The Namibian Art

02/02/2025

Remembering Abraham Iyambo (2 February 1961 – 2 February 2013)

Abraham Iyambo (2 February 1961 – 2 February 2013) was a Namibian politician. Iyambo was a member of the National Assembly of Namibia since 1995, serving as Minister of Fisheries from 1997 to 2010 and Minister of Education from 2010 until his death. Iyambo was a member of both the central committee and political bureau of the SWAPO Party and the chairperson of its think tank.

Education
Iyambo was born at Oniimwandi on 2 February 1961 in the Oshana Region of northern Namibia, as the fourth of ten children of Helena Gabriel and Agapitus Iyambo. He attended Okata Primary School at his birth village and Canisianum Roman Catholic Private School at Outapi for secondary education. He then went into exile and studied Food Chemistry for four years (1982–1985) in Havana, Cuba. In 1985, he left for the United Kingdom, where he took an access course in food studies at South London College. Upon completing the access course, he began studying towards his BSc in ⠀⠀Food Science⠀⠀ from ⠀⠀the University of Surrey⠀⠀and graduated in 1990. From 1991 to 1994, he continued at Surrey, studying towards a PhD, which he received in 1994.

Career
In 1994, Iyambo worked as a consultant for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on the work of the Ministry of Agriculture.[3] He also worked as a GTZ consultant for the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and for the Ministry of Education.

In 1997 he was promoted to Minister by President Sam Nujoma, a position he held for 12 years until March 2010. In March 2010 he was appointed Minister of Education by President Hifikepunye Pohamba.

Iyambo was Namibia's commissioner-general for Expo 1998 held in Lisbon, Portugal. He was the chairman of SADC ministers responsible for fisheries from 1997 to 1999. Iyambo was a member of the International Task Force responsible for the fight of global Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU). In 2001, he was co-chairperson for the Reykjavik Declaration of the Ecosystem Fisheries Management.

Death and legacy
Iyambo had health problems related to high blood pressure for some years. He died from a stroke on his 52nd birthday while on business travel in London, United Kingdom, on 2 February 2013. He received a state burial where a 17-gunsalute was fired. Iyambo is interred at Windhoek's Gammams Cemetery.

Abraham Iyambo received several awards for his work, among them the Aquaculturist of the Year 2009, awarded by the Aquaculture Association of Southern Africa, the Margarita Lizárraga Medal for 2008/2009, awarded by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Kungsfenan Swedish Seafood Award.

In Namibia, he was known for being a workaholic and a highly effective government minister, independent of what his current portfolio was. His time at the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources earned him the nickname "Dr. Fish" in honourable recognition of his many achievements. During his tenure at the Ministry of Education, Iyambo implemented free primary education, a right enshrined in Namibia's constitution since 1990. He also introduced pre-primary education at state schools. His request to "deliver, deliver, and deliver" became a popular slogan for educators and learners alike. One year after his death government renamed Oshikunde Senior Secondary School in the Ohangwena Region into Dr Abraham Iyambo Senior Secondary School. He is also named after a primary school in Windhoek's Moses Garoeb Constituency, Dr Abraham Iyambo Primary School.

02/02/2025

Rudolf Bester (born 19 July 1983) is a retired Namibian professional football forward who last played for Alexandra Black Aces.

Career
He previously played for Serbian SuperLiga club FK Čukarički, having joined the team in January 2008 from Eleven Arrows.

He was a part of the Namibian squad at the 2008 African Cup of Nations. He has a record of 13 goals for Namibia and is currently the second highest national top goal scorer, ahead of retired Gerros Uri-khob with 12 and Ruben Van Wyk with 11 goals. Despite coming on for Orlando Pirates as a substitute in various games, Bester once gave Pirates an important victory in the last games of the 2011/12 league season. The win came at a crucial time and contributed to the team's league title. Pirates were held 1–1 by Cosmos and in the dying minutes of the second half, he scored a winning cracker to give the defending champions a 3-point lead on top of the table against relegation bound Jomo Cosmos in the 2011/12 season.

In June 2012, Bester missed three important international matches due to Injury. He was expected to play for Namibia's Brave Warriors in the 2014 Brazil World Cup Qualifiers against Nigeria, Kenya and 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Liberia. He recovered from the injury and returned to international duty in a friendly against Rwanda on Saturday, 13 October 2012, in Windhoek. He is one of the few Namibians to play professional football outside Namibia, the first Namibian to win the PSL with Pirates and the first Namibian to play against Tottenham Hotspur of England.

