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Waves of Change

Written by Rob Barnes

In April and May of 2024, Hasan Abbas and I embarked on an inspiring journey to Lüderitz, Namibia, as part of the “Waves of Change” event. This unique initiative, a collaboration between the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF), GRID-Arendal, and other partners, aimed to use public art to raise awareness about the Namibian Islands Marine Protected Areas (NIMPA) and the critically endangered species that inhabit these waters.

A Creative Canvas for Conservation

Lüderitz, a picturesque town cradled between the desert and the Atlantic, became our canvas. Significantly, Lüderitz is located in the middle of the Namibian Islands Marine Protected Area (MPA), making it a crucial hub for marine conservation efforts. NIMPA is Namibia’s first Marine Protected Area, stretching 400 km along the coast and banning industrial fishing across 10,000 km² of pristine waters. This no-take zone, which safeguards Lüderitz and beyond, covers 1.7% of Namibia’s national waters.

The “Waves of Change” project was designed to leverage murals’ visual and emotional power to communicate vital messages about marine life and the environment. The event coincided with the Lüderitz Annual Crayfish Festival, ensuring a vibrant atmosphere and comprehensive engagement from the local community and visitors alike.

We started off with a classic workshop using the facilities at COSDEC-Benguela, where the participants had expert talks about the NIMPA and its biodiversity. This provided them with content to think about for the murals. Andrea Brandt, secretary for the Benguela Infinite Fishing and Harvesting Association (BIFHA), shared her excitement:

“So at the moment, I’m at the workshop, engaging with the Namibian Nature Foundation, NNF, and NAMCOB. And we are busy with artwork. It’s my first time. I’m not an artist, actually, but I’m learning.”

From the moment we arrived, the enthusiasm and support from the local community were palpable. The Mayor of Lüderitz, Councillor Philip Palau, welcomed us with a heartfelt speech at the iconic “Welcome to Lüderitz” sign, underscoring the town’s commitment to environmental preservation. His words echoed the sentiment many in the community shared: the recognition that Lüderitz’s natural beauty and resources are invaluable and worth protecting.

“Lüderitz is smack bang in the middle of the marine protected areas… the preservation and protection of our marine areas is really, really of cardinal importance,”

The Mayor of Lüderitz, Councillor Philip Palau

Engaging the Community Through Art

The workshop, held from 25 April to 4 May, was a whirlwind of creativity and collaboration. Hasan and I loved engaging with the local participants, who ranged from members of Benguela Infinite Fisheries and Harvesting Association (BIFHA), bird rangers from the Namibian Foundation for the Conservation of Seabirds (NAMCOB), local students, sign-writers, unemployed art enthusiasts, security guards, and fisherfolk. We had a total of 12 participants. We were amazed at the talent we found and the participants’ dedication, as it was a voluntary initiative. Participants came early every day and stayed late. They cared about their community and had a message they wanted to share about the environment. They found the murals a great way to make their voice heard.

The workshop was meticulously organised to ensure we didn’t just work with locals on murals and educate them about the NIMPA. We aimed to bring GRID-Arendal’s experience in transforming scientific knowledge into an understandable format. We blended art, environmental awareness, and education into innovative outreach methods to hopefully have a more significant impact. Each day, local artists, students, and volunteers joined us in brainstorming, sketching, and eventually painting murals that told powerful stories of marine conservation. One mural depicted the four critically endangered seabirds: the Cape Cormorant, the African Penguin, the Bank Cormorant, and the Cape Gannet. Another mural showed how long it takes for marine litter to disappear into the ocean. A particularly striking mural highlighted the controversial statistic:

“If we don’t act now, there will be 0 Penguins left in Namibia by 2035.”

One of the local participants, Rejoice Steenkamp, shared how the project opened her eyes to new skills and the importance of conservation. “I didn’t even know I could draw,” she said, reflecting on the project’s impact on personal growth and awareness.

Desmond Tom, a fisheries biologist from the Ministry of Fisheries, provided invaluable insights during our expert talks. He emphasised the importance of monitoring seabird populations within NIMPA and highlighted the challenges faced due to declining numbers.

Desmond stressed, “We try and do what we can to conserve the biodiversity of these species, but creating awareness and working together with international organisations and NGOs is crucial.”

