RUNDU – The Home of the Arts (HOTA) which is under Kavango East Art Theatre received a donation of musical drums from HIT the Beat Academy – an Institution that promotes self-esteem, intercultural competency and soft skills, based in Windhoek.
Rundu Urban Constituency Councillor Vicky Kauma received the gift on Monday.
Kauma stated that, “If these young people are equipped with the skills, they will be able to do something good in Rundu Urban Constituency. Through music, there is a message and if all the youth would stand up and decide to come up with something to do, they will combat unemployment.”
According the Director of HOTA, Nanyemba Katamba, HOTA is a non-profit organisation based in Rundu, which focuses on art development in the Kavango East Region. The target group for HOTA is primarily the out of school youth, who come to the centre and learn how to create and be able to market their final products. Through the support from the National Art Council of Namibia. So far HOTA conducted three workshops in graphic design, photography, filming and music instruments such as guitar, piano and drum kit, including vocal coaching, theatre and dancing.
“The donation of music equipment from HIT will further the goal of HOTA by encouraging young people master live performance,” added Katamba.
HIT the Beat has been in existence for 20 years, an organisation that is about uniting people through music. “We donated drums because it can bring people together through the rhythm. I feel happy to contribute with drums, a drum is a basic tool that everyone can play,” said Simone de Picciotto, the founder of Hit.
Rundu in the past never had an art centre, until when HOTA was discovered in 2017. “It is important to have such centres in a community. Performing arts educate us more about our history, culture and heritage. We decided to build something similar to the Warehouse and the FNCC in Windhoek for the artists to showcase their talents,” Katamba added.
*Tangeni Nahweka is an intern information officer at the Ministry of Information and Technology stationed in Kavango East based in Rundu.