"When I was playing, I bought a house and built three flats which I'm renting out and getting income from every month so l'm able to take care of myself and my three kids that I stay with. I'm living my life and feeling okay about it.
I don't drink, and I don't smoke."

His name is occasionally spelled as Rudolph in some sources. He runs his own football development company, RB Academy, where he has coached children at under-9, 11 and 13 levels since 2021.

02/02/2025

Paulus Ali Nuumbembe (born 24 June 1978 in Oshakati, Oshana Region, Namibia) is a Namibian welterweight boxer. Nicknamed "The Silent Assassin", Nuumbembe is a former Commonwealth champion who represented Namibia at the 2000 Summer Olympics and the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Nuumbembe was first introduced to boxing while still a pupil at Oshakati Primary School, by Joseph Bernard of Kilimanjaro Boxing Club. However, it was only during his time at Iipumbu Secondary School that he started boxing seriously.

He fought his first fight in the light welterweight division in 1992, and as a fan of the late Muhammad Ali, widely considered the greatest boxer of all time, he used his footwork to great effect, like his idol, earning himself the nickname ‘Ali’.

Rise to Prominence
Nuumbembe came to prominence in April 2005, when he fought to a points draw with undefeated British Champion David Barnes in a challenge for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title.

Commonwealth title
The biggest moment of his career came when he earned a points victory over Scotland's unbeaten Kevin Anderson to win the Commonwealth Welterweight title. He was the first Commonwealth Champion from Namibia.

Return to Namibia
Nuumbembe lost the title due to a cut, against Craig Watson on December 8, 2007. In 2008, after spending much of his boxing life in Britain, Nuumbembe made the decision to move back to Namibia. He has since gone on to win the WBA Pan African welterweight title and Namibian Title.

Nuumembe is now a Lieutenant Colonel (Lt. Col) in the Namibian Defence Force and is currently training their boxers.

01/02/2025

Shafimana Fikameni Immanuel Ueitele (born 6 September 1963) is a Namibian judge of the High Court of Namibia and former Senior Lecturer at the University of Namibia.

Ueitele was born in Gobabis, Omaheke Region. He earned his Bachelor of Laws at the University of Zimbabwe, where he studied from 1986 to 1990. He earned a Master of Laws from the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill in Barbados, after studying from 1990 to 1992. Upon the independence of Namibia in 1990, Ueitele was appointed an Electoral Commissioner with the Electoral Commission of Namibia. He was reappointed in 2005. Ueitele also worked for the City of Windhoek, becoming a Strategic Executive. In 2001, he became a senior faculty member at the University of Namibia Law Department. He represented Ramatex, a clothing manufacturer which opened a textile factory in 2002. It abruptly closed the factory in 2008. Ueitele is also a legal advisor to the Namibia Football Association, which governs association football in the country.

01/02/2025

Naftalie Shigwedha Amukwelele (born 1 January 1974) commonly known as D-Naff, is a Namibian multiple award-winning and top selling rapper /singer, actor and a former street gangster. D-Naff sings inspirational Gospel / religious music in the style of kwaito, hip hop, kizomba, dancehall and afro-pop. D-Naff is also a motivational and inspirational speaker and has visited more than 100 schools, Universities and colleges in Namibia including the Namibia University of Science and Technology formerly The Polytechnic of Namibia, Windhoek College of Education, Ongwediva College of Education and the University of Namibia.

Early life
As a young boy he grew up "takandeke", a traditional popular fight among the Aawambo young men practiced as an initiation into manhood, as well as swimming in the plains and wells during or after rainy seasons with his friends, and hunting in the forests. Time and again he would come back home with his shorts torn from all the climbing and adventure. He attended Eendombe Combined School and later Namibia English Primary School in Windhoek the Capital City of Namibia. This was after his father returned from exile after fighting for the liberation struggle of Namibia and took the then young man to the city to gain some education for the purpose of becoming better in life. This dream became a reality in D-Naff’s life however, without his father’s presence to witness what the world would refer to as D-Naff. His father died in 1998 while D-Naff was in France at the world cup performing for the world cup with his first musical group The Glamour Boys. He matriculated at Augustineum Secondary School and went on to enroll at the college of the arts under the mentor ship of the talented Ernst Von Biljorn. He is currently serving as a Senior Immigration officer in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration's head office Windhoek, Namibia.

