WINDHOEK, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Amidst worsening effects of climate change and a threatened pastoral- nomad lifestyle, indigenous Himba tribe people in Namibia have resorted to commercialized art as an occupation.
In the middle of the city buzzle, Wahikitha Muheke (33) was sorting her products at an outdoor stall in Namibia's capital Windhoek central business district.
Muheke, from the indigenous Himba tribe in Kunene region in northern part of the country, moved to Namibia's Capital Windhoek some years back to give business a try.
Gifted with skills to make necklaces and crafts, Muheke, along with other artists sell hand-made crafts to locals and tourists in Windhoek's central business district.
Harsh climatic conditions particularly drought and the advent of modernization has pushed nomads like herself to shift from livestock rearing to art trade to sustain livelihoods.
"Growing up in a village, livestock and art is part of my culture and upbringing. Faced with socio-economic challenges, I decided to come to the city, commercialize my skills and sell hand-made art products to earn an income," she said Thursday.
Her clients are mainly tourists and locals; and business prospects and earnings vary from day to day.
"My products prices range from 10-500 Namibian dollars (0.74 to 37.24 U.S. dollars). But on a good day I make up to 750 Namibian dollars," she said.
With the funds earned, according to Muheke, she is able to invest back in her business and build it.
"This involves sourcing raw materials and tools to make new products including cultural items, strings and glue. But above all, precision, time invested and attention to detail is what makes the products and this business," she said.
This, she added, is complemented by kindness towards customers, an attribute she upholds as it is central to the essence of human interaction.
She is not alone. For Maria Mbinge (36), a mother of four, said that migrating to the City was about more than just the economics of art.
Wearing a traditional Himba tribe attire made out of animal hide, bare-breast and moisturized in a reddish lotion made out of cream and red ochre powder, her target is to draw tourists and locals to her stall with a dress code which is a rare sight in a modern city.
"Through the handmade crafts, I also have the chance to preserve my culture, use it as a platform for cultural exchange and interaction," she said.
Coupled with her dress code, a unique experience, said Mbinge, is central to the sustainability of her venture.
Minister of Environment and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta said that diversified and integrated tourism is becoming common amongst travellers, and thus it is important for the tourism sector to meet the demand of tourists and visitors who are also seeking new perspective.
Wearing a traditional attire is also a marketing tool, said Mbinge.
"The traditional attire also attracts customers. In that way, I draw them to us. They are curious, and thus I maximize on my tradition before modernization robs me of it. In terms of clientele experience, I offer them more than just handmade crafts," she added.
Even though the trade is prospective, art traders however face some challenges, specifically business space in the City.
"Although the spot we are operating from is still within the city centre, it works to our disadvantage as it is out of the 'eyes-view of clients'," Muheke bemoaned.
Art vendor Mbinge, who has been selling hand-made crafts for over five years now, calls on the officials to consider allocating them more diversified options from where they can sell.
According to Mbinge, some parts of Windhoek within central business district such as the 'City Centre' receives a high influx of people. If they are there, products would be more visible to a diverse clientele.
"It would be good if we could be moved to places with high concentration of tourists who are our main clients such as the 'City Centre' or Hosea Kutako International Airport and other busier shopping mall areas," she said.
Muheke shared the same views. "I wish to go and sell my products at the airport. We do not receive our targeted number of clients from where we are operating from," she added.
In spite of the challenges, the women said they are working hard to create a niche for their trade.
"We ensure that we produce quality products. We also fuse modern and traditional ways of display. We have to stay in business," Mbinge said.
According to Muheke, earnings from the art sales are extended to family relatives in the village.
"My family back in the village depend on the funds I generate, and to help sustain what is remaining of our nomad livelihoods and meet socio-economic needs," said Mbinge.
