By Rinelda Mouton
Flag dancing, a form of worship symbolising spiritual victory, healing and devotion to Christ, is increasingly gaining attention among some Namibian worshippers using dance as a form of emotional expression and ministry.
Dancer Zelnadia De Waal says the journey into flag worship began in 2022 after she developed a strong urge to dance while swinging cloth during worship sessions.
“I started reading up and came across flag worship. Dancing comes naturally to me, thus it was easy to follow instructions from videos and books that I bought online. I decided to learn more as flag worship is biblical scripture. I have the platform to express thoughts and emotions that I cannot put into words,” De Waal said.
She now performs during church services and women’s conferences, where she uses symbolic dance to communicate themes of worship, joy and spiritual warfare.
“Over the past five years, I have walked through deep and overwhelming grief, losing eight loved ones to death. The most heart-breaking loss was my very close brother, who died by suicide,” she revealed.
The tragedy deeply affected her both personally and professionally as a social worker and mental health activist.
“There were moments when the pain felt unbearable and when grief became heavy. Through all of this, dancing became more than just movement for me. It became healing. It became a safe space where I could release pain, express emotions I could not speak about, and slowly begin to breathe again.”
“It carried me through heartbreak, helped me reconnect with myself again and reminded me that even during loss, healing is still possible. Healing looks different for everyone and for me, dancing became my safe space.”
She believes the flag dancing industry in Namibia remains small because many people do not fully understand its spiritual meaning and emotional impact.
“Most people do not understand the dance as it is for healing, expression of joy and warfare. It is spiritual and you need to understand and have the passion for the dance.”
Despite the challenges, De Waal sees potential for growth within the art form and wants to create more opportunities for young people interested in symbolic dance.
“One of the most important things that can be done is creating more platforms and safe spaces for dancers to express themselves, showcase their talent and use dance as a tool for healing, storytelling and community building.”
According to her, dance can contribute to mental health awareness, youth empowerment and social transformation if supported through workshops, mentorship programmes and community initiatives.
She recently hosted a one-day workshop focused on educating participants about symbolic dance and flag worship.
“I was able to share not only techniques and movement, but also the deeper emotional and spiritual significance behind symbolic dance. It was encouraging to see people become more confident and expressive through the workshop.”
Following the positive response, De Waal says plans are underway for a showcase performance where dancers will present symbolic worship pieces to the public.
“We are looking forward to hosting a showcase performance that will allow dancers to present these meaningful expressions through dance and give the community an opportunity to experience the beauty and impact of this art form firsthand.”
