Well done, Glasgow Dance House! Through their Artistic Director, Rosina Bonsu, contact was established in 2000 in Namibia with the UNAM Choir and Dance Group, who came to Glasgow in October 2002 to work with Glasgow community groups and interested individuals to create a musical. This was called The Journey and was performed at the Tramway between 29 October and 2 November.
It was a moving story in music, dance and song, symbolising the journey from oppression to struggle; discord and greed, death to revival, renewal and unity. The music incorporated not only a wide range of Namibian and South African songs, but Burns’ Ae Fond Kiss and at least two Gaelic songs. It was a real fusion. Simultaneously, the Tramway exhibited a selection of new Namibian art, which was on sale. Professor John Riches had collected the artwork during a recent visit.
Profits from the exhibition will go towards the establishment of the Muafangejo Arts Centre at Odibo in northern Namibia - the Anglican mission where John Muafangejo, the great Namibian lino-print artist, grew up. The UNAM Choir however also presented their own concert, Oshinyandwa, song and dance from all the areas and cultures of Namibia. Part I was in the form of an ’excursion’ by two tourists assisted by slides. Part II was an African reflection built around a drought situation and the arrival of rain. It was well received at St Bride’s Edinburgh of 25 October—and also showed at the Tron in Glasgow on 20 October and at the University of Glasgow Chapel on Sunday 27th October.
Friends of Namibia—Scotland, the Adult Learning Project (ALP) and the Heriot-Watt Dance Group invited the Choir on 24 October to lead a two-hour workshop. This was followed by a ceilidh, with a meal in between.
We were assured that this was so much enjoyed the group were dancing on the coach back to Glasgow and talked about it long after.
Contact with ALP through Jika Lönig was invaluable and we also enjoyed the Sangstream choir’s music as well as the UNAM choir during the ceilidh. We acknowledge too the role of the Heriot-Watt Dance Group, through Veronica McTiernan and the band and the dance team she brought with her for their part in the swinging success of the evening.
We would like to thank Mary and Lionel Jackson and the Church of Old St Paul for lending the hall and kitchen so generously and helpfully for that occasion, and the cooperation of Leslie Hamill of the Dance House at all times. She and her team brought Namibia and Scotland closer than ever in friendship through this sharing of music, dance and drama.