody’s regularly evaluate countries to judge financial strength and the ability to pay back debt. The downgrade to a B-rated level implies that the ratings agency considers an investment in government debt as speculative and subject to high credit risk, that is to say a higher likelihood that the government will not be able to pay back its debt.

Moody’s cited Namibia’s low economic growth and high debt burden as factors constraining the sovereign’s shock absorption capacity – something that was already a concern prior to the pandemic. Moody’s expects the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio to increase to 75% in 2025, from below 30% a mere decade ago. Moody’s made the argument that the country is unlikely to see a meaningful reversal in income per capita in the coming years, which will lead to higher social spending pressures for the government and “the risk of fiscal slippages.” Moody’s also believes that debt affordability will deteriorate further with interest /revenue expected to increase to almost 17% by 2024 from the pre-pandemic 11.9% level, which will weigh on the government’s overall fiscal strength.

the coming years, as the economy recovers, towards debt redemption and reducing the borrowing requirement. At the same time, we recognise that the scope for further expenditure consolidation has thinned significantly, and we thus shift the policy focus towards entrenching sustainable economic growth.”

The first point regarding redirecting increases in revenue toward debt redemption and reducing the borrowing requirement was not reflected in the projected budget figures.

Furthermore, in order to pay down debt, the government would need to be running a budget surplus and not a deficit.

This is clearly not the case, and the projected deficits remain large over the medium term.

While the country might not feel an immediate impact of the downgrade, the lower rating will play a role once the time comes for the government to replace (or ‘roll’) its foreign debt when maturities start looming closer. Investors taking on new government debt will take the lower rating into consideration, and will require a higher risk premium (rate of return) as they are lending money to an institution that has a higher credit risk. This will make it even more expensive for the government to service and repay its debt, something Moody’s is already concerned about.

While the country might not feel an immediate impact of the downgrade, the lower rating will play a role once the time comes for the government to replace (or ‘roll’) its foreign debt when maturities start looming closer.

Now, it should be noted that large deficits and high debt levels are not necessarily concerning in a global environment where most governments are in a similar situation. However, the debt maturity profile is heavily weighted to the short term with 33% or N$36.2 billion worth debt maturing by year end. Much of this debt is in treasury bills and should be comfortably rolled in the current environment where there is a lot of liquidity in the market, but the risk remains that the commercial banks will opt to rather lend out this money to private clients, since interest rates are increasing, rather than to invest it in government securities.

Secondly, the cost of debt remains high in Namibia and the rapidly increasing debt levels mean that the government will spend 15% of its revenue on debt servicing costs, almost double the amount that is allocated to the development budget. There are few productive assets to show for the over N$100 billion worth of debt that has been raised in the past eight years, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to argue that Namibia is not in the midst of a debt trap.

In his national budget speech earlier in the year, finance minister Iipumbu Shiimi made the point that “Government is committed to redirect much of the revenue increases in

For the country to improve its credit rating going forward, investor-friendly policy reforms are needed from the government for the country to see material economic growth. The government needs to comprehend that investors will only invest capital into the country if it is easy and profitable for them to do so.

In our view, the only component in the GDP equation (personal consumption + private sector investment + government spending + net exports) that can currently drive growth is investment. Low revenue growth and fiscal consolidation means that the government is not currently in a position to drive economic growth and distressed consumers are also not able to spur growth. It is currently only through foreign and local direct investment that positive economic growth can return to the economy. Net exports are contingent on investment growing Namibia’s exports and shrinking the trade gap. Investment will only increase if the government introduces policies that will boost business and consumer confidence, giving them an incentive and the confidence to invest in the economy.

Danie van Wyk – Head: Research

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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Wellness

The art of not taking things personally

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his flight will make you aware once again that when the seatbelt light comes on, acting on it is non-negotiable. While the sign is lit, we happily remain physically seated. Yet, have you noticed how difficult it is to do the same mentally? Have you ever found yourself obsessing about what others think about you? Or dwelling on the rude comment that your mother-in-law made about you the other day?

Why do we find it so hard to stay focused on our own mental wellbeing, swerving to focus our attention on others?

In the absolute must-read book – The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz – Ruiz writes that when you take personally what other people say about you, you are actually agreeing with what they are saying. In his words “Personal importance, or taking things personally, is the maximum expression of selfishness because we make the assumption that everything is about me.” He points out that “Nothing other people do is because of you. It is because of themselves… Even when a situation seems so personal, even if others insult you directly, it has nothing to do with you. What they say, what they do, and the opinions they give are according to the agreements they have in their own minds.”

