Ongula Homestead Lodge will host a one-week community art project called Shiyuma Shiwa Skills Sharing Art Project.
The workshop, aimed at promoting pottery and other ceramic art in rural areas of Namibia will take place from 16 to 22 March 2025.
Mr Kleopas Nghikefelwa, who will facilitate the workshop, said that two pottery experts from the College of the Arts and John Mwafangeyo Art Centre in Windhoek have been invited to attend the workshop.
“The aim of this workshop is to inspire our rural youth who may want to choose their future careers in pottery art and trade in future,”Nghikefelwa said.
Adding that, “This workshop is targeting to train about 20 potters from Ohangwena and Oshikoto regions. During the workshop the participants will be motivated and encouraged to continue respecting their traditional skills of using pottery traditional techniques in their work as it was practiced for ages.
“Generally, the pottery industry in Africa is facing so many challenges, such as lack of access to funding, and access to markets and finance to promote locally made quality products.”
Through regional community art extension officers of the four northern regions participants will be invited to attend the skills sharing workshop at Ongula Homestead Lodge in Ongula village.
Nghikefelwa stated that the Shiyuma Shiwa Skills Sharing Art Project has been funded by the National Art Council of Namibia.
“During the workshop, accommodation and food will be covered. But we are ready to refund some travelling costs of the participants who will be travelling from far places.”
In the photo: The art of pottery has been practiced in Africa for centuries, but due to modernisation and globalisation, ceramic products imported from elsewhere are increasingly taking the place of locally made pottery products.
