Oshakati screens ‘Elelwani’ and ‘/Gasa’

MOVIE lovers at Oshakati are in for a treat when South African romcom ‘Elelwani’ and South African/Namibian animation film ‘/Gasa’ are screened in the northern town.

AfricAvenir and Sapphire Events will present these screenings at the Oshana Regional Library at Oshakati.

‘Elelwani’ is the first Venda-language film to be made in South Africa. A dark, romantic comedy adapted from the novel of the same title, it provides important insight into Venda culture. It reflects the myths, legends and taboos of cultural beliefs, and also the challenge of incorporating contemporary South African aspirations with deep-rooted ritualistic practices.

It all begins with a car journey: For Elelwani, played by Florence Masebe, and Vele, it feels like they’re setting out on the summer holiday of their lives. Elelwani has just completed her studies and is in love with Vele. They drive through the ever-green countryside into Elelwani’s home village, where they intend to tell her parents of their plans to marry and spend their future together. They are greeted with a dramatic dance in honour of the first woman from the village to have gained a degree, or at least that’s what Elelwani thinks.

What follows is a moving story which reassess cultural-gender frameworks and it also offers insights into an exotic culture without exoticising it, according to the director Ntshavheni Wa Luruli, himself a Venda.

‘/Gasa’, produced and written by Linda de Jager, is an animated superhero film that focuses on wildlife, conservation and environment. The two episodes of this series centre on the title figure, /Gasa, who comes with a message from the past for the present generation – and a knowledge of the land.

Great for children aged between seven and 13 years old, in the first episode he travels to the North of Namibia through Etosha – and makes his way to the Quiver Tree Forest in a quest to make a new quiver. On the way, he tells several traditional stories about animals, including how the ‘Jackal Got His Black Back’.

Wherever he goes, Namibians wish him good fortune. In the second episode he travels to the Topnaar community near Walvis Bay and also to the Ovahimba people to learn more about the Black Rhino – and the poaching problem in the area. Under the stars one night, he gains a startling insight about what animals mean to this world. The antics of his little friend, Mr Gecko, amuse him along the way. These two unique friends are bound to win a special place in the hearts of viewers of all ages.

‘Elelwani’ will screen today, 4 August, at 17h30 for 18h00 and entrance is free. ‘/Gasa’ will be screened tomorrow, 5 August at 14h00. Again entrance is free.

The screenings are the third installment of a newly introduced series of screenings by AfricAvenir taking place bi-monthly in northern Namibia. – AfricAvenir

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