The Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO) dance troupe performed its repertoire pieces ‘Another party with Helen’ and ‘Value thy Earth’ and held the public premiere of ‘Finlandia’ on Wednesday at the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre (FNCC) to a full house.
During the event, OYO director Dr Philippe Talavera announced the OYO 2023 programme. Highlights include the production of cabaret ‘Remembering Johnny’, in collaboration with the FNCC and local schools in August; the production of an inter-disciplinary dance piece ‘Picasso’s letters’ in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain; and the production of its new film as part of a project working with street kids, in collaboration with the Embassy of the
Republic of Germany.
OYO board chairperson Theopolina Kueyo then introduced OYO’s first patron in the person of Yvonne Dausab, Namibian Minister of Justice. “The organisation, thanks to its dedicated staff past and present, reached many young people across Namibia. As an important milestone, we decided this year to invite a prominent person to become our patron. We see our patron as a respectable individual who knows and appreciates the work OYO does, and can contribute to giving us credibility,” said Kueyo. Accepting the honour, Dausab said it was not difficult to say yes to the invitation because OYO works from the heart.
“The work it does with dance and arts is very commendable. It is reaching the youth in a way that is unique and impactful. I feel honoured to be their first-ever patron,” she beamed.
On his part, Talavera said they are truly humbled that Dausab accepted to become their patron. “She has an interest in and has worked in the areas of access to justice, disability rights, children’s rights and constitutional and human rights law. Our values are very similar.”
As part of the evening, the dancers teased the audience with a surprise two-minute interlude on a French rock’n’roll song. A standing ovation closed the evening.
OYO is a Namibian trust aiming at creating social awareness by using the arts.
OYO just turned 20 years.