The Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO) dance troupe will stage its first public performance for the year at the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre (FNCC) on Wednesday.
The audience can expect two repertoire pieces and a re-stage of the ‘Finlandia’ production which was created in celebration of the Finnish Independence Day at the end of last year on the famous music of Jean Sibelius.
The performances will again highlight the continuous corruption, gender-based violence and controversies in Namibia.
“It is time to say ‘not again’. We have the opportunity to make a difference, so let us try and work towards a better future,” said organisers in an invitation to the event.
It starts at 19h00 and entrance is free.
The OYO dance troupe is also busy working on two exciting mega productions for 2023.
In a first for Namibia, the group will present a 20-hour dance-a-thon in celebration of its 20th anniversary.
Also billed for the FNCC, the session is anticipated to start at 13h00 on Friday, 14 April and end at 8h00 the following day.
“The aim of the event is to have continual dancing for the full 20 hours. OYO will invite our friends, stakeholders, companies and partners to sponsor one of the 20 hours and use that hour to dance in any way they choose,” the group explained on its social media pages.
Meanwhile, OYO dancers recently toured schools in the Oshana region to present its repertoire on gender-based violence and discuss with learners around important issues such as ‘whose fault is it?’ and ‘where can you seek help’ and challenge stereotypes, discussing the fact that the boy child can also be victim of GBV. Counsellor Njandee Amporo was present in the schools to offer on-the-spot support.
OYO thanked the Embassy of Finland in Windhoek – Suomen suurlähetystö Windhoekissa – for supporting the project ‘Gentlemen and supergirls’.
“Together, we can end GBV in Namibia.”