So how do we let go of others’ opinions of us?

When you look at the word offence, by definition it is a feeling that is “triggered by a blow to a person’s honour” because it “contradicts a person’s self-concept and identity."

It has been said that the feeling of being offended follows three steps. We identify the cause and interpret it. We then determine the intensity of the feeling based on the image we have of ourselves and finally we react accordingly. Note that owing to our own insecurities we make the decision to take offence from the start of these phases.

In many cases we need to realise that comments or rants directed toward us are not about us at all. As humans we tend to mirror what is going on inside of us, on the outside.

Have you ever noticed that when you are having a bad hair day all you notice is what other people's hair looks like? We do the same thing with our emotional distress. When we are feeling insecure on the inside we project that onto others and notice the same things in them. So next time someone says something to you, take a step back and try to notice what is going on in their lives, they are most likely speaking to themselves.

Another fantastic way to stop letting people upset you is to ditch labels. When you label someone they become that.

For instance, if you decide someone is a “bad” person your mind will permanently look for ways to confirm that view to you and you will be offended by them a lot easier than by someone you see as "good." In truth there is no such thing

as a good or a bad person, just happy or miserable people reacting to the circumstances they find themselves in.

It is also important to realise that people's pasts affect the way they react to the present. If you have experienced something in the past that your mind perceives to be traumatic, you may be sensitive to similar events in the future. Many times when someone overreacts to a situation it is actually our defence mechanism acting out to prevent a circumstance, which previously ended badly, from repeating itself. For example, if you were humiliated and mocked while you were growing up and a friend makes a playful remark it may reawaken your old defence against being ridiculed. This can create a situation where we feel old feelings of hurt come up. We may overreact to these feelings, often offending others.

There is an ancient philosophy of mental wellbeing: it is the art of not taking things personally. At the end of the day, in any situation, we always have a choice as to whether we want to take others' actions or remarks personally.

We have the right within ourselves to choose our own happiness over what other people think, say or do. Imagine how much more you could get out of life if other people no longer bothered you! When we allow ourselves to be insulted by another, we hand our peace of mind over to them. As Don Miguel Ruiz writes in his book, “As you make a habit of not taking anything personally, you won’t need to place your trust in what others say or do. You will only need to trust yourself to make responsible choices. You are never responsible for the actions of others; you are only responsible for you.”

Kirsty Watermeyer

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Seeds of the Future Lie Buried in the Past by Dewald Veldsman

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ot off the heels of their inaugural exhibition, Bellhaus Atelier & Galerie welcome architect turned illustrator Dewald Veldsman into their exhibition space. Seeds of the Future Lie Buried in the Past opened on Earth Day, 22 April and runs until 13 May. Of course the opening date of Veldsman’s exhibit, showcasing incredibly detailed drawings of seeds, pays tribute to the earth, its conservation and appreciation.

Dewald’s childhood fostered his deep-seated fascination with the bushveld. Holidays were spent on his grandparents’ farm under the mentorship of an expert on the fauna and flora in their surroundings - a farmworker’s son and Dewald’s very first friend. His fascination developed even stronger through garnering the skills to illustrate and express ideas and understanding through taking art as a subject in school.

Dewald excelled in science and art subjects, not knowing that the two would later intersect on German Etching Fine Art Archival Paper and feature as a solo exhibition at Bellhaus.

Before he drew seeds, the artist studied Architecture at the University of Pretoria where he spent his free time wandering around campus sketching away in his notebook. Through paying close attention to his environments, the textures, light and shadows, Dewald found that seeing, looking and drawing aids his processing and contemplation of life.

While working for Paragon Architects in South Africa, Dewald embarked on a brief to design the Emantini Seed Bank in the Kingdom of Eswatini on a tight budget of 500k. By reimagining the use of the humble cinder block, Dewald created space in the walls of the Seed Bank for planters, lights and other aesthetic features, all by playing with the two holes in the cinder block. The result is a functional, beautiful and costeffective home for the “vault” that safeguards local and regional plant life.

Dewald’s involvement in designing the Emantini Seed Bank inspired what would become a large portion of his body of work now showcasing at Bellhaus. By documenting the tiniest details of the seeds through drawing, he began to understand them better and found that even though seemingly dead, the seeds are alive and speak of the preservation of nature.

The drawings are the artists’ inquiry into seeds as small living creatures, the trees of tomorrow. “We trample on seeds without thinking and, in the process, we are wasting away our last chance of creating a sustainable environment for the future. They are seeds of hope. Of a legacy of sustained life“ says Dewald.

