The Visionary Patrick Sam

AT first glance, Patrick Sam presents a cheerful zest for life.This free spirit was a key figure in the founding of SpokenWord Namibia, which created a safe space for performance poetry and eventually led to the birth of platforms such as FreeYourMind, The Gathering, Song Night and Open Mic.

Many prominent cultural figures pay homage to SpokenWord, including Ashwyn Mberi, who pushed the envelope and propelled performance poetry further into the mainstream.

Sam is the chairperson of the National Arts Council of Namibia (NACN) and is also a seasoned broadcast journalist.

A Fulbright scholar and cultural researcher, he completed his master’s degree in international education policy and navigates a career as a human development expert whose interests are not far from home.

“Growing up in underprivileged environments, while having access to world-class education, preconditioned me to use multiple lenses in which I see and experience the world and its unconscious bias to the majority of people.

“From a young age I had to understand life is experienced by many different people in many different ways. Few experience joy with limited humiliation, and most experience humiliation with limited joy.”

Sam identifies an ongoing conflict in mobilising people who are trapped in a consumerist, self-serving culture against the quest to diminish inequality.

He sheds light on the significance of arts and culture and its role in tackling inequality.

“Cultural and creative industries provide an opportunity for national development to utilise a pillar that can save three birds with one nest – social, economic and environment.

“The nest is a sector that is diverse and provides opportunities to people on the socio-economic spectrum of an unequal country, and also provides opportunities to those from marginalised and vulnerable communities through song, dance, textiles, baskets, curios and so on.”

The value of the creative economy surpasses US$500 billion worldwide, and Sam believes Namibia’s cultural diversity has the potential to elevate the country.

The biggest challenge is to engage people, he says.

“We have to identify with the innate multiculturalism of our communities. We have to tell many stories through various mediums, position Namibians as artists, cultural practitioners and heritage leaders regionally and globally.

“This will enable us to develop the spirit of Namibians while at the same time providing opportunities to set a precedent to the rest of humanity that we as individuals and as a collective know that we are the cradle of humanity, and will continue to lead humankind in a way that enables people and the planet. This will especially happen through the art, culture and heritage sector as a whole,” he says.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.