OLAF is back!
Windhoek gets ready for second festival
The second instalment of the Otjomuise Live Arts Festival (OLAF) which is hosted by the Goethe Institute and the National Theatre (NTN) – kicks off in the capital today and continues until next Saturday.In a media statement, the organisers said that OLAF was largely established due to the inaccessibility of various artistic platforms for the majority of Windhoek's residents. These platforms are often limited to indoor spaces and – at times – inaccessible areas of the city.
The name Otjomuise is derived from the Otjiherero name for the capital, meaning “place of steam”. The name reflects not only the city's unique environmental character but also its rich heritage and creative influence on its diverse group of residents. The festival ultimately aims to contribute to a city life that enables dynamic and accessible live art forms for cohesion, collective reflections and enlightenment.
“OLAF aims to serve as a bridge between city life and the arts by providing opportunities for live art forms to be showcased and/or exhibited in Windhoek's public spaces,” the statement continued.
The festival is being presented for the second time this year and kicks off with the Theatre School at 18:00 this evening, with the executive director of the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp.
The opening event features performances by the Old Lokasi Cultural Troupe (under the direction of Rosa Namises), Sven-Eric Müller, Tapuwanashe Munyayi, Toivo Paulas, Sebby Ngateya and Ladislau Bengue, who set the pace for the varied, immersive performances that the rest of the festival week promises.
The final item on the festival calendar is on 22 October at the Penduka Village overlooking the Goreangab Dam and includes a craft market, activities for families and children, boat rides, food, drinks and live performances by the Botselo Band, Dielo Drums and Equipped Dance.
This year's festival is supported by the Franco-German Cultural Fund, in collaboration with the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre (FNCC), NBC, the National Art Gallery (NAGN), the delegation of the European Union in Namibia, the Namibian Arts Association (NAA), the College of the Arts (Cota), the University of Namibia (UNAM), Penduka Trust and the Equipped Performing Arts and Corporate Affairs Academy.
A complete program as well as links to the venues where the various items take place, are available at olafnamibia.com