APC still promoting art and culture at Tsumeb

• PINEHAS NAKAZIKOINITIATED 18 years ago, the Arts Performance Centre (APC) at Tsumeb continues to promote arts, crafts, performances, and cultural activities among young people countrywide.

The non-profit organisation, which operates independently of the government and depends mostly on donations, includes music theory and instrument education, dance and drama, as well as visual arts in its curriculum.

The APC also has a language centre where Swahili is taught as the most spoken pan-African language in Africa. The class helps those who travel to several countries for business purposes communicate better. 

The centre is currently run by one of its project initiators, Lis Hidber, who is also its managing director, and focuses on especially the unemployed and those from less fortunate backgrounds.

The centre employs 30 teachers and 10 additional aid staff, and caters to a total of 300 after-school students daily.

The Tsumeb centre is one of the biggest in the country, with 17 huts for different types of music, an instrument repair workshop, and a gallery for the display of visual artworks.

APC classrooms take the form of colourful rondavels, each dedicated to a group of instruments.

“APC education helps pupils and students stay in school, increases motivation, which improves attitudes, and contributes to improved academic performance. Apart from musical ability, these lessons also create a sense of purpose for these children, and open up avenues for employment and skills development,” Hidber says.

She says the APC is mostly visited by students from different social backgrounds, many of whom are faced with challenges.

“The APC thus offers new perspectives and opportunities to learn, improve, and better the students’ lives. Those who acquire a certain skill level have the chance to find employment as teachers and instructors, and pass on their knowledge to other prospective students.” 

Hidber says formal and state employment opportunities in bands also arise, such as in the Namibian Navy, the Namibian Police and the Namibian Defence Force.

Some graduates have been able to earn a living as professional musicians, artists and performers, while a few have managed to open smaller music schools in their respective areas.

In addition to musical teaching, it has been proven that people involved in performing arts can engage the mind, emotions and body in ways that allow them to navigate life with empathy, understanding, emotional intelligence, and confidence.

The APC also includes a musical repair workshop, where locals are taught how to build and repair the various instruments that are used at the school. 

These craftsmen have become so accomplished at this highly specialised work that musical instruments are sent to Tsumeb for repairs from all over Namibia.

The Tsumeb APC has an art gallery where visual artworks, concert pictures and CDs produced by students, teachers and other local artists are exhibited and sold.

Profits are shared among the artists and the centre.

On 13 December 2021, The Namibian published an article titled ‘APC still promoting arts and culture at Tsumeb’.

We wrongly indicated that the APC is currently run by Helena-Ella Nghifindaka, of Hella Investments, instead, it is run by Miss Lis Hidber. Miss Nghifindaka was the creative author of the submitted article.

The APC is still run by one of its project initiators who is also the Managing Director, Miss Lis Hidber. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

The article has also been changed on our epaper and website to reflect this.

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