Co-founder of Bellhaus Atelier & Galerie Marcii Magson also curated the Seeds of the Future Lie Buried in the Past exhibition. After coming across Dewald’s notebook, Marcii (a respected artist and creative herself) instantly understood his genius. An Architect’s notebook is a window into their mind.

Dewald’s notebook, which he carries around everywhere, included meticulous etchings of botanicals, seeds and pods.

That he was so moved by nature to translate these often overlooked subjects into detailed illustrations was reason enough for Marcii to bring about the exhibition.

His drawings are layered and complex, coming across as almost three-dimensional. First Dewald lays the metaphorical foundation – the ‘present layer’ – by detailing the Seed Coat. For the shadow layers the artist duplicates outlines and diagonal strokes, building the depth perception and illustrating the time of day. Finer lines are drawn to complete the voice of movement and light that flows through Dewald’s illustrations.

Seeds of the Future Lie Buried in the Past is an evermore important inquiry into our collective past and how imperative it is to plant the seeds for a fruitful future.

Charene Labuschagne

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Equal employment opportunities for women

How the charcoal industry is creating equality in Namibia

Taimi Ndilimani at the Jumbo Charcoal packing plant.

Natasha Brinkman, a communal farmer who is inspired by the opportunities for women in the biomass sector.

W

Women hold most of the team leader positions at Jumbo Charcoal.

hile legal equality has not fully translated into economic independence and selfsufficiency for women globally, there are many sectors that are seeing huge growth in women’s empowerment. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the charcoal sector has seen a boom in recent years and is providing an opportunity for many women to level their economic playing fields. While the sector is often thought of as being a male-orientated industry, women are taking on greater roles in the charcoal production value chain.

Behind the masks and gloves, in the dust of a charcoal packing plant, women hold most of the team leader positions at Jumbo Charcoal. This charcoal packing plant is one of Namibia’s largest exporters of charcoal, and one of the first in the country to register with the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC), the gold standard of quality forestry and environmental practices.

Taimi Ndilimani is the stock and quality control manager at Jumbo Charcoal. She grew up in Northern Namibia, and when her mother passed away, Taimi was still writing her matric exams. “My mother passed away in December 2007, while I was busy writing my Grade 12 examinations. My father was living in Okahandja and told me to come live with him. We had financial problems, so I started looking for a job, and I found out that Jumbo Charcoal was recruiting. I started at Jumbo as a packer,” explains Taimi.

Women charcoal packers proving the gender equality opportunities in this industry.

Shooting Star Employee Award at the Women in Biomass Industry Awards 2020. Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mr Benson Matali, acting deputy director for Gender Mainstreaming at the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, noted that “the biomass industry is one of the enablers that can help us as a country to achieve women’s economic empowerment in Namibia and government is cognisant of the fact and the role that women play towards the socio-economic development of our country.”

Creating awareness for the empowerment opportunities available in the charcoal sector, a public Biochar Demonstration Day was held at the Namibia Charcoal Association (NCA) Charcoal Village in November 2020. Here the Taimi started public were shown how to produce biochar working on from encroacher bush, and also what possible applications this could have.

the floor of the production plant, as a charcoal packer, 12 years ago.

Today she is a manager at Jumbo Charcoal, and her salary supports her father, her five siblings and her own children.

Taimi started working on the floor of the production plant, as a charcoal packer, 12 years ago. Today she is a manager at Jumbo Charcoal, and her salary supports her father, her five siblings and her own children.

“I feel very proud working for Jumbo Charcoal. It’s like a family company so I can say I’m the lucky one,” says Taimi. “There’s no discrimination among the men and women here. The work can be done by both women and men.”

PRAISE FOR GENDER EQUALITY IN THE CHARCOAL INDUSTRY Taimi was recognised for her achievements and awarded the

Natasha Brinkman, a communal farmer who farms close to Okahandja, attended this event, and found out about the opportunities this sector holds for women. “We are so many unemployed women, and we are suffering at the farm,” says Natasha. “It was so interesting.

We learnt about biochar, and that it’s made from biomass material from the field. You don’t pay for it, it’s almost like a recycling project. I could collect the biomass from the field and make biochar from this. It surprised me, because these are things we see every day, but didn’t know had value. We didn’t know the importance of things that are just out there.”

