By Staff Reporter

In the remote highlands of Namibia’s Kunene region, where rocky paths twist through dust and tradition, a quiet youth revolution began ten years ago. It did not rise from a capital city or an elite institution, but from the town of Opuwo, rugged, small and rich with stories. It began with one man, a belief in possibility and a choir of young voices that would come to stir something greater than applause. In 2015, Mbaseua Tjongarero, a musician with roots deep in his community and vision that stretched far beyond it, formed the Opuwo Youth Choir (OYC). What he founded was not merely a group to sing, but a vessel of hope for young people too often left behind. 
 

OYC, as it came to be known, offered structure, purpose and expression to children from the edges of opportunity. Young people aged 10 to 35, many from underserved and deeply traditional communities, entered this space carrying with them voices raw with life and culture.
 

They sing in languages carried by ancestors, in harmonies shaped by heritage. They rehearse where resources are thin but hearts are full. They learn more than music. They learn discipline, confidence and unity. Through music, they share with the world their existence, that Opuwo exists, not in shadows, but in full and blazing sound.
 

What began as local gatherings, quickly became something else and at the time of its inception, the choir travelled beyond borders, to Botswana in 2023 and Zambia in 2024. They carry not only songs, but the weight of stories, pride and promise. Their performances move audiences to tears, their presence reminds others that brilliance does not require perfect conditions, only belief and commitment. And now, a new chapter calls. From 27 September to 5 October 2025, the Opuwo Youth Choir will step onto one of the most prestigious platforms of its kind, the Africa Asia Pacific Choir Games in Mauritius. 
They are ready with 35 choristers prepared to raise their voices for Namibia on a global stage. What remains uncertain is not their talent, but the means to get there. 
 

This is not only about going abroad, they say. It is about rewriting what is possible for rural Namibian youth. It is about showing that culture is not static or confined, but alive, dynamic and deserving of the world’s attention.
 

Over the past decade, this choir has become a force beyond the sum of its voices. It has inspired children to remain in school, brought visibility to communities often forgotten, opened dialogues around poverty, development and youth opportunity. It has rekindled Opuwo’s own spirit, drawing families, elders and leaders together through rhythm and purpose. There is something deeply resonant about what this group has become. 

They are not just singers. They are narrators of Namibia’s spirit, instruments of hope and reminders that within every overlooked place, greatness can be found and heard.