Namibian Creatives Honoured at Namibia Theatre and Film Awards 

This past weekend was nothing short of electrifying  for the Namibian performing arts community, as creativity, talent and passion came alive. Theatre and Film artists and enthusiasts alike gathered on Saturday, 28 March for the long-awaited return of the Namibia Theatre and Film Awards marking the ceremony’s first edition after a six-year hiatus.

The awards, co-produced by the Namibia Film Commission and the National Theatre of Namibia, and broadcast by the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation, celebrated the country’s theatre and film industries under the theme “Celebrating Transition, Resilience and Growth.” The evening recognised artists who continued creating through years of uncertainty for the sector.

Red carpet interviews and opening remarks set the tone for a night focused on recognition, collaboration and renewed momentum within Namibia’s creative industries. The ceremony was hosted by Josie Nipandwa and musician-media personality Skript, who warmly welcomed both the live theatre audience and viewers tuning into the broadcast online, setting the tone for a memorable and magical evening.

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In her welcoming address, National Theatre of Namibia general manager Alma Ulamba described the awards as more than a gathering, calling them “a defining moment” that reaffirms the place of theatre and film in Namibia’s cultural identity.

“Tonight holds particular significance as it signals a long-awaited return of these awards after six long years,” she said, noting that the creative sector had continued to evolve and persevere during that period. The theatre categories recognised both emerging and established talent across acting, design, choreography and directing.

One of the night’s most celebrated theatrical productions was Naked Spaces, which secured several major awards. The production won Best Staged Production, while Melgisedek Nehemia and Odile Gertze both received Best Actor in Theatre for their performances in the production. Rodelio Lewis was awarded Best Supporting Actor in Theatre, and Eathan Madison took home the award for Best Stage Craft: Make-up for the same production.

Rodney Gariseb’s win for Best Script was the icing on the cake for, further elevating Naked Spaces strong presence at the ceremony rounding off its impressive accolades for the night.

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Directing honours went to Ndayola Ulenga, who received Best Director in Theatre for The Wasp.

Other productions and practitioners were recognised for their contributions to stagecraft and storytelling. Patrick Sam won Best Production Design/Set Design in Theatre for Coming Home Dead, while Richard Richter and Marvin Khoeseb received Best Stage Technician for their work on Aoni Aes

Costume and wardrobe design honours went to Cynthia Schimming and Lizette Kavari for Hereroland, highlighting the importance of visual storytelling in theatre productions.

Eslon Hindundu won  Best Original Score and Sound Design in Theatre for Youth Orchestras of Namibia: Otjihambarere under the category of Music and sound design.

Several emerging artists were recognised in newcomer categories. Ethan Januarie held his own winning Best Newcomer Actor in Theatre for Die Stoep, while William Gaoseb won Best Newcomer Dancer in Theatre for A Picassiano Dance.

Dance and choreography were also celebrated, with Desmond Kamerika receiving Best Lead Dancer in Theatre for Remembering Johnny and Philippe Talavera winning Best Choreographer in Theatre for A Picassiano Dance. Sydney Farao took home the Best Supporting Dancer honour for The Little Prince.

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Special awards recognised long-standing contributions to the performing arts. Theatre veteran Jenny Schuster received the Theatre Lifetime Achievement Award, acknowledging her enduring impact on Namibia’s theatre landscape.

Eslon Hindundu was also honoured with a Special Recognition Award, highlighting his broader contribution to Namibia’s performing arts.

The return of the awards after several years was widely welcomed by creatives, many of whom emphasised the importance of platforms that celebrate and showcase Namibian storytelling.

As Ulamba noted during her address, the evening was not only about recognising achievements, but also about strengthening the foundations of a vibrant and sustainable creative sector.

With the ceremony’s revival, the Namibia Theatre and Film Awards once again offer a national stage for artists whose work continues to shape the country’s cultural narrative.

Full List NAFTA Winners in Theatre Categories

Best Script (Original)

• Bret Kamwi – Three Sisters
• Jonathan Sasha – Die Stoep
• Rodney Gariseb – Naked Spaces

Best Score and Sound Design (Original)

• Eslon Hindundu – YONA – Otjihambarere
• Lize Ehlers, Karl Ehlers & Imms Nicolau – Boet & Sus
• Moises Domingo, Diolini, Osmond Owoseb – Aoni Aes

Best Choreographer

• Marchell Linus – People of Song
• Philippe Talavera – A Picassiano Dance
• Philippe Talavera – Remembering Johnny

Best Production Design/Set Design

• Lila Swanepoel – Boet & Sus
• Patrick Sam – Coming Home Dead
• Saima lita and Hage Mukwendje – Aoni Aes

Best Stage Technician

• dB Audio Namibia – Forty Years of Fabulous
• Desmond Coetzee – Boet & Sus
• Richard Richter & Marvin Khoeseb – Aoni Aes

Best Stage Craft: Costume and Wardrobe Design

• Cynthia Schimming & Lizette Kavari – Hereroland
• Hafeni Frans – Aoni Aes
• Tsatago Immanuel Garoeb – Naked Spaces

Best Stage Craft: Makeup

• Eathan Madison – Naked Spaces
• Judith “Miss Jey” Mwinga – Boet & Sus
• Matjituavi Leony Nguaiko – Naughty Little Flea

Best Lead Dancer 

• Desmond Kamekira – Remembering Johnny
• Justina Andreas – Land
• Mary Jane Andreas – Remembering Johnny

Best NewComer Dancer

• Joe Nakapale – Remembering Johnny
• Justin Tshabalala – The Little Prince
• William Goaseb – A Picassiano Dance

Best Supporting Dancer

• Jeffrey Ndjahare – A Picassiano Dance
• Sydney Farao – The Little Prince
• Treasurique Titus – Land

Best Supporting Actor

• Angelina Akawa – Naughty Little Flea
• Chantel Diolini Uiras – People of Song
• Rodelio Lewis – Naked Spaces

Best Newcomer Actor

• Ethan Januarie – Die Stoep
• Galilei Njembo – You Have Loved Enough
• Michael Nakale – Naked Spaces

Best Actor

• Dawie Engelbrecht – Aoni Aes
• Hazel Hinda – Aoni Aes
• Jeanne-Danae Januarie – Naked Spaces
• Melgisedek Nehemia – Naked Spaces
• Ndayola Ulenga – The Wasp
• Odile Gertze – Naked Spaces

Best Director

• Ndayola Ulenga – The Wasp
• Patrick Sam – Coming Home Dead
• Rodney Gariseb – Naked Spaces

Best Stage Production

• Coming Home Dead – Patrick Sam
• Naked Spaces – Rodney Gariseb
• The Wasp – NU Theatrics (Ndayola Ulenga, Gloria Ndilula & Ndino Ndilula)