Part of the mural
Initiated in 2008, this project aims at assessing how words and painting can complement each other. This year, the project was implemented in Khorixas.
OYO has been involved with the Khorixas youth group since the beginning of the year. While working with the group, it realised that alcohol and drug abuse (mostly cigarettes and marijuana) were a problem in the area. Young people have extremely few recreational activities in the area and often turn to the consumption of alcohol and/or marijuana. This in turn reduces their chances of finding employment, increases their needs for quick cash (which may in turns lead them to steal) and increases the risk of unprotected sex.
In order to address the problem a mural and poetry workshop was organised from 04 to 09 October 09. It took place at the youth centre, a place central in the town visited by many young people in the area. Visual artists Richard Kayili and Jacob Shingenge and poet Josef Molapong led the workshops. Fourteen participants were encouraged to reflect on alcohol and drugs, the negative impact it can have on their lives and possible solutions to encourage the youth to stay away from those substances. Over the course of five days, participants prepared sketches, draw and painted two murals, or created poems, either individually or in groups, on the theme.
Josef Molapong and participants to the workshop
On 09 October 2009, the mural was officially unveiled by Hon Willem Konjore, Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture. A delegation comprising the Hon. Minister, the Hon. Governor for the Kunene Region, the Mayor and CEO of Khorixas and various other officials was in Khorixas to hand over equipment for the Khorixas Youth Brick Making Project. The youth group took this chance to perform one of its songs, ‘it feels’ and present its poems. OYO’s Kunene Regional Head, Lesly Aibeb, presented the ‘walls and words’ project and the Hon. Minister and Hon. Governor handed-over certificates to the participants. The Hon. Konjore was very happy with the project and in his speech encouraged the youth to completely stop abusing drugs and alcohol ‘we were not born drinking alcohol’, he said, ‘we choose to drink alcohol. Therefore, we can also choose to stop drinking alcohol’.
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Hon Konjore, Minister, Hon. Governor of Kunene region and youths in front of the mural. |
My lovely friend
With the first puff
I feel so heavenly
With the second puff
I smile… just smile
When smoke rises into the air
Flying like a dove in the sky
It opens my blood veins
And cheers up my mind
Drugs, my beloved drugs
My one and only friend
With you I am bound to die
Mercy Khaises |
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Dagga, my dagga
DAGGA, when I use you
You make me feel good
Make me forget problems
When I mix you with beer
I become relaxed, at ease
Even if I spend so much money
Oh dagga, oh nice cold beer
You make me miss my baths
My clothes smell like brew
And my family is kept poor
With their faces hid in dustbins
Now, my head has been changed
And we are not relatives anymore
Magnes Gaseb |
This project was made possible thanks to financial support from the National Arts Council of Namibia.
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