Personal life
D-Naff is married to Dainess Ziba, originally from Chingola Zambia who is also a Gospel artist and his back-up singer and the two travel together on his tours.

To date he has won more than ten (13) awards including at the NAMAS. He is ranked number 15 most downloaded artist on iTunes in Africa and number two in his home country after the Dogg.

D-Naff has been appointed as the (goodwill) Ambassador for the National Youth Council of Namibia (NYC). He is currently the best selling Gospel artist in Namibia, and the country's top and most requested performing Gospel star. He has collaborated with international artist such as: Sabastian Magacha from Zimbabwe, Marvin B3 Kasomo, Mark B3 Kasomo, Prince Keddy, Ephraim Mutalange, Ty2, Damiano, Chola Chola and Tio both from Zambia. His music enjoys airplay in all radio stations across the country as well as Radio Phoenix and ZNBC in Zambia. He has released 11 albums to date. Namgospel United is a gospel movement consisting of various gospel Artists, singers and musician from Namibia which he founded with the aim of uniting gospel artists from within Namibia. The group is open to all gospel artists.

31/01/2025

Samuel Shafiishuna Daniel Nujoma; born 12 May 1929) is a Namibian revolutionary, anti-apartheid activist and politician who served three terms as the first President of Namibia, from 1990 to 2005. Nujoma was a founding member and the first president of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) in 1960. Before 1960, SWAPO was known as the Ovambo People's Organisation (OPO).

Early life
Samuel Shafiishuna Daniel Nujoma was born at Etunda, a village in Ongandjera, near the town of Okahao, Ovamboland, Southwest Africa on 12 May 1929. Nujoma was born to Helvi Mpingana Kondombolo (1898–2008) and Daniel Uutoni Nujoma (1893–1968). His mother Helvi was a Uukwambi princess by descent, and this fact would later reinforce Nujoma's charismatic influence during his political career. He is the eldest of his parents' eleven children.

In 1946, at age 17, he moved to Walvis Bay to live with his aunt, where he began his first employment at a general store for a monthly salary of 10 Shillings. He would later also work at a whaling station. In 1949, Nujoma moved to Windhoek, where he started work as a cleaner for the South African Railways (SAR) while attending adult night school at St Barnabas Anglican Church School in the Windhoek Old Location, mainly to improve his English. He further studied for his Junior Certificate through correspondence at the Trans‐Africa Correspondence College in South Africa.

Nujoma became involved in politics in the early 1950s through trade unions. Nujoma's political outlook was shaped by his work experiences, his awareness of the contract labour system, and his increasing knowledge of the independence campaigns across Africa. In 1957, at age 29, Nujoma resigned from SAR so he could devote more time to politics. In 1957, a group of Namibians working in Cape Town led by Andimba Toivo ya Toivo formed the Ovamboland People's Congress (OPC). OPC was opposed to South African policies in South West Africa including the inhumane contract labor system under which people were forced to work for meager wages. In 1958, ya Toivo sent a petition to the United Nations (UN) to force the apartheid regime to relinquish South West Africa to the Trusteeship Council of the United Nations. Consequently, he was expelled from Cape Town to Windhoek and then to Ovamboland where he was restricted. On 19 April 1959, Nujoma and OPC cofounder Jacob Kuhangua adapted a copy of the OPC constitution and formed the Ovamboland People's Organization (OPO) in Windhoek. At its first congress, Nujoma was elected president.

After 29 years in exile, Nujoma returned to Namibia in September 1989 to lead SWAPO to victory in the UN-supervised elections that paved the way for independence. Nujoma returned a day before the UN deadline for the Namibia people to register to vote for an election that would draft a constitution when it received its Independence from South Africa. The Constituent Assembly, elected in November 1989, chose him as Namibia's first president. Nujoma was sworn in on 21 March 1990, in the presence of Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, Secretary-General of the UN, Frederik de Klerk, president of South Africa, and Nelson Mandela, just released from prison.

At independence, Namibia was gravely divided as a result of a century of colonialism, dispossession, and racial discrimination, compounded by armed struggle and propaganda. For instance, SWAPO had been so demonized by the colonial media and by official pronouncements that most white people, as well as many members of other groups, regarded the movement with the deepest fear, loathing, and suspicion. One of Nujoma's earliest achievements was to proclaim the policy of "national reconciliation", which aimed to improve and harmonise relations amongst Namibia's various racial and ethnic groups. Under his presidency, Namibia made steady if unspectacular economic progress, maintained a democratic system with respect for human rights, observed the rule of law, and worked steadily to eradicate the heritage of apartheid in the interests of developing a non-racial society. Nujoma successfully united all Namibians into a peaceful, tolerant, and democratic society governed by the rule of law.