As Progress Kashandula, the chief executive officer of Namibia Biomass Industry Group, stated at the Women in Biomass Industry Awards 2020, “The Namibian biomass industry has almost doubled its employment from 6,000 to 11,000 within the past five years and creates diversified opportunities for both men and women. Beyond this initiative more than 200 women have already benefited from our technical support in sustainable bush control and biomass utilisation. Women can contribute at every stage of the biomass value chain.”

Watch Taimi’s Biomass Awards story: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyZDXHiGNxE Kirsty Watermeyer

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D E L U X E C O F F E E WO R K S WINDHOEK, NA

Since Independence Day 2017 and, coincidently, starting with our first Namibian shop on Independence Avenue, we do strictly coffee!

Located in the centre of Windhoek CBD, our espresso bar has become the hub where we roast, blend and serve our famous House Blend. This being just the start, we now operate from four Deluxe Shops throughout the capital.

We don’t follow many rules when it comes to our coffee. In fact, there aren’t a lot of rules that we follow in general. We are passionate about coffee and that’s a good enough reason for us to do what we do: roast, supply and serve coffee in the best way we know. We believe in having a great place where this all comes together and where you can enjoy our coffee. That’s why our coffee shops are the way they are. You won’t find any fancy food or wifi here. That’s not our vibe. A lot of good music, interesting people and great coffee.

We like to give you coffee the way we would like to receive it. That’s what we’re all about.

established relationships with coffee farms across the globe, guaranteeing consistency in tastes and aromas for every roast.

We believe firmly in the fact that coffee should be made with freshly roasted beans. We roast five days a week to ensure that each bag you pick up is as fresh as possible.

Our signature House Blend is specifically blended to create a versatile well-balanced experience using the best characteristics of each of the single origins used therein, hailing respectively from Brazil, Guatemala and Ethiopia. Initial acidity leans to oranges or naartjies, followed by dark chocolate taste and raw cocoa in the finish.

And now... Aroma is in the air! We bring you the partnership between Fly Namibia and Deluxe – it just works!

So, sit back, enjoy the flight and ask for it by name, we serve Deluxe!

You will find Deluxe Coffeeworks at:

Founded in Church Street, Cape Town by Carl Wessel and Judd Nicolay, doing 400 cups of coffee a day and roasting shifts into the wee hours of the morning, Deluxe has gone from strength to strength.

When Carl and his cousin and local partner, Willem Bodenstein, sealed the deal for a fully-fledged Namibian roastery, they created the espresso bar that “explores the global but respects the local”.

Deluxe Coffeeworks imports only the finest green beans sourced from around the world. Our coffee bean suppliers have long-

• • • •

Shop 5, 42 Berg Street, Klein Windhoek.

Shop 3, Mutual Tower, 223 Independence Avenue.

Nictus Giga. 140 Mandume Ndemufayo Ave. Nedbank Campus, Ground Floor | Freedom Plaza, c/o Fidel Castro & Rev Michael Scott Street +264 81 767 7600 COFFEE@DELUXECOFFEEWORKS.COM WWW.DELUXECOFFEEWORKS.COM

@deluxecoffeeworks.na

J

ancke Rentel has loved athletics ever since she was a schoolgirl. Today, she boasts more than 10 years of experience in the sports industry and runs a sports business with her husband. She shared her story in this Royal Hustlers edition while also letting us in on the Fittest in the Namib competition.

GROWING UP FIT Inspired by her parents to pursue a career in sports, Jancke says that since both her mother and father have a sports background it was inevitable for her to follow suit.

“I had an awesome childhood full of athletics,” she chuckles.

THE BUSINESS OF FITNESS In 2013, Jancke teamed up with her husband to officially kick off her Crossfit journey, with the two later partnered to start their business, CossFit Swakopmund.

ROYAL HUSTLERS Jancke Rentel

Her participation in sports goes all the way back to when she was a learner in primary school.

She continued to participate in athletics on provincial level all the way through high school and at university. It was at university that she decided to push herself further and explore the world of dual sports. Later she represented South Africa in a duathlon.

In her sit-down with 99FM for the Royal Hustlers show, she reveals that while sports was a huge passion all the way into adulthood she was forced to study in order to actually survive in the harsh professional sports environment. “I decided to study because obviously you need a job – especially in Africa.

You can’t have sports as a job.”

ACCOMPLISHED An experienced author who has worked in the publishing industry, Jancke is also a media and communication professional with a teaching qualification from the University of South Africa. She is equally skilled in health and fitness coaching, wellness coaching, fitness and athletics training. Jancke graduated at the prestigious University of Pretoria with a Bachelors of Arts in Human Movement Sciences, specialising in.

