The unshakeable and inspiring Oshosheni Hiveluah paved the way for many women in the film industry.
Her knack for storytelling, her unique take on the world and her skill to execute ideas on screen is what makes her unforgettable.
The past week has been a sombre one, which has left the Namibian arts community rattled by the passing of the eloquent artist last Wednesday.
She directed her debut student film ‘Tulila’s Fate’ in 2004, ‘Cries at Night’ in 2009, ‘100 Bucks’ in 2012 and two years later, ‘Tjitji – The Himba Girl’. Hiveluah was a member of the Namibia Filmmakers Association (NFA) and has continued paving the way for young creatives with teaching, inspiring and guiding. She also served on the jury of the 2019 Namibia Theatre and Film Awards, which took place on 5 October.
Her career was a decorated one as her work has been screened internationally and awarded across the board.
Spending a large part of her childhood in East Germany, Hiveluah made her way back to Namibia after independence. After studying in Cape Town, she participated in a student film-making workshop, which required her to write a screenplay. Writing was her dream, but directing was awaiting on the horizon.
“As fate would have it, I ended up writing and directing this little student film which was called ‘Tulila’s Fate’, which opened up more doors and opportunity into the local film industry. I went on to work for a local production service company for several years to gain experience in the film industry and during that time, I made my second short film, ‘Cries at Night’,” Hiveluah wrote on her website, oshosheni.com.
The film bug had bit the then aspiring director and she couldn’t ignore the feeling any more. “I had to write and direct more films, it wasn’t enough for me to work on other people’s films, I had too many ideas and it brought me so much joy.”
In 2010, Hiveluah resigned from her job, heading on a quest to quench her thirst to tell stories and entertain. “I became a freelancer with the primary focus entirely on film directing and writing, but survival instincts kicked in and in order to have a regular income, I also opened up a casting agency called Shooting Stars Casting Agency.”
Thereafter, she directed her last two films and continued working on feature films and other collaborative projects with African writers. Her appetite to tell authentic African stories spurred her on to produce films for upcoming artists in southern Africa through media company Digital Afros.
“What is that? Well, you see, I am also the creative director of a spanking new and young film and design company, which is called Digital Afros, and manage an NGO called Emoona Cultural Foundation which is an initiative for youth with regards to the preservation of culture and heritage through the arts,” Hiveluah wrote at the time.
A strong-willed individual, she spoke on loss to The Weekender in 2017, after the passing of her mother. “You walk out the house but inside it’s like a waterfall of agony and pain, it’s just so much pain. And you start thinking about what joy means and whether it’s a gradual process over many years of life or is it just a decision that you make,” she said. “They say that every day gets a little easier to cope with. And that little bit is maybe all one needs. Just that little bit,” she added.
Hiveluah touched many lives and it showed, as messages of condolences continued to flow in.
Journalist and film enthusiast Martha Mukaiwa had a close relationship with Hiveluah and posted a message online last Thursday. “Last night we lost one of Namibia’s finest storytellers, film-makers and souls. Oshosheni Hiveluah was a friend and a mentor to me when I moved home with a ‘useless’ film degree and knew not a soul. I went another way. I became an essayist instead. But Oshosheni always held space for me.”
Actor Adriano Visagie had a similar encounter with the director. “You were so gracious. You did my first camera test, and simply believed in not just me but a great part of the human he[art]. Until we meet,” he wrote.
’10 000 BC’, ‘100 Bucks’ and ‘Baxu and the Giants’ actor Steven Afrikaner said the film industry suffered a great loss and is in a poorer state. “I’m so shocked as I knew that she was such a passionate film-maker and an engaging storyteller, whom I had believed would take the industry to greater heights. Condolences to her next of kin, industry mates and those of us whose hearts she touched with her warm personality and friendship. Your legacy will live on in us who knew you and spent time with you on and off film sets and at recordings and gatherings. May her soul rest in peace!”
Hiveluah was no stranger to poetry and touched peers in this sector as well. Playshis The Poet took to Twitter to express his sorrow. “My heart is broken by the passing of our dearest Oshosheni. One of the kindest and warmest humans I’ve ever met. Your calm and wise spirit was such a blessing to so many. You will be missed and your passion for the arts will always be remembered. Rest well, dear Oshi.”
Sam Ndungulu remembered his first encounter with her. “It’s 2015, I was a broken and depressed math student. Oshosheni came across my blog and told me to perform one of the posts on a Spoken Word stage. She gave me a space that is instrumental to my personhood. How can I forget that?”
Director and close friend Oshoveli Shipoh looks back on the kinsmanship the two shared. They met after Hiveluah called Shipoh to contribute to storyboarding on ‘100 Bucks’, and they met over a cup of coffee, spoke about the film industry and shared ideas. “She was a fun soul, always enlightening every topic that comes into conversation.”
Shipoh described her as a passionate person whose main aim in life was to radiate love and make people feel good through her work. “It didn’t matter how big or small or how far the film went in terms of recognition, she cared a lot about making a difference,” he said.
“I can easily believe that industry artists and creatives will remember and honour her for years to come. I would name a creative institution after her. She really gave a voice that inspired female creatives in the film industry,” Shipoh said, adding what he’ll miss about her is her humanity and willingness to pass the torch to support the next film-maker. “Her warm smile could change the forecast in a room.”
One of Hiveluah’s close friends and colleague Tim Heubschle said she was first and foremost a beautiful human being. “What we can take from this loss are the values she believed in – to tell good stories,” he said, adding that she always wanted to spread positivity and the industry should pay this forward.
“Oshi and I were friends and colleagues, but she was more than just a fellow film-maker. One thing I can’t get back is her laughter,” he said. “What I do have of her is her spirit, they don’t just leave. They stick around and look over their loved ones.”
The Collective Productions Namibia team described Hiveluah as a unique storyteller. “Her voice will be sorely missed. We deeply value her contributions to our film projects and the Namibian film industry at large. Rest in Peace, Oshosheni Lomboleni Hiveluah.”
