Chief Hijangua on stage
Namibia’s first opera premieres in Windhoek
On Friday and Saturday, the Vox Vitae Singers premiere Namibia's first opera in the National Theatre in the capital.Titled Chief Hijangua and performed in Otjiherero and German, the opera includes international musicians from Germany and South Africa
Composed and conducted by Vox Vitae Singers’ founder, Eslon Hindundu, Chief Hijangua is based on a story which has survived through oral tradition over generations in Namibia. The story is about a Namibian prince’s tragic and dramatic journey. Heartbroken, Hijangua leaves his tribe and stumbles upon a young German girl, who saves him and later falls in love with him.
The German girl’s community disapprove of their relationship. Hijangua is banished and told to return to his homeland. However, his return to his tribe takes a tragic course full of misery, more heartbreak, drama and death.
Sponsored by Bank Windhoek, Chief Hijangua stars Sakiwe Mksoana, Henrike Henoch, Natasha Ndjiharine, Monde Masimini, Rheinaldt Tshepo Moagi, Galilei Njembo, and Yonwaba Mbo.
‘Massive impact’
“This project has the potential to massively impact, preserve, develop and create a new idiom in Namibian classical music,” Hindundu said. “We envisaged it to reignite the love of music in the hearts of the Namibian community, preserving and reflecting on the journey that Namibians have taken for the current and future generations.”
He thanked Bank Windhoek for their support. “As artists we do not get much support. But Bank Windhoek has come on board to support this project is a blessing, and we are all thankful.
According to Bank Windhoek’s Bronwyn Moody, “composing and having a Namibian opera can preserve and inspire many musicians, bring nations together. Thus, supporting the staging of the first Namibian opera is a huge privilege. It preserves the treasure of Namibian classical folk music. We encourage all Namibia to come to the NTN to experience the first Namibian opera.”
The Chief Hijangua opera was developed by an international team of artists around Hindundu. He is supported by the German director Kim Mira Meyer and the German author Nikolaus Frei.
With a cast of over a hundred participants, Chief Hijangua consists of three phases. Following the premiere in Windhoek, a performance in Munich, Germany, is planned for 2023.
Tickets are available via webtickets.com.na at N$100 for students, N$250 for the public and N$500 for VIPs.