While it was initially her husband who had an interest in CrossFit, , Jancke eventually fell in love with it as well and has not looked back. Together with her husband, Jancke is also competing in the gruelling Fittest in the Namib competition which is billed to “push athletes to their limits”.

On what the biggest lessons she has learnt from her lifelong participation in sports are, the mother of two says: “Sports teaches you discipline, patience, endurance, it teaches you to be a team player and how to strive for bigger goals.” She also stresses the importance of sports for the overall development of children.

“Unfortunately, the trend with most of our kids in recent years is to spend too much time in front of screens, and that’s not healthy.” Her hope is that the youth will get more opportunities to be more physically active for their overall wellbeing.

So, if you have been feeling fit and strong and are ready for the ultimate challenge with Jancke and her team, this year’s Fittest in Namibia competition taking place on the 16th and 17th of December might just be the place for you to flex your muscle. Keep an eye on the @fittestinthenamib page on Instagram for competition details.

Tune in to The Royal Hustlers on 99FM every Monday to Friday at 07h35 or rewind on the 99FM App (now available on Play Store and the App Store) Proudly Sponsored by

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You

r H ea

o l t h C me s F i

st

www.rmanam.com 50

r

RMA and our administrator are 100% Namibian owned fund and company and are proud to have been involved in the lives of Namibians for more than 25 years. Ensuring that your health comes first.

M

Emergency Medical Response across Namibia

edical Rescue Africa (MRA) is not only Namibia’s leading fixed-wing aeromedical evacuation company but it has also partnered with innovative medical service company Macquarie Medical Care, whose flagship telemedicine offering Dr MacQ, is to offer even greater advantages and services to both companies' clients.

Furthermore, occupational health-related services for pre and post-employment /deployment medicals, as well as annual or periodic medicals, are available as necessary. The determination of operational risks and occupational health requirements from a legislative and best-practice point of view can inform the appropriate level of occupational health and medical surveillance, all in an integrated evidence based manner.

This exciting integrated healthcare model can coordinate and provide healthcare services in several instances to provide better medical and emergency care to patients across Namibia.

Dr MacQ, powered by Macquarie Medical Care, is Namibia’s first telemedicine service offering, providing a much-needed resource for companies such as lodges or mines operating in remote locations. Having 24-hour access to online consultations with Dr MacQ Online Doctors as well as access to an onsite proprietary codified dispensing system allows immediate professional medical care to employees, optimising their onsite health and efficiency. The agreement with MRA extends Macquarie Medical Care’s clients access to emergency evacuations for critically ill and injured patients.

In an emergency response case the site paramedic and/ or nurse will typically see a patient as the first responder and determine the need for further telemedicine support from Dr MacQ Online Doctors as required. In a severe case, a medical evacuation will be activated as per Emergency Response Plan triage protocols. In the event of a medevac, Macquarie Medical Care will coordinate referral to the appropriate level of care.

The partnership also allows for onsite primary clinic care.

Onsite staff can consult Dr MacQ Online Doctors for minor injuries or primary care illnesses through a video conference facility with diagnosis and care augmented by the onsite nurse or paramedic. Under the supervision of the nurse or paramedic, essential medication placed

by Macquarie onsite allows for prompt dispensing to the patient. Medication is dispensed using a proprietary codified dispensing system which mitigates the risks of any dispensing errors.

MRA is based at Eros Airport in Windhoek and focuses on the provision of innovative medical emergency evacuation solutions to various customers across the continent as well as aeromedical services through a network of skilled paramedics, nurses and emergency doctors.

Through Westair Aviation, MRA has a dedicated fleet of air ambulance aircraft on standby which can land on unimproved airstrips and operate at night as well as in bad weather conditions. Aircrews undergo regular refresher training, and all operations comply with the highest safety and quality standards.

