UNAM Performing Arts Showcase Week 2025 Celebrates Student Talent at NTN

(By: Frieda Jona)

The University of Namibia (UNAM), in collaboration with the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN), hosted the fourth annual UNAM Performing Arts Showcase Week from 23 to 24 October 2025, spotlighting the creative excellence of third- and fourth-year performing arts students.

The two-day event, held at the NTN stage, offered a professional platform for emerging artists to present original works in music, drama, and dance to public audiences, industry stakeholders, and fellow creatives. Launched in 2019, the showcase has grown into a vital space for youthled storytelling in Namibia’s arts sector.

This year’s program held under the coordination of NTN’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Desiree Mentor, whose leadership helped shape the program’s vision and execution, featured a diverse range of performances rooted in lived experiences and contemporary local issues.

The opening night featured performances by the UNAM Brass Band, Mbira ensembles, and a devised theatre piece titled “Lines”, directed by Dr. Nashilongweshipwe Mushaandja, a Performing Arts Lecturer at UNAM . Drawing from the Sister Namibia archives, Lines is a feminist documentary theatre work that uses expressive movement and historical narrative to explore themes of resistance, memory, and womanhood.

Among the performers, fourth-year student Lekenanda Eliakim stood out with a powerful solo Mbira piece that blended traditional soundscapes with personal storytelling. Her performance, marked by emotional depth and cultural connection, drew strong applause from the audience. “This was a tribute to my heritage and a call to remember the stories that shaped us,” Eliakim said.

Third-year student Felicitas Egumbo also delivered a compelling performance, showcasing both great skills and emotions. Reflecting on her experience, Egumbo expressed, “Being part of the showcase was more than just performing, it was a chance to grow, to be seen, and to share something real with the audience.”

Her contribution reflected the growing confidence and creative maturity of Namibia’s emerging performing arts talent. The event was marked by a keynote speech from renowned literature scholar and former UNAM English lecturer Dr. Helen Vale, who taught at the university for sixteen years and has contributed significantly to Namibian literary studies. In her address, Dr. Vale emphasized the transformative power of the arts in postcolonial societies.

“Words are meaningless until acted upon,” she said, urging students to use performance as a tool for truth-telling, healing, and cultural preservation. “Art is not just expression, it is action, memory, and resistance.” As the 2025 Showcase concluded, the event reaffirmed the role of UNAM and NTN in nurturing the next generation of Namibian artists. Through bold performances and powerful storytelling. Students demonstrated that the future of Namibian arts is not only bright, it is already unfolding