Arts centres provide hope for youth
Promoting a love for the arts
The Art Performance Centres in Namibia aim to promote young artists and promote cultural growth.
The Art Performance Centre in Tsumeb (APC) celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, while the APC in Oshikuku celebrates 31 years.
The non-profit organisation Namibian Art Performance Centres Association (NAPCA) established APC Tsumeb to promote young artists and promote cultural growth in the region.
The centre encourages members of the surrounding communities to participate in art classes, such as painting, design and music. Local community members are employed as teachers and children's creativity is developed.
One of these teachers is Selma Ndatoolewe Kandjungulume (30).
"I grew up in the north of the country and as children we blew air into bottles and it sounded so beautiful," she said.
Discovering joy
In 2014, when she finished school, she moved to live with her brother, who lives in Tsumeb, and visited APC for the first time.
"I didn't know they were a music school. I just heard the sounds and thought it was very beautiful. I met the manager, Lis Hidber and told her I was looking for work. She gave me work in her house.
"One day she asked me if I wanted to learn how to play an instrument, and I said I would, but I didn't know the name of the instrument. She gave me a flute. It had such a beautiful sound that I fell in love with it. I immediately started googling and watching YouTube videos.
"I've seen many videos of flute players, and each one puts a smile on my face."
Kandjungulume started taking lessons and used the videos to teach herself. Today, she plays different flutes. She also tried to learn to play another instrument, but quickly returned to her favourite instrument.
She started playing the flute at the age of 22, and today she teaches children as young as eight years old. She currently has 50 students learning to play different flutes.
Musical week
Kanjungulume was invited to the Swakopmund Musikwoche for the seventh time last year.
"I and seven of my flute students went there for a week. In total, however, there were 34 of us from APC who were there."
According to her, it is a very good experience for the students.
"They are exposed to other students and learn from each other. They exchange knowledge and are inspired by others."
Learning
Kanjungulume is constantly learning and practicing. She has a lot of contact and interaction not only with Namibian flute players but also with people from Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
"Miriam is a woman from Switzerland, and she taught me via WhatsApp. She gave me a piece to learn, like the song Malaika. I played it for her through a video call on WhatsApp, and she gave me advice. Then she gave me homework, and I practiced. She listened again for the next lesson."
Advice
"People should not give up. Push through and never give up, even if it's difficult now. Making music is healthy, brings us together and gives us peace of mind."
– [email protected]
The non-profit organisation Namibian Art Performance Centres Association (NAPCA) established APC Tsumeb to promote young artists and promote cultural growth in the region.
The centre encourages members of the surrounding communities to participate in art classes, such as painting, design and music. Local community members are employed as teachers and children's creativity is developed.
One of these teachers is Selma Ndatoolewe Kandjungulume (30).
"I grew up in the north of the country and as children we blew air into bottles and it sounded so beautiful," she said.
Discovering joy
In 2014, when she finished school, she moved to live with her brother, who lives in Tsumeb, and visited APC for the first time.
"I didn't know they were a music school. I just heard the sounds and thought it was very beautiful. I met the manager, Lis Hidber and told her I was looking for work. She gave me work in her house.
"One day she asked me if I wanted to learn how to play an instrument, and I said I would, but I didn't know the name of the instrument. She gave me a flute. It had such a beautiful sound that I fell in love with it. I immediately started googling and watching YouTube videos.
"I've seen many videos of flute players, and each one puts a smile on my face."
Kandjungulume started taking lessons and used the videos to teach herself. Today, she plays different flutes. She also tried to learn to play another instrument, but quickly returned to her favourite instrument.
She started playing the flute at the age of 22, and today she teaches children as young as eight years old. She currently has 50 students learning to play different flutes.
Musical week
Kanjungulume was invited to the Swakopmund Musikwoche for the seventh time last year.
"I and seven of my flute students went there for a week. In total, however, there were 34 of us from APC who were there."
According to her, it is a very good experience for the students.
"They are exposed to other students and learn from each other. They exchange knowledge and are inspired by others."
Learning
Kanjungulume is constantly learning and practicing. She has a lot of contact and interaction not only with Namibian flute players but also with people from Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
"Miriam is a woman from Switzerland, and she taught me via WhatsApp. She gave me a piece to learn, like the song Malaika. I played it for her through a video call on WhatsApp, and she gave me advice. Then she gave me homework, and I practiced. She listened again for the next lesson."
Advice
"People should not give up. Push through and never give up, even if it's difficult now. Making music is healthy, brings us together and gives us peace of mind."
– [email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article