Nhabe Museum’s P1million facelift
The Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs Edwin Batsu was expected to officially open the newly refurbished Nhabe Museum earlier this week.
The buildings and the refurbishment were fully funded by the European Union (EU) to the tune of P1million. The Nhabe Museum, one of the tourist attractions in Maun is located strategically at Maun’s CBD, and prides itself for being the region’s centre of arts, crafts and culture.
A press release states that the museum underwent a facelift in 2015 that included the erection of new structures. Constructed with innovation and creativity using timber and iron sheets, the new structures morphed into artists’ studios, offices and an auditorium/conference hall. The construction of the facilities was completed in 2016, the release says.
The new buildings house stakeholders such as the Okavango Artists Association (OAA) and the Poetavango Collective. The two organisations, as well as other stakeholders, local businesses and the general community, will benefit directly from the facilities/buildings, the release points out.
“The structures and the new refurbished space in the museum are a direct result of what is possible when organisations and NGOs work in unity to achieve common goals. Since Poetavango and OAA were already working creatively together, it was easier to convince donors, through the assistance of SAREP and Travel for Impact,” the release explains.
The release hopes that the shared space and resources will become a model of inspiration for more allegiances and collaborations between other NGOs. The museum is home to an assortment of artistic and cultural displays of sorts, promoting the cultural, artistic, educational and historic aspirations of all the people of Ngamiland.
For years now, says the release, the museum has become a shelter under which lovers of arts and culture meet to share, to learn, to teach and to delve in various artistic and cultural expressions. “The museum welcomes all, regardless of age, tribe or nationality and encourages participation by the community in activities of self expression such as arts, crafts, dance, music drama and poetry,” the release explains.
The Nhabe Museum, which opened its doors to the public in April 1996, is a Non-Government Organisation based in Maun that receives an annual grant from Ministry of Environment Natural Resource Conservation and Tourism through Department of National Museum and Monuments.