Nujoma was re-elected as President of Namibia in December 1994 with 76.3% of the vote. The constitution of Namibia was changed to allow Nujoma to run for a third five-year term in 1999; this was justified because he had not been directly elected for his first term, and the change applied only to Nujoma. He won the 1999 election with 76.8% of the vote. The constitution did not allow Nujoma to run in November 2004 for a fourth term, and there was not much enthusiasm even within SWAPO to change it again. Hifikepunye Pohamba, described as Nujoma's "hand-picked successor", was elected as the candidate for the presidential election during the SWAPO congress held on 30 May 2004, defeating two other candidates, Nahas Angula and Hidipo Hamutenya. The latter had been dismissed from his post of Foreign Affairs minister by Nujoma barely two days before the congress. Pohamba was elected with a large majority and was sworn in as the second President of Namibia on 21 March 2005.

Despite stepping down from a formal role, Nujoma is still active in the political sphere, regularly campaigning for SWAPO at various rallies and functions across the country. In 2009, Nujoma attained a master's degree in geology from the University of Namibia.

Marriage and personal life
Nujoma married Kovambo Theopoldine Katjimune on 6 May 1956. The couple had three sons and one daughter; Utoni Daniel (born 1952), John Ndeshipanda (1955–1993), Sakaria "Zacky" Nujoma (born 1957), and Nelago Nujoma (born 1959), who died at 18 months while Nujoma was in exile. Two decades elapsed before his wife joined him abroad. Nujoma's first-born son, Utoni, is a high-ranking politician and member of SWAPO who is both a member of the Cabinet and National Assembly of Namibia. His youngest son, Zacky, is a geologist by profession who has interest in business and mining.

30/01/2025

Simon Hafeni "Mzee" Kaukungwa (6 October 1919 – 1 September 2014) was a Namibian politician and People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) veteran. and a founding member of SWAPO. He was born at Ohalushu village in Ohangwena Region, Ovamboland. In 2012, SWAPO opened an office in Ohalushu and named it after Kaukungwa.

History
Kaukungua was born in Ohalushu village in the Ohangwena Region. He was the son of Reverend Nghishidumbi Nghoshi Sam Noah Kaukungwa ka-Shangheta and Hifikepunye Rebecca (Mee Nangolo). He was the third child in a family of 12 children. His siblings are Monica Ningaeendunge, Polly Nghoshi, the late Chief Setson Kamati, Naemi Kauna, Steven Shapua, Meriam Silvia Aishe-Oiwa and Helvi Ndapewoshali Nanghelo. He attended primary school at Ohalushu Finnish Missionary School between 1923 and 1938 and later continued his studies at Ongwediva Training College in 1939.

Kaukungwa went into hiding to avoid arrest, before leaving the country with Hifikepunye Pohamba shortly afterwards, travelling through Botswana and Zambia and eventually ending at Swapo’s bases in Tanzania.

He trained Swapo’s first combatants in Tanzania in the late 1960s, before going for further military and political training in China in 1965. He became Chief Political Commissar for the South West Africa Liberation Army (the forerunner to Plan), from1965-70. When Swapo held its congress in 1969, Kaukungwa was 50 years old and already considered an elder in the movement; hence was given the nickname ‘Mzee’, which means ‘elder’ in Swahili.

Mzee Kaukungwa died at Ongwediva MediClinic at the age of 94.

29/01/2025

Sgebenga will be joining Kadhila Amoomo in court Friday to help remove the redline 😅😅😅

29/01/2025

This is how much MINISTERS, NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, NATIONAL COUNCIL, REGIONAL GOVERNORS, REGIONAL COUNCIL, PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION and SPECIAL ADVISORS having been getting paid as of 10 March 2017.

With the salary increment proposal, do you think it’s a good idea to increase their salaries?

