Hilma Nalupe

The Otjomuise Live Arts Cultural Festival (Olaf) took place Last week at the Zoo Park in Windhoek. A collaborative effort between the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) and the Goethe Institute.

Olaf is a public arts festival that brings art into the community by showcasing a variety of artworks and pieces throughout Windhoek.

The festival has been ongoing for the past five years and has been held in various locations around Windhoek. 

This year, Zoo Park hosted the festival over two days.

Olaf is an opportunity for artists to express themselves, benefit economically and socially, infecting the city with performance, art, and creative works.

Desire Mentor, Public Relations Officer at NTN, described the festival as a one-of-a-kind event. “It’s a really unique event, but what makes it different is the conglomerate of artists, both professional and amateur, who had the opportunity to showcase their work this year,” Mentor expressed.

Mentor said the festival had around 40 artists performing and 15 student works that were showcased.

The festival also featured some returning artists, such as Kula Rodrigues, who was part of last year’s Olaf dance, as well as newcomers like Maria Anita. Additionally, musicians like One Blood and live music bands like Botselo performed at the festival.

-hilmanalupe@gmail.com