UN75 Celebrating through Arts

As part of the UN75 celebrations, the United Nations Namibia engaged the College of the Arts (CoTA) as a partner in the Celebrating Through Arts campaign to draw a mural artwork at the Katutura Old Age Home (KOAH), which is managed by the City of Windhoek under the Social Welfare Section of the Community Development Division. The KOAH has been in existence since the 1960s, and currently accommodes 22 people (12 men and 10 women).

This cooperation between CoTA and the UN promotes the involvement of youth in the UN75 Celebrations, highlighting the importance of the social function of arts through its ability to provide aesthetic beauty and satisfaction as well as to inform and educate. CoTA is the only local institution recognised nationally offering training in sound and television production, fashion design, drama, music, dance, and the visual arts.

The UN’s mandate includes youth empowerment which complements CoTA’s initiative for students to participate in community-based programs organised by the college. In 2020, the students completed a mural aimed at raising awareness around the Covid-19 pandemic, and how education and quality healthcare provision are key to fighting the global pandemic.

The UN is committed to advancing the social function of art, through its ability to express the spirit of a society and bring enjoyment and fulfillment to people. The mural at the KOAH, which depicts aspects of Namibia’s natural landscape and incorporates unique aspects of the environment, also promotes SDG 11, particularly target 4 which is aimed at enhancing inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlements.

The artists who worked on the mural are: Delmeine. E, Aksel. J, Leonard, Carlo. K, Onneile.M, Elizabeth. N, Jodine. S, Jackson. V and Esneya. Z. They worked under the supervision of their lecturer: Ndaasunje Shikonegni (PAPA).