For more information visit www.medicalrescueafrica.com or www.drmacq.com

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ESORTS

DISCOVER

RTS

ACROSS THIS LAND OF ENDLESS HORIZONS ANGOLA

ZAMBIA

ANGOLA ZAMBIA

Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area

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Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area

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eton tier Park

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BOTSWANA

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11 Waterberg Plateau Park

11 Waterberg Plateau Park

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Etosha National Park

BOTSWANA

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Etosha National Park

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ZIMBABWE

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Iona Skeleton Transfrontier Park

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WINDHOEK Daan Viljoen Game Reserve

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WINDHOEK Daan Viljoen Game Reserve

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Namib Naukluft Park

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Namib Naukluft Park

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/Ai-/Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park

/Ai-/Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park

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SOUTH AFRICA

+264 61 285 7200

26 28 27

SOUTH AFRICA

www.nwr.com.na

1. Popa Falls Resort 2. Onkoshi Resort 1. Popa Falls Resort 3. Namutoni Resort 2. Onkoshi Resort 4. Halali Resort 3. Namutoni Resort 5. Okaukuejo Resort 4. Halali Resort 6. Olifantsrus Campsite 5. Okaukuejo Resort 6. Olifantsrus Campsite 7. Dolomite Resort 8. Terrace Bay Resort 7. Dolomite Resort 9. Torra Bay Campsite 8. Terrace Bay Resort 10. Khorixas Camp 9. Torra Bay Campsite 10. Khorixas Camp 11. Waterberg Resort 11. Waterberg Resort 12. Mile 108 12. Mile 108 13. Mile 72 13. Mile 72 14. Jakkalsputz 14. Jakkalsputz 15. Mile 141 15. Mile 141 16. Von Bach Dam1 16. Von Bach Dam1 17. Gross Barmen Resort 17. Gross Barmen Resort 18. Sun Karros Daan Viljo 18. Sun Karros Daan Viljoen1 19. Reho Spa1 19. Reho Spa1 20. Naukluft Camp 20. Naukluft Camp 21. Sesriem Camp 21. Sesriem Camp 22. Sossus Dune Lodge 22. Sossus Dune Lodge 23. Hardap Resort 23. Hardap Resort 24. Duwisib Castle 24. Duwisib Castle 25. Shark Island 25. Shark Island 26. Hobas Lodge 26. Hobas Lodge 27. /Ai-/Ais Hot Springs Spa27. /Ai-/Ais Hot Springs S 28. Boplaas Campsite 28. Boplaas Campsite 1

Public+264 Private 61 22Partnership 4900 1

Public Private

Travel Tales

Merry Crisis

A

nyone who resides south of the equator on the African continent understands that public holidays are taken very seriously around here. It is our right, after all, to relax a little between the hustle. Sometimes, if you are lucky, you will find a couple of stores open on a public holiday. But when it comes to the festive season it is quite the challenge to get much of any type of service. We have a saying for that here in Namibia: “is f*kkol, is festive” meaning that anything and everything is excused in the name of this holiday.

It was the day before Christmas. My family, with my grandmother in tow, embarked on a little holiday in South Africa. My sister, grandmother and I were squeezed tight on the backseat of our Audi sedan like a bunch of sardines in a Lucky Star can. Mother’s legroom was non-existent thanks to the all-important bag of padkos and her Mary Poppins sized handbag. The boot was filled to the hilt, which didn’t take much given the vehicle model, and my dad was growing weary between us kids moaning and his motherin-law’s backseat driving. Tensions were running high, to say the least.

think at this point my sister and I fessed up to the fact that we had spent the last hour switching the car on and off for the cooling breeze of the aircon. Either that, or my grandma snitched on us. At the tender ages of 9 and 12 we hadn’t learnt that car batteries are not inexhaustible – until this very day before Christmas.

The shops closed and their employees left to prepare for their very own festivities, leaving us stranded in the parking lot at the mall. This was our collective first time in Paarl, so ideas of what to do about our car battery situation quickly ran dry and as the heat wave became increasingly intense, the option of air conditioning was out the window.

We have a saying for that here in Namibia: “is f*kkol, is festive” meaning that anything and everything is excused in the name of this holiday.

This fateful day before Christmas turned out to have the biggest heat wave since the one that ended the ice age. My father parked the car in a shopping mall parking lot in Paarl, just a couple kilometres from Cape Town, to take a smoke break.

While dad chainsmoked to calm down the irritability, my mum was lured into the shops, which has never taken much convincing. She ended up spending a good hour perusing Paarl’s selection of unnecessary nicknacks, right before the early closing due to the festive season.