28/01/2025

Born on 8 December 1980, Damara DikDing is a singer, songwriter, composer, arranger and record producer from Namibia. He was raised in Windhoek by a single mother. Here he witnessed the growth of Namibian urban music. His life as a musician began when learnt to play the keyboard with the help of his cousin Piet. It didn’t take much time for him to grasp the skills of playing the instrument. Alongside his cousin, Damara started playing the piano at party gigs. He later established a kwaito group called Matongo Family. He assisted the group with composing, arranging, producing and recording two albums. The albums earned him respect and the chance to share a stage with artists such as Arthur Mofokate, TKZee and Malaika.

In 2006, Damara’s music gained momentum. This saw him winning at the Sanlam-NBC Music Awards. In that same year, Damara Dikding went solo and established a record label called Chessta Records. In 2007, he released a debut single, 'Bakuten', featuring Trowizazz. The video for ‘Bakuten’ was nominated at the 2009 Channel O Music Video Awards. The nomination was followed by a performance at the ‘Big Brother Africa’ reality show in Johannesburg, South Africa. ‘Bakuten’ was nominated for Best Collaboration, Best Kwaito, Best Music Video and Best Song of the Year at the 2009 Sanlam-NBC Music Awards.

Damara DikDing has managed to maintain a position as one of Namibia’s top producers and has lent his production skills to artists such as Jericho and Dixon. In 2013 and 2014 he was working on his third studio album, entitled ‘Damalokie’.

27/01/2025

A man was shot by a community member after he attempted to rob a woman.

26/01/2025

Patrick, Dion and Kamtonyo are a Namibian Kwaito trio popularly known as PDK. The group was officially launched in 2006, under the Omalaeti Music label. The name PDK is made up from the first letter of the member's names Patrick, Dion and Kamtonyo. Patrick Mwashindange was born at Onanjaba village in Omusati region, in 1985. Dion Auala was born in Luanda, Angola, in 1986, and Christian "Kamtonyo" Andreas was born in 1987, in Oshakati. All the group members schooled at Oshakati Senior Secondary School and that is where they all got to know each other.

All the three members were popular Kwaito and Pantsula dancers in their hometown Oshakati before they became friends and started to write and sing songs as a group in 1998. The group has featured on local songs like: The Dogg's "Live Life" with Tate Buti, Ees' "U My Lady".

The trio entered the music industry through their album Skoko. This gave them recognition and acceptance from their Namibian music fans. This album also helped them to achieve their first Namibian music award.

The group's sixth album Moko was released in December 2011. It received massive airplay on the local radio stations. The album has hit songs including "Dirty Kandeshi", "Moko" and "Bengusa".

Their debut album Skoko, earned the group their first Namibian music award in the 'Best Duo-Group' category in the 2008 Sanlam-NBC music awards. In March 2012 the group withdrew from the controversial Namibian Annual Music Awards (NAMAs). The organizers released the nominees' list and PDK was not on it, this made a lot of Namibian music lovers to complain because they thought the group deserved to be nominated. Days later, the award's organizers made a public announcement that PDK not being nominated was a mistake, but this led to the group withdrawing from the awards because it was not initially nominated.

What is your best PDK song today?

26/01/2025

The area highlighted in yellow shows land that is owned by White people and Foreigners from Europe, the USA and others.

This is Namibia’s most precious agricultural land.
How did the land end up in white people’s hands?

25/01/2025

Deon Hotto is Orlando Pirates most paid player with a Salary of R500 000 a month. He receives R290 689 after Tax.

24/01/2025

According to Meatco's data, 1.4 million of the country's 2.51 million cattle head are found on the northern side of the redline. While on the southern side of the red line, there are 913 116 cattle.

What if the white commercial farmers are not really afraid of the Foot and Mouth Disease but rather to loose the international markets to northen farmers?

22/01/2025

My fellow Namibians, Job Amupanda and I might differ on certain Ideologies, however I fully support him in his case that he has brought against the Corrupt, Pathetic, Weak Regime that continues to defend the interests of the few at the expense of our People.

It is only the Mentally Enslaved who will defend their own Oppression it is called the Stockholm Syndrome.

Frantz Fanon perfectly describes this with the following words.

“Sometimes people hold a core belief that is very strong. When they are presented with evidence that works against that belief, the new evidence cannot be accepted.

It would create a feeling that is extremely uncomfortable, called cognitive dissonance. And because it is so important to protect the core belief, they will rationalize, ignore and even deny anything that doesn’t fit in with the core belief.”

The Redline Must Fall.

Revolutionary Greetings
Saddam Amushelelo
The People’s General
Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters
+264851474651

22/01/2025

Job Amupanda in action for the RED LINE CHALLENGE.