Choirs, dancers and comedians steal the show at CST Expo

Windhoek's Hage Geingob Stadium became a hub of sport, entertainment, culture and business from 2 to 4 September, as the Creative, Sport and Tourism (CST) Expo brought exhibitors, creatives, sportspeople, entrepreneurs and the public together for three days of workshops, competitions and exhibitions.

The creative workshops focused not just on artistic process, but on the work and business potential behind it. In a session on 2D animation, James Hango and Vernna Hango walked participants through the journey from script to screen, while a drawing challenge gave attendees a hands-on taste of the creative process themselves.

Award-winning director Ndayola Ulenga urged creatives to loosen their grip on their own ideas, while content creator and musician Zulu Boy spoke about the opportunities creatives can generate for themselves and others. "We can also create jobs ourselves and inspire the younger generation," he said. Across the sessions, a common thread emerged: technical skill and creative talent count for little without storytelling, production know-how and business sense to back them up.

Competition added another dimension to the programme, with the inaugural CST Choir Clash bringing together vocal talents from across Namibia.

Ohange Church of the Nazarene Choir took the win, pocketing N$5 000 and the honour of opening the 2027 CST Expo, while Friends In Music Chamber Group placed second and won a N$3 000 cash prize.

Dance brought its own drama to the entertainment line-up. Ashanti, known as Noku, took first place and won N$3 000, Calvin Blaauw finished second for N$2 000, and content creator and motivational speaker Salomon, known as Kwatamo, rounded out the podium in third with a N$1 000 cash prize.

If the competitions let performers show off their skills, Savannah Comedy Hour brought a different kind of energy altogether. Hosted by 2024 Namibian Stand-Up Comedian of the Year Alfonso Murorua, the evening leaned into jokes about Namibians drifting from their roots and culture.

Between the workshops and the entertainment, the expo offered no shortage of ways to engage with the creative sector – and that was just one strand of a programme that also spanned sport, tourism showcases, exhibitions, live music and further competitions over the three days.