A man makes a wooden product at a wood carving open market in Windhoek, Namibia, on May 24, 2024. A bustling open market is revitalizing creative commerce in Windhoek as locals turn to the centuries-old tradition of wood carving to make a living. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)
WINDHOEK, May 24 (Xinhua) -- A bustling open market is revitalizing creative commerce in the Namibian capital of Windhoek as locals turn to the centuries-old tradition of wood carving to make a living.
Last year, Lukas Lumba, an artist, embraced wood carving after losing his retail job due to illness. A year on, the artistic craft remains his primary source of income.
"I learned the craft from my father when I was young, making canoes along the river. My life has improved a lot now that I earn an income from this," he said on Friday.
The products crafted include furniture, wildlife sculptures and accessories, known for their high quality and fair pricing.
Although Lumba, in his 40s, has only been at the market since 2023, the open market has transformed the lives of many artists for 26 years, said Ndara Petrus, one of the artists who helped establish the market in 1998.
As more artists arrived, the market evolved into a hub of art and craftsmanship. From three artists in 1998, the market now hosts 75 skilled artisans like Lumba, primarily from the Kavango East and West regions. Wood carving holds historical significance in northeastern Namibia, where cultural heritage skills are passed down through generations. Some artists received carpentry training at vocational centers.
Petrus credits the market for enabling artists to thrive in an industry with limited opportunities. "What we create, we sell to local people as our main clientele, creating jobs to aid government efforts," he said.
The open market has also spawned a broader value chain, with suppliers providing materials to artists. A 100-meter plank, enough to create a wooden stool, costs 250 Namibian dollars (about 13 U.S. dollars). Women, although not carving, actively sell products.
To advocate for the artists' interests, they formed a committee.
"Our success is built on community," said Paulinus Ndeletu, the committee's chairperson.
The wood carving business also involves compliance and environmental protection. The wood comes from indigenous trees such as rosewood and teak in northeastern Namibia.
According to Ndeletu, artists only buy from wood suppliers with valid permits.
With a forest cover of only 8 percent, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism imposed a timber harvesting restriction in 2018. Timber harvesting resumed in 2021, subject to mandatory approvals and permits to protect the forests, said the ministry's spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda.
Moreover, wood carvers, striving to make the best use of all materials, sell wood residue from the production process to farmers for fertilizer. "This is a way to fuse traditional wood carving with smart agriculture," Petrus said.
More than two decades after the market was established, elderly artists like Ndeletu, who is in his late 50s, ensure the transfer of intergenerational skills. "We impart our skills to younger generations even here in the city for continuity," he said.
Looking to the future, the artists are rethinking their business model to increase their income.
"We hope to attract tourists by offering live wood carving demonstrations and the creation of unique souvenir products," Petrus said. ■
A man makes a wooden product at a wood carving open market in Windhoek, Namibia, on May 24, 2024. A bustling open market is revitalizing creative commerce in Windhoek as locals turn to the centuries-old tradition of wood carving to make a living. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)
