Banana Shekupe launches auditions for liberation musical
Performing artist and former College of the Arts lecturer Banana Shekupe has opened auditions for his latest project, ‘From Exile to Glory’, a musical theatre production chronicling Namibia’s liberation struggle.
Blending music, dance and storytelling, the work is inspired by Shekupe’s own years in exile and seeks to capture both the personal and collective journey to independence. He describes the production as more than a performance: a cultural celebration, a historical tribute and an educational legacy.
“This is a story that needs to be told – not just for those who lived through it, but for those who will carry it forward,” Shekupe said. “Through music and performance, we can preserve our history, celebrate our strength, and teach our children the values that carried this nation to independence.”
Auditions will be held on Saturday, 20 September, at the Katutura Community Arts Centre, beginning at 11:00. Performers of all ages are invited. Dancers should prepare a two-minute routine, actors a short monologue or dialogue and singers a two-minute song.
Resilience and cultural identity
The production is designed with children and communities at its heart. Shekupe’s team plans to take the message of the liberation struggle into schools, where storytelling and workshops will be used to teach values of resilience, unity and cultural identity.
“Children today need to know where they come from. They need to feel connected to their roots,” he said. “Arts education offers them a creative and emotional way to understand history – not only through textbooks, but by experiencing it live.”
Shekupe is also calling on stakeholders, including government institutions, cultural bodies and private organisations, to support the project. Their contributions, he noted, will expand outreach programmes and ensure that the production reaches as many young Namibians as possible.
Interested performers can register by contacting [email protected] or 264 85 772 9040.
Blending music, dance and storytelling, the work is inspired by Shekupe’s own years in exile and seeks to capture both the personal and collective journey to independence. He describes the production as more than a performance: a cultural celebration, a historical tribute and an educational legacy.
“This is a story that needs to be told – not just for those who lived through it, but for those who will carry it forward,” Shekupe said. “Through music and performance, we can preserve our history, celebrate our strength, and teach our children the values that carried this nation to independence.”
Auditions will be held on Saturday, 20 September, at the Katutura Community Arts Centre, beginning at 11:00. Performers of all ages are invited. Dancers should prepare a two-minute routine, actors a short monologue or dialogue and singers a two-minute song.
Resilience and cultural identity
The production is designed with children and communities at its heart. Shekupe’s team plans to take the message of the liberation struggle into schools, where storytelling and workshops will be used to teach values of resilience, unity and cultural identity.
“Children today need to know where they come from. They need to feel connected to their roots,” he said. “Arts education offers them a creative and emotional way to understand history – not only through textbooks, but by experiencing it live.”
Shekupe is also calling on stakeholders, including government institutions, cultural bodies and private organisations, to support the project. Their contributions, he noted, will expand outreach programmes and ensure that the production reaches as many young Namibians as possible.
Interested performers can register by contacting [email protected] or 264 85 772 9040.
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