Namibia’s first ever comic book

The Franco Namibia Cultural Centre is currently staging an exhibition of comic strips ‘Speech Bubble’ that resulted from a comic book workshop last month. This unique and first of its kind workshop was led by Erik Schnack, well known Namibian artists, and film maker Oshosheni Hiveluah. The workshop was funded by the Ministry of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture.
Participants of the project were all required to produce a two-page comic based on ‘an existing story.“Speech Bubble” is showing the comics created during the workshop as well the process that led to the final products.
The comics have been incorporated and printed in what is probably the first comic book for children created and published in Namibia. The book, also titled “Speech Bubble”, is launched at the opening of the Namibia Youth Book Fair this Friday. The Speech Bubble comic book consists of eleven comics by eleven different artists which were all participants at the workshop.
The comics on display are not just paintings or sketches but stories that all have a sense of artist individuality to them and all tell a different message just like a comic should. The plots of the individual stories and the many characters show just how much attention has gone into the detail.
Some of the comics on display are from artists such as Immanuel Kisting, Carmen Kohi-/Aos, Milka Indongo, Morné Kisting, Wilbard Shetunyenga, Barton Ting, Chinonto Chakanga, Sadia Muteka, Tafadzwa Mitchell Gatsi, Samuel Dumeni, and Tanya Tulipamwe Stroh. The participating artists were selected out of a total of nineteen applicants.
It goes without saying that the artists really put in their best efforts to create art master pieces that will also keep Namibian children entertained for years to come.
Whether you are a fan of comics or not, be sure not to miss out on the new and old talent in the comic creation art. It doesn’t matter if you are young or old, a visit to the Blue Frog restaurant to witness the birth of Namibia’s very own comic book, will be most rewarding.
The exhibition is on display in the FNCC’s Blue Frog restaurant until 08 November. Entrance is free.