There was absolutely nothing of interest for my sister and I, so we stayed in the car with my gran and made use of (or abused) the air conditioning. After a successful shopping spree and half a pack of cigarettes, my parents got back in the car, ready to embark on the last leg of our journey to where we would spend Christmas. My dad put the key in the ignition and… nothing. The Audi didn’t start. He tried again and again, eventually giving in to the air of tension that was beginning to fill the car, and let out the highly anticipated and inevitable “dis ‘n f*kkop” (bugger up). I

Like all dads do, mine popped the bonnet and assessed the situation with his Oakley sunglasses on his head, a frown as deep as the Fish River Canyon and hands loosely on his hips. He disconnected the battery and started walking in a direction I can only assume he decided on based on instinct. His instinct, as it turned out, was wrong. After walking a good kilometre slugging the car battery along, with every service station or vehicle repair shop closed with a sign in the window saying Merry Christmas, he turned around. All that the rest of us saw through the Audi’s windows was my father passing the car and walking in the opposite direction. He didn’t make any eye-contact, though if he had I’m sure he would have burned holes into the car's body.

About an hour later my dad returned.

On his pilgrimage with the battery he happened upon a small service shop. It wasn’t open, much like everything else the day before Christmas, but luckily the station owner was in, probably just locking up, or perhaps having escaped the merry madness at home, but he heard my father’s cries for help and just happened to have a replacement for our battery.

It was a Christmas miracle. The next day, while celebrating the holiday, the merry crisis from the day before was indeed f*kkol, because it was festive.

Do you have any funny travel stories to share? Send them to fly@venture.com.na Charene Labuschagne

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The Königstein Capital Group was established in 2009 as an independent unlisted investment manager that focuses on private equity and venture capital fund management in the Namibian market. The management team has extensive experience in various sectors of the economy gained over the last 40 years.

Our investment objective is to provide investors superior and sustainable returns while at the same time having the maximum social impact. A perfect example of this strategy is our investment Mashare Berries.

Through our fund Spitz Capital’s investment into Mashare Irrigation Group, we were able to establish Namibia’s first commercial Blueberry farm. Mashare Berries grows Blueberries for local consumption and export markets – creating jobs and adding to Namibia’s foreign earnings. This investment perfectly represents our growth strategy – scalable businesses with high social impact.

We are excited about Namibia’s potential and eager to partner with like-minded companies and entrepreneurs.

www.konigsteincapital.com +264 61 303 227 info@konigsteincapital.com 13 Liliecron Street, Windhoek, Namibia

Michael Mansfield returns with a critical eye in

Still Life Stories

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“A

s with every show, I try to give the audience a good night out; show them something they may not have seen before.

There are allusions and games in my new pieces. I hope there’s quality, too.”

Michael Mansfield is back with his seventh solo exhibition, Still Life Stories.

The artist’s latest project presents a collection of inanimate objects that often find themselves as centrepieces in vibrant narrative paintings. He explains, “It helps that a lot of my ideas involve toys, so they come with their own expressions and personalities, or rather, ones which I impose on them.” As part of his creative practice, Mansfield collects objects that might spark an idea – and admits to a special liking for inflatable pool toys – though it might take years for inspiration to strike. “I’m always rummaging through all these containers of junk, trying to squeeze a story from them, like a kid playing.”

his most recent works are different from earlier pieces. He explains, “I’m getting older, grouchier, and more things are bothering me. The paintings are less kind. Those clockwork chattering teeth seem to represent everything I find wrong with humanity these days. Greedy, cruel, grinning, brainless things. In a word, disturbing.”

To further compliment the narrative and highlight the underlying essence of his subject matter, the exhibition includes a series of black and white watercolour and ink paintings of everyday items. “I have tried to use the most mundane objects I could find: bath plugs, ballpoint pens, pizza boxes. I chose them because they are kind of black and white in real life, so there’s a dimension of realism without trying too hard.”

I’m always rummaging through all these containers of junk, trying to squeeze a story from them, like a kid playing.

But, while the toys and exuberant oils on canvas might have a fun, colourful appearance, it often speaks “serious stories, or bring life’s more disturbing aspects to one’s attention.” Some works are self-explanatory, like the penguin standing on a small block of ice, with a tin of Lucky Star pilchards sticking out from beneath it, titled Last Supper.

Less topical themes refer to classical art subjects such as The Birth of Venus; suggested by a shell-shaped jewellery bowl, an enormous pearl (or repurposed deodorant ball) and, as Venus, Hello Kitty, “which just happened to be lying around the studio.”

While his connection to the history of Western art and Classical masters remains evident, Mansfield notes that

Mansfield’s tongue-in-cheek playfulness is once again apparent in his latest exhibition.

However, this time it is with a critical eye on the human condition and life itself. And as a possible side effect of getting too deeply absorbed in his subject matter, the artist describes his new work as “three years of agonising slog; trying to pack a lot of painting into a small area, with a tiny brush,” before adding, “I doubt I could ever take anything like this on again.” Better make sure not to miss this one then!

