Namibian actor Alejandro Cooper, aged 12, received the accolade for Best Youngest African Actor at the Sotigui Awards, which took place in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso recently. 

Cooper was honoured for his performance in the film ‘Lukas,’ directed by Philippe Talavera of the Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO), based on a screenplay by Mikiros Garoes, and featuring a Namibian cast and crew. 

He was nominated alongside Seydou Sarr from Senegal for his role in ‘Moi, Capitaine,’ directed by Matteo Garone, and Ambjulla Ilboudo from Burkina Faso for her performance in ‘L’homme au Bâton,’ directed by Christian Lara. 

These awards celebrate the achievements of African and diaspora cinema, highlighting exceptional talent from the continent. 

The film provides an emotional examination of the lives of street children, offering a genuine and unfiltered depiction of their struggles, and the indomitable spirit that drives them forward. 

It seeks to initiate a dialogue on how society can improve the circumstances of street children, and prevent more youths from leaving their homes and enduring hardships on the streets. 

Additionally, the film aims to present the perspectives of street children, encouraging society to adopt a more compassionate view, as the reasons behind their circumstances are often unknown. 

In an interview with The Daily Round-Up, Nina Cooper expressed joy upon hearing her son announced as the winner.

“I would like to express gratitude to OYO and my director, Talavera, for the opportunity to portray the character of Lukas,” he stated. 

He mentioned that this marked his inaugural role in a film. 

Representing OYO, Karoline Katumbo expressed immense pride in Cooper for receiving this award and bringing it home. 

“We are thrilled; his success is a triumph for the entire team involved in this production. He dedicated significant effort to his role, showcasing not only talent, but also a commendable work ethic for someone of his age, which ultimately yielded positive results. While the competition in his category was fierce, we were not entirely surprised by his victory, as he is an exceptional actor,” she remarked. 

OYO anticipates further film opportunities that reflect authentic narratives. 

“We extend our gratitude to the Federal Republic of Germany for funding the production of Lukas, and we hope this paves the way for similar initiatives. We are committed to discovering and nurturing talent in Namibia. Additionally, we would like to acknowledge the Namibian Film Commission for covering Alejandro’s travel expenses to Burkina Faso,” she added.

-pmukokobi@nepc.com.na