Three Namibians join MultiChoice Talent Factory Class of 2025
Three emerging Namibian creatives, Valeria Handobe, Shaquille Shikwambi and Georgina Likukela, have been selected to join the prestigious MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), a pan-African initiative aimed at nurturing the next generation of filmmakers.
Here’s more about their backgrounds and how they're driven by their passion for film and television to make a difference in the Namibian creative industry.
Valeria Handobe
Passionate storyteller Valeria Handobe was born in Tsumeb and grew up in the village of Onalukula, Onankali, in the Oshikoto region. Handobe’s love for storytelling began at home, listening to radio programmes with her family.
Inspired by Nollywood and later Zee World films, she pursued journalism to bridge her passion with a practical career path, earning an honours degree in media studies from the University of Namibia (Unam).
With over a year of experience in television journalism, Handobe has covered stories on education, health and community affairs. Now, she’s ready to expand her storytelling through film, focusing on cinematography.
“My focus will be on the art of telling a story through visuals. This is not just about my passion; it is also about representation,” she said. “Women are still underrepresented in cinematography, and while more of us are getting involved, it’s still mostly male-dominated. I want to be part of the change and inspire other young women to take up space in this area.”
Outside of film, she enjoys music and spending time with family. Handobe is proud to be the first journalist from her village and is grateful to MultiChoice Namibia for the opportunity to grow creatively. She looks forward to building impactful stories that reflect Namibian voices and experiences.
Shaquille Shikwambi
Hailing from the northern town of Tsumeb, Shikwambi has been immersed in storytelling from a young age. After moving to Windhoek for school, his media journey began in Grade 5 through the Uitani Childline/Lifeline Radio Programme, where he impressed his higher-ups to become a child counsellor and radio presenter at a young age. This early exposure to broadcasting ignited his passion for media and led to a breakthrough role in a national film directed by Tim Huebschle in Grade 7. His performance earned him a nomination for Best Upcoming Actor for a film award in Namibia, setting the stage for a lifelong commitment to storytelling.
“This set the tone for me because after high school, I had already found my passion, which is telling stories. The rest is history,” he said.
After studying at the College of the Arts, Shikwambi remained connected to the creative industry. Now, as a participant in the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), he aims to refine his skills in directing and cinematography, with aspirations of working at a larger scale within the Namibian creative industry.
Outside of film and television, he is passionate about marketing, design, creative direction, and public speaking and believes that the power of storytelling will influence social, cultural, and political change. “Be prepared to hear about me regardless of MTF,” he says. “My story is just beginning.”
Georgina Likukela
Georgina Nankole Likukela, a 26-year-old from the Zambezi region, is stepping boldly into the world of film and television as a selected participant in the MTF. A Jan Mohr Senior Secondary School alumna, Likukela graduated with an honours degree in medical laboratory sciences in 2021. However, after facing burnout and mental health challenges in 2023, she rediscovered her lifelong passion for the arts through acting and poetry.
“I got extremely burnt out, I struggled with extreme anxiety and depression, and I had to leave my job,” she explained.
Her performance at the First Lady’s Arts for Activism Showcase reignited her creative spark, leading her to pursue storytelling professionally. With no formal training but a deep-rooted instinct for creativity, Georgina saw MTF as the perfect opportunity to refine her skills in scriptwriting, directing, and acting – her first love.
Beyond film, she is passionate about music, mental health advocacy and empowering others through creative entrepreneurship, especially in her home region. Likukela hopes to use the skills gained at MTF to build a sustainable creative business and mentor aspiring artists.
“I am just grateful to God for this opportunity. I have learnt that when you move in courage and not fear, Heaven backs you up,” she said. “I look forward to meeting the creative I will become after this programme and watching the film we will create within MTF as well.”
Here’s more about their backgrounds and how they're driven by their passion for film and television to make a difference in the Namibian creative industry.
Valeria Handobe
Passionate storyteller Valeria Handobe was born in Tsumeb and grew up in the village of Onalukula, Onankali, in the Oshikoto region. Handobe’s love for storytelling began at home, listening to radio programmes with her family.
Inspired by Nollywood and later Zee World films, she pursued journalism to bridge her passion with a practical career path, earning an honours degree in media studies from the University of Namibia (Unam).
With over a year of experience in television journalism, Handobe has covered stories on education, health and community affairs. Now, she’s ready to expand her storytelling through film, focusing on cinematography.
“My focus will be on the art of telling a story through visuals. This is not just about my passion; it is also about representation,” she said. “Women are still underrepresented in cinematography, and while more of us are getting involved, it’s still mostly male-dominated. I want to be part of the change and inspire other young women to take up space in this area.”
Outside of film, she enjoys music and spending time with family. Handobe is proud to be the first journalist from her village and is grateful to MultiChoice Namibia for the opportunity to grow creatively. She looks forward to building impactful stories that reflect Namibian voices and experiences.
Shaquille Shikwambi
Hailing from the northern town of Tsumeb, Shikwambi has been immersed in storytelling from a young age. After moving to Windhoek for school, his media journey began in Grade 5 through the Uitani Childline/Lifeline Radio Programme, where he impressed his higher-ups to become a child counsellor and radio presenter at a young age. This early exposure to broadcasting ignited his passion for media and led to a breakthrough role in a national film directed by Tim Huebschle in Grade 7. His performance earned him a nomination for Best Upcoming Actor for a film award in Namibia, setting the stage for a lifelong commitment to storytelling.
“This set the tone for me because after high school, I had already found my passion, which is telling stories. The rest is history,” he said.
After studying at the College of the Arts, Shikwambi remained connected to the creative industry. Now, as a participant in the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), he aims to refine his skills in directing and cinematography, with aspirations of working at a larger scale within the Namibian creative industry.
Outside of film and television, he is passionate about marketing, design, creative direction, and public speaking and believes that the power of storytelling will influence social, cultural, and political change. “Be prepared to hear about me regardless of MTF,” he says. “My story is just beginning.”
Georgina Likukela
Georgina Nankole Likukela, a 26-year-old from the Zambezi region, is stepping boldly into the world of film and television as a selected participant in the MTF. A Jan Mohr Senior Secondary School alumna, Likukela graduated with an honours degree in medical laboratory sciences in 2021. However, after facing burnout and mental health challenges in 2023, she rediscovered her lifelong passion for the arts through acting and poetry.
“I got extremely burnt out, I struggled with extreme anxiety and depression, and I had to leave my job,” she explained.
Her performance at the First Lady’s Arts for Activism Showcase reignited her creative spark, leading her to pursue storytelling professionally. With no formal training but a deep-rooted instinct for creativity, Georgina saw MTF as the perfect opportunity to refine her skills in scriptwriting, directing, and acting – her first love.
Beyond film, she is passionate about music, mental health advocacy and empowering others through creative entrepreneurship, especially in her home region. Likukela hopes to use the skills gained at MTF to build a sustainable creative business and mentor aspiring artists.
“I am just grateful to God for this opportunity. I have learnt that when you move in courage and not fear, Heaven backs you up,” she said. “I look forward to meeting the creative I will become after this programme and watching the film we will create within MTF as well.”
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