As part of our ‘San Matter’ project, funded by the Embassy of Germany, the OYO dance troupe had the opportunity to visit 12 schools in the Otjozondjupa region, performing to 5,206 people (of which 2,649 were San learners).
The troupe performed three pieces:
- ‘Bin Boy’, created in 2017, looking at cultural discrimination
- ‘I am hungry’, created in 2018, looking at how the lack of food in some San homesteads impact choices young teenagers make when in school
- ‘I have a choice’, also created in 2018, looks at how child marriage and pressure put on San girls to start child bearing soon after they start menstruate impacts on their education
All pieces were well received and allowed the schools to start discussion around those topics. Most San children enroll in schools but don’t remain in school. In this particular region, many San children think that they only need to get to grade 8. Most San learners who pass grade 7 are sent to Okahandja Secondary School for their second school – unfortunately it seems to deter many from pursuing with their education. Very few reach grade 10. The ‘San Matter’ project is trying to address this problem. The tour of the dance troupe was the first activity of the project.