Each year the Ombetja Yehinga Organisation works with youth groups and supports them preparing shows to be presented in schools and communities. This year, it worked with the Opuwo Youth Group, the Anker Youth Group and the Karibib Youth Group. In September, OYO organized for all three groups to meet and work together, learning from each other, teaching each others skills.
41 youth met in Eenhana between 08 and 16 September. After two days intense rehearsals, they presented their show 9 times. The show comprised a drama in two parts about a young learner abused by her teacher, dances and songs.
The main aim of the exchange was to share and learn. The group therefore had one show at the Oluno Rehabilitation Centre, in Ondangwa, for all the inmates. It also had a performance at Eluwa Special School, where they had a chance to interact with learners living with disabilities. After the performance, they worked with some of the hearing impaired children, teaching them a dance, ‘the broken hallelujah’. Finally they presented their show to a group of children orphaned or living with HIV/AIDS in Oshakati, thanks to the support of Sisi and TKMOAMS - a local community volunteer organisation working with people living HIV/AIDS. Again, they had a chance to share some
of their skills with the children, teaching them another of their dance, ‘mamma says’. Finally they met with the ever dynamic Omaleshe youth group, led by Sisi. This time it was their turn to learn a new piece, called Ngoma.
Learning was further achieved through their interaction with dance expert Wieke Eringa, Director of Learning and Access at Northern Ballet Theatre, Leeds, UK. Wieke spent the ten days working with the group, teaching them warm up techniques, working with them on their dance pieces and teaching them a new way of creating a dance. Wieke explained: ‘The whole experience was very inspiring to me for various reasons – meeting some fantastic, focused (and talented) young people and OYO staff and the chance to work with their physical confidence, ease and creativity. I was deeply moved to witness the very real impact of the performances on the audiences – the prisoners, disabled children and orphans as much as the secondary school group who were settling into their hostel weekend on Friday evening. For me this is the best and most riveting experience of ‘theatre’ – when the audience and performers are connected through the sheer relevance, belief and energy in the performance and when that connection transcends our dairy experience to give us hope and joy.’
The experience was recorded by cameraperson Linda Louw, directed by Philippe Talavera, also director of the show and of the Ombetja Yehinga Organisation. It will be edited for broadcast in Namibia by the end of the year. Philippe explained ‘this year national tour went extremely well thanks to the incredible work of our operation manager, Evelina Ashipala and tour manager, Matias Kamati. Once more we have proven that young people have the power to prepare high quality performances and deliver a moving and powerful message to other young people. Audiences left the performance not only moved, but also having learnt something.’
The three groups are now back to their regions. They are currently preparing themselves for the World AIDS Day celebrations that will happen in their respective areas. We know they will be a great success!