Reflecting on the experience, Hasan noted, “It’s been really fun, enlightening, eye-opening, and also very warm and comforting to see how people are involved here with the project and how much they care and are curious about art. The participation of the volunteers has been the most satisfying aspect. Seeing different talents and skills develop over time has been the most interesting part of the project.”

Sunny Imalwa, Communications Support Officer from the Namibian Nature Foundation (NNF), highlighted the collaborative nature of the project and the involvement of the Lüderitz Town Council, which provided ten locations for the murals. “Working with the community has been amazing,” Sunny said. “We aimed to raise awareness about NIMPA and the opportunities it presents, and we’ve seen incredible engagement and enthusiasm from the participants.”

Waves of Change at the Crayfish Festival

The Lüderitz Annual Crayfish Festival provided the perfect backdrop for our efforts. Our project partner, the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF), had a booth at the festival, where they engaged with festival-goers about marine conservation. Hasan designed a T-shirt for the festival featuring a handprint design. Festival attendees were invited to dip their hands in paint and add their handprints to the T-shirt, symbolising their support for NIMPA and the broader conservation efforts.

We also collaborated with Namibian artist Ndako, who joined the Waves of Change initiative and contributed his unique skills to the festival. Together, we created a stunning piece of art that combined Hasan’s detailed crayfish drawing, my layout work, and Ndako’s intricate string art. This collaborative piece was presented to the town of Lüderitz and now hangs proudly in the local museum, serving as a lasting reminder of our collective efforts to promote marine conservation.

During the handover ceremony, the significance of our efforts was eloquently captured by the Mayor of Lüderitz, who remarked, “This artwork is more than just a mere depiction of the marine biodiversity. It embodies the enduring spirit of our town and its people.”

Social Media Engagement and Support

Throughout our trip, we regularly posted updates on social media, particularly Instagram, using the hashtag #NIMPAPLUS. Our efforts garnered significant attention, with our reels receiving over 2000 plays. One of the most popular reels featured Sunny Imalwa from NNF, demonstrating how visitors to Lüderitz could leave their personal mark on one of our murals by rubbing their hands on a white chalk wall and placing a handprint on it. We encouraged everyone to share their handprints on social media with the hashtag #NIMPAPLUS.

For the first time, GRID-Arendal went live on Instagram. We showcased the Waves of Change workshop in Lüderitz, where participants brought art and conservation together. Viewers watched as we used the GRID technique to transfer an image from paper to wall, transforming a blank wall into a vibrant mural of penguins. This live session highlighted the community’s creativity and the importance of every brush stroke in protecting our environment.

The Mayor of Lüderitz, Councillor Philip Palau, supported our project tremendously. He frequently posted about our activities on social media, checked in on us and the participants, and even dropped by with refreshments to keep us motivated and hydrated.

Immediate Impact and Future Prospects

By the end of our trip, we were already seeing the impact of our efforts. During the Crayfish Festival, the National Arts Council of Namibia had a booth, providing a golden opportunity for further collaboration. Ndako spoke with the Council representatives and helped arrange applications for arts grants for some interested participants. Additionally, Ndako is currently working with an EU grant for a mural project in Windhoek and has invited one of the workshop participants to join him.

NNF recently announced its dedication to continuing the project. They will commission some of the participants who stood out as “champions” of the project to work on additional murals in Lüderitz over the next few years, maintaining the momentum and expanding the initiative’s impact. Hasan and I are hopeful that one day, we will be able to revisit Lüderitz and see how this project has continued to evolve.

Looking Forward

The “Waves of Change” event was not just about creating beautiful art but about inspiring action and fostering a community dedicated to conservation. The murals now stand as vibrant reminders of the importance of protecting NIMPA and the species that depend on it. They are a call to action, urging everyone who sees them to consider their impact on the ocean and to support sustainable practices.

As Hasan and I bid farewell to Lüderitz, we sincerely appreciated the town’s spirit and resilience. The success of this project is a testament to what can be achieved when communities come together with a shared purpose. We are hopeful that the seeds of awareness and change planted during this event will continue to grow, inspiring future generations to cherish and protect our planet’s precious marine environments.

Join us in celebrating this wave of change, and let’s continue to work towards a sustainable future for all. 

For more information on the NIMPA+ project, visit www.nimpaplus.com