Schools to screen Namibian documentaries
Local stories for Namibians
The programme aims not only to entertain but also to inspire through narratives that speak directly to learners' lived realities.
A new initiative to bring Namibian stories directly into classrooms launches this month, with selected Windhoek schools set to screen locally produced documentaries.The first screenings are expected to begin on 16 September, though specific school dates have yet to be announced.
The programme is led by filmmaker and creative practitioner Othilia Tutu Mungoba, managing creative director of Tutu Creative Concepts, in partnership with the Namibia Arts Association.
The screenings align with the education ministry’s policy, which aims to strengthen cultural appreciation among young learners.
According to organisers, six schools will pioneer the rollout during the third term, with the first session scheduled for last week at the Frans Art Centre in Havana.
Mungoba, whose body of work includes The Weight of Tomorrow (2022), Veraa! (2023) and Beyond the Goalpost (2025), said the project is about more than just film. “Our children deserve to see themselves, their families and their communities reflected on screen. For many disadvantaged learners, there is very little access to locally produced documentaries.
“This programme ensures they are not only entertained but also educated and inspired by narratives that speak directly to their lived realities.”
Each session features screenings followed by interactive question-and-answer sessions with filmmakers, cultural practitioners and Namibian on-screen personalities. Senior learners will also be introduced to career opportunities in the cultural and creative industries.
Cultural appreciation
The documentaries reflect Mungoba’s distinctive storytelling style.
The Weight of Tomorrow is a contemporary depiction of the day-to-day struggles and aspirations of scrap collectors in Windhoek.
Veraa! is an exploration of how colloquial language and slang influence Namibia’s linguistic landscape, while Beyond the Goalpost gives insight into the trials and triumphs of Namibian women’s football, encapsulated by the stories of the Arrows Ladies Football Club.
The Namibia Arts Association, which supports the project technically and financially, says the initiative complements its mandate of making Namibian creative works accessible to wider audiences.
Executive manager Cislé Jacobs emphasised that showcasing local stories in schools strengthens both cultural appreciation and the role of the creative industries in national development.
Mungoba hopes the school programme will become a nationwide effort. “This is about inspiring the next generation of storytellers, thinkers and leaders, one screening at a time,” she said.
Plans are already underway for a national tour to reach schools in rural and disadvantaged communities across Namibia.