Mukendu Ndjavera Still Standing

This is, however, exactly what actor and model Mukendu Ndjavera has done.

He spoke to The Weekender about his decision to resign from Standard Bank about six months ago, sharing the successes and failures of his journey so far.

“I am proud of what the bank gave me and the experiences there. It gave me the platform to pursue my career. To work on my brand.

“This came as a shock to many people, some were disappointed, some confused and others happy.

“Either way, my decision was not for anybody to understand. How can anyone possibly understand the billions of miniscule happenings inside our bodies that make us who we are? Being misunderstood has been a mainstay all my life, so I am used to it. Everything is a risk. So live your best purposeful life now,” he says.

Born in 1990, it was at Omatjete, Omaruru, at his family’s homestead, where he spent most of his youth discovering the world and shadowing his father, who is his greatest teacher and influencer.

Later, he would spend his week days with his dad in Okuryangava in Windhoek, and most weekends with his mother in Soweto, he says.

Having pursued his creative career for four years already, Ndjavera describes acting as something that has always been part of him, and something he has been doing all his life.

“I see acting as a form of survival in terms of getting out of trouble, either at school by switching up characters when the heat was close, or again getting into a character to gain something.

“A famous actor once said ‘everybody acts’, and it’s true. We all go about our day subtly tuning ourselves to be in a position to win, to avoid trouble, or for others to see us in a different light. Sometimes, we say things we don’t necessarily mean just to keep the flow going. The ‘plain truth’ is not always conducive for us humans. A bit of hide and seek keeps our juices going,” he says.

Ndjavera has always been fascinated by films, stories and the characters in them. As a young boy he would spend hours trying to imitate characters, he says.

“Invariably, being an actor means knowing your surroundings and having an idea of what makes people tick, so you can get what you want and avoid what you don’t want. That means understanding people and acting accordingly.”

Ndjavera says his love of history has helped develop his understanding of human nature, as life is full of patterns, thus one can anticipate one’s next move based on the past.

He’s also a firm believer in art, and vows to help build the field.

He says art is a personal form of expression for him.

“It is a means of creating, it is fun and it speaks to the soul.”

He says his decision to become an actor comes after years of self-doubt.

After completing high school in 2009, he enrolled in guitar lessons at the Katutura Community Art Centre for two years.

“Artistically, nothing happened for seven years, until I went to the ‘The 3rd Will’ auditions in 2017. I was scared stiff and didn’t get the part but I was adamant to do any role, and the director gave me a cameo,” he says.

His interest in modelling was sparked by some of his friends who encouraged him and believe he has what it takes. It was only in his early 20s that he decided to try his luck, though.

“It was in 2018 when I went to the screening of ‘Untitled’, a web series by Lavinia Kapewasha, in which I had a cameo as well that I met Bobby Kanjose, who guided me in that infancy period.

“It so happens that the modelling career took flight faster and with more prominence but I realised I needed more training and hours of honing my craft as an actor. The experience as a model has just been a blessing to be honest. The gigs I have gotten, the people I’ve met along the way, all were a wonderful community,” he says.

Being a model and actor has taught him various things, like how to accept setbacks, be patient and accept the choices of others.

“There are always going to be a lot of setbacks. Seven out of 10 times you may not be chosen. You have to be able to take it on the chin and keep it moving.

“The challenges I have faced thus far as a model were in my early years, especially on the business front. I was paid peanuts for work that would earn a nice sum, with incentives, in some other countries.”

“I was just happy I got the gig. Also, I didn’t know the market place, my value and what I or any model in my position was worth. We don’t have a board or some sort of regulator that protects the interests of models and actors, so corporates can do as they please,” he says.

Despite this, over the years Ndjavera says he has worked with fantastic people and gained a lot of experience. What fuels him is doing a great job for those who hire him and he enjoys seeing the work come to fruition.

He believes not giving up on his dream is what has got him where he is today.

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