'Street Icons' shines spotlight on harsh realities of street life

Namibian filmmaker David Kahamba Alberth has officially released his new drama series, 'Street Icons', which was released on Friday, 20 March.

The series explores the realities faced by young people in local communities, focusing on issues such as unemployment and violence.

Alberth said the idea for the production was inspired by his observations of the challenges confronting youth in society.

“What inspired me to come up with this series is I explored what is happening in our communities. I discovered that there's a high level of unemployment and violence amongst the youths,” he said.

He added that 'Street Icons' stands out because it is rooted in real-life experiences and aims to educate audiences.

“Streets Iconic is based on real stories that will educate a huge number of citizens about street culture and urban lifestyle,” he explained.

Grief into art

The project is also deeply personal.

Alberth revealed that the story was shaped by a tragic experience involving the loss of his cousin, which he initially tried to process through music.

“I lost my cousin who was kidnapped, and his body was dumped in the forest."

However, he found it difficult to capture the complexity of the experience in a single song, leaving him with a strong desire to warn young Namibians about the dangers of street life. He said he later realised film would allow him to explore the subject more fully.

"Seeing is believing," he said.

Cast

The series features actors Eric Kusenge, known as Puzzle, and John Livingi, better known as Lazer, alongside Alberth himself. He said the selection process prioritised natural talent and authenticity.

“I selected the most talented actors by giving them a friendly interview without them knowing."

He added that he carefully observed how they communicated, including their body language, to authentically capture street culture.

Behind the scenes, the production included both challenges and memorable moments for the cast.

“It’s hard for actors to stick to the script while they are nervous and uncomfortable, which leads to laughter and memorable moments that make actors do their best and love what they’re doing," he stated.

Alberth also noted the difficulties of producing the series independently.

"There were a lot of challenges, but I have to do it for my country even though I’m not getting paid for it yet. We only recorded during the weekends to avoid a lot of distractions, which was one of the difficulties we faced during the production,” he said.

The drama series was released on TikTok as part of a strategy to reach a wider audience before moving to television.

“I decided to launch it on TikTok first to reach more viewers and once we reach the targeted audiences, I will launch it on TV,” Alberth said.