05 Dec 2024

Efforts are underway to create platforms and opportunities for local artists to access markets for their artistic works.

Access to markets and lack of resources had been identified as the main challenges faced by artists in the Ngamiland region.

Poetavango Chairperson Legodile Seganabeng revealed recently when sharing the challenges faced by artists and opportunities they could explore, citing that the refurbishment of the Nhabe Museum and unveiling of the historic basket monument brought joy and hope to artists.

“As artists, we have celebrated this basket monument because it indicates that someone has finally seen the need to put up a spectacular structure, which shows that the region has artists of note who should be recognised,” he added.

Seganabeng described the basket monument as an  attractive satellite dish, citing that the museum has been a hub for artists for years, where they hosted meetings and workshops while some displayed their works.

He said the beauty of the structure would serve as the main attraction, as members of the public and travellers would visit the museum and appreciated the unique and beautiful works displayed, ranging from sculptures to paintings, drawings, performances, and literary works, and eventually contribute to the local economy, culture, and education.

He said travellers would also get useful information on which heritage areas to visit to create blissful moments.

Seganabeng, affectionately known as ‘Dredd X’ in the art industry, is an author and a poet. He also shared that they worked on research dubbed ‘The Ngamiland Creative Network Project’, which they undertook in partnership with the Nhabe Museum and Ngamiland Council of Non-Governmental Organizations (NCONGO) across the region three years ago.

The project, funded by Companies and Intellectual and Property Authority (CIPA) under the Levy on Technical Devices Fund, aimed to develop a robust creative network hub in Ngamiland for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the creative industries by developing the capacity, quality, and diversity of the creative sector in the region.

Seganabeng indicated that the project allowed them to engage with artists in areas such as Seronga, Shakakwe, Gumare, and Maun to discuss their challenges and how they could be assisted to grow. He said artists argued that Maun was a tourism hub and that its potential market was tourists who visited the region in huge numbers.

“They decried, however, that most of them cannot access travellers as they fly into the Okavango Delta and back to their destinations; hence, they need help to sell their products. They also believed exhibitions could be a great way to market their work, but that was not the case, so they called for an intervention to address their woes,” he said.

On the other hand, Seganabeng told BOPA that while facilitation to ease doing business by other stakeholders was important, artists should also step up and stop depending solely on handouts.

 “Mokoduwe go tsoswa yo o itekang,” he undrescored .

“We are trying to instil the spirit of self-reliance in the minds of our artists because we believe that it is easier for someone to support or help them if they also make an effort in what they are doing,” he added.

Poetavango’s objectives were to solicit support for artists and bring them together either through capacity-building programmes or through any other activities that could jumpstart their growth.

The organisation’s mandate includes developing, promoting, and enhancing the arts, be performance, literary, or visual. Ends