Featured – Windhoek Observer

28 Sep

Importation of certain poultry products suspended again

ObserverFeaturedImportation of certain poultry products suspended again

Stefanus Nashama This week, Chief Veterinary Officer Albertina Shilongo, of the Ministry of Agriculture, announced the immediate suspension of the importation and in-transit movement of live poultry, birds, and poultry products from South Africa due to a rise in Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) cases. According to a statement from the Ministry, the decision to reinforce control measures was prompted by HPAI infiltrating commercial, export-approved poultry compartments in South Africa. The objective is to prevent the introduction of HPAI into Namibia through poultry and their products. The ban encompasses live poultry, fresh frozen poultry meat, table eggs, day-old chicks, and…

27 Sep

Artist in the spotlight: Ismael Shivute

ObserverFeaturedArtist in the spotlight: Ismael Shivute

I studied Sculpture in Department of Visual Arts, participated in many group exhibitions locally and internationally, and had a solo exhibition at the National Art Gallery of Namibia in 2006 and 2022 at Utopia Restaurant in Windhoek. After my studies I began creating mixedmedia artworks from my environment, often working with found or recycled materials drawn from the area in which I lives. Inspired by my environment, recycled or used materials and the feel of things made by hands… I feel that my art reflect a unique Namibian identity, as well as my own identity as an artist struggling to…

26 Sep

Exclusive Interview with Obed Kotokeni Neslow: Artist and Entrepreneur.

ObserverFeaturedExclusive Interview with Obed Kotokeni Neslow: Artist and Entrepreneur.

Being a musician who is your target audience?Likely includes people who grew up listening to my music since and have continued to follow my career up until now.This audience would primarily consist of fans who have grown with me and appreciate my musical evolution over the years. It’s essential to understand their changing preferences and demographics to continue connecting with them effectively. I mean who doesn’t know one of the hits songs produced by me such as “Go to Malawi” Or “Days like this” in today’s era? lol Take us through your journey as a musician and what has inspired…

25 Sep

An exclusive interview with Ndinaelao Moses, Electrical Power Engineer and Authour

ObserverFeaturedAn exclusive interview with Ndinaelao Moses, Electrical Power Engineer and Authour

Who’s Ndinelao?I’m Ndinaelao Moses, an electrical power engineer by profession. Alongside engineering, I’m dedicated to mentorship and education, guiding aspiring engineers through QueenShono Mentorship. Advocating for mental health awareness and children’s rights is a cause close to my heart, and I have a passion for teaching mathematics and science. Serving as a motivational speaker with NAMWIE, I have the privilege of encouraging high school students to explore the exciting world of STEM, empowering them to reach their full potential. What inspired the title of your new book?As the author, I drew inspiration for this story from a deep well of…

19 Sep

An exclusive interview with Ester Haikola-Sakaria, Environmentalist

ObserverFeaturedAn exclusive interview with Ester Haikola-Sakaria, Environmentalist

Ester Haikola-Sakaria is the Founder and Director of the NGO, Wakapinya Environmental Education. She granted us this exclusive interview. Can you tell us about your family?I have 10 siblings, 5 sisters and 5 brothers. I was raised by my grandparents in an extended family with my cousins and it was lovely. My mom and dad are wonderful parents. Today, I’m married to a man of God.What is your earliest memory of your childhood?I grew up in the Northern part of Namibia, in Okongo-Oluwaya Village. One thing I will tell you is that I have always loved nature. I spent most…

12 Sep

Listen Up – Up-close with Jossy Joss

ObserverFeaturedListen Up – Up-close with Jossy Joss

Take us through your journey a musician and what has inspired you to become a singer?I started out in the 90’s as young boy inspired by Tupac Shakur and R Kelly. I started writing raps and blending them with RnB but in 1999, I started an RnB group with DJ Maxi-B called 2/4U which then became Reality. The group disbanded and then I started another group called Preachaz in 2000, which was a gospel Hip hop/RnB group with DJ MO and Immo.The group then got incorporated into Dungeon Family which was Hip Hop/RnB group consisting of different groups and solo…

11 Sep

Down memory lane

ObserverFeaturedDown memory lane, Padlangs

Manni Goldbeck I was going through old boxes the other day from my Top Travel days, a tourism company I started in 1992, when I came across some of the old slips. I looked at the dates and discovered that they were all from 1993, exactly thirty years ago. How things have changed . . . When I left the teaching profession after many fulfilling years at Concordia College, I started ‘Top Travel Information’. It was the early days after independence when tourists were starting to visit Namibia. I employed several upcoming guides, among them Jochen Beckert, Peter Pack and…

11 Sep

Lea’s Sins: An exclusive interview with author, Lea Matheus.

ObserverFeaturedLea’s Sins: An exclusive interview with author

Lea Matheus is a 31 years old Science teacher, a profession she absolutely loves. She recently published her debut novel titled, “Worry about your sins, God won’t ask you mine.” Where were you born and raised?I was born in Okahandja, and due to unforseen circumstances, we moved to the north. Though I moved to Luderitz, and Windhoek later; I’d say my life was based more in the north. Can you tell us about your family?When I was very young, my parents sadly passed away. It was a difficult time for our family, and I was left without their guidance and…

04 Sep

On the road with Faraway Sandy Trails Stonetrees, a White Lady & many cups of coffee

ObserverFeaturedOn the road with Faraway Sandy Trails Stonetrees

Ron Swilling I picked up some unusual travelling literature on a recent trip through Namibia, a book called ‘Faraway Sandy Trails’ written by Lily Marion Newton more than sixty years ago. It gave me the opportunity to compare routes and find amusing and interesting anecdotes about the country and the days of travel before organised tourism and tar roads. This time I focused on the chapter about two attractions in north-western Namibia, the Petrified Forest and the well-known White Lady rock painting. Today both are on the tourist map and there are well-signposted gravel roads, but in Lily’s day it…

04 Sep

Honeymoon in Namibia – Memories to last a lifetime

ObserverFeaturedHoneymoon in Namibia - Memories to last a lifetime

Despite the world dealing with the aftermath of Covid, Sabrina and I decided to get married last year on September 18th, 2021. We held a small garden wedding with our family and closest friends. It was a magical day that will be forever engraved in our hearts. One thing was missing though; we had to postpone our honeymoon until the world opened up again. Once it did, there was an unlimited well of possibilities. We decided to honeymoon in Africa as it was a continent we both hadn’t explored much and it intrigued us. Sabrina researched several countries in the…