Still Life Stories is on view at The Project Room from 6 to 21 May 2022.

Marita van Rooyen

The Project Room - Namibia www.theprojectroom.com.na

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LEGAL PRACTITIONERS, NOTARIES & CONVEYANCERS +264 83 332 5300 info@ferasmuslaw.com.na No. 5 Conradie Street | Windhoek

1 May 1707 The Kingdom of Great Britain is formed from a union between the rival kingdoms of England and Scotland. The union included Wales which had already been part of England since the 1500s.

2 May 2011 U.S. Special Operations Forces kill Osama bin Laden during a raid on his secret compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The raid marked the culmination of a decade-long manhunt for the elusive leader of the alQaeda terrorist organisation based in the Middle East.

4 May 1978 The South African Defence Force attacks a SWAPO base at Cassinga in southern Angola leaving approximately 600 dead and many wounded.

4 May 1494

10 May 1994

During his second journey of exploration in the New World, Christopher Columbus discovers Jamaica.

Former political prisoner Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as president of South Africa.

Mandela had won the first free election in South Africa despite attempts by various political foes to deter the outcome.

5 May Birthday German philosopher and father of communism Karl Marx (1818-1883) is born in Treves, Germany. He coauthored Das Kapital and The Communist Manifesto, advocating the abolition of all private property and a system in which workers own all the means of production, land, factories and machinery.

12 May Birthday British nurse and public health activist Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) is born in Florence, Italy. She volunteered to aid British troops in Turkey where she improved hospital sanitary conditions and greatly reduced the death rate for wounded and sick soldiers. She received worldwide acclaim for her unselfish devotion to nursing, contributed to the development of modern nursing procedures and emphasised the dignity of nursing as a profession for women.

6 May 1527 The Renaissance ends with the Sack of Rome by German troops as part of an ongoing conflict between the Hapsburg Empire and the French Monarchy. German troops killed over 4,000 Romans, imprisoned the Pope, and looted works of art and libraries. An entire year passed before order could be restored in Rome.

SUDUKO

Celebrate, observe and take part!

DID YOU KNOW?

This month in history:

1 May

Workers’ Day

4 May

Cassinga Day

25 May

Africa Day

FUN FACTS ABOUT MAY: The birthstone of May, the emerald, symbolises success and love.

May was once considered a bad luck month to get married. There is a poem that says "Marry in May and you'll rue the day".

In Old English, May is called the "month of three milkings" referring to a time when the cows could be milked three times a day.

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.

HARD 3 4 1 2 8 7 5 6 9

EASY

5 9 8 4 1 3 6 2 7

7 1 6 8 2 5 9 3 4

4 3 2 6 7 9 8 5 1

9 8 3 7 5 6 4 1 2

2 6 7 1 4 8 3 9 5

1 5 4 3 9 2 7 8 6

5

8 7 9 5 6 1 2 4 3

3 2 7 9 6

6 2 5 9 3 4 1 7 8

8 6 7

6 3 7 5 2 9 4 1 8

5 4 2

8

4 8 2 1 3 6 7 9 5

4 6 8 2 1 9 8 7 4 6 2 3 5 8 2

1 5 9 8 4 7 6 3 2

7

6 1 8

4 7

8 3 7

8 9 6 3 7 1 2 5 4

5 9 5 2 6 1

4 9 1 3

3 4 1 2 6 5 8 7 9

9 1 3 8 6 8 6 4

5

7 2 5 4 9 8 3 6 1

1

2 1 4 7 5 3 9 8 6

3

5 6 3 9 8 4 1 2 7

HARD

9 7 8 6 1 2 5 4 3

EASY

59

Love Namibia

A PLACE OF INFAMY, YET SOFT AND DELICATE | Namibia's Skeleton Coast is a place of legend... and infamy. Known as a treacherous stretch of coastline where many ships and lives have been claimed, the soft sloping dunes of the Namib Desert provide a beautiful and beguiling juxtaposition - harsh meets soft. We discovered this place of delicate extremes on a visit to Shipwreck Lodge.

Elzanne McCulloch

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NAKARA SHOP WINDHOEK Gustav Voigts Centre Independence Avenue 131 Tel/Fax 061 224 209 Email: info@nakara.na NAKARA SWAKOPMUND The Arcade, Tel/Fax: +264 64 405 907 NAKARA FACTORY WINDHOEK 3 Solingen Str. Northern Industrial Tel +264 61 429 100

www.nakara-namibia.com