10 Sep 2015

Nhabe Museum in Maun has received a financial aid of P1 million from the European Union (EU). Speaking in an interview, Nhabe museum board member, Thato Molosi stated that the EU had funded the renovations to create a visibility for the museum.

Molosi added that the developments would also enhance the image of the museum.

“Right now people do not come to the museum as there is nothing much that attracts them to go there, therefore there is a need for face lifting,” he added.

Molosi further revealed that the project was expected to be carried out for 15 months and would commence on October this year. He said the museum would be upgraded through the construction of at least two recording studios, a 100 seater auditorium with proper stage, lighting and sound among others.

Molosi further stated that they were hoping that upcoming developments would bring positive change and life to the museum. He said they wanted to enhance and create an opportunity for artists to work together and that their aim was to create a place where everyone would be interested in.

It would be the third developments done on the museum since 1994 when it opened doors.

The two developments were carried out last year in which, the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture through the Department of Arts and Culture funded the museum with P150 000 so that they could renovate the buildings. Also, United States of America Embassy donated P250 000 last year for the construction of the museum coffee shop.

He further indicated that their second phase of the development was to extend the museum plot adding that they were in talks with land board authorities to extend the plot.

Nhabe museum administration officer, Joyce Malema revealed that the museum has not done well since 2003, adding that it has been years since the museum bought and collected artifacts.

“We stopped purchasing and collecting of artifacts after the national museum stop assisting us with money,” she said.

She revealed that there was nothing much displayed at the museum.

Usually, he said schools were the ones that make arrangements to bring their students to the museum adding that at times they had to borrow some artifacts so that they could teach students. With the upcoming development, Malema said they were hopeful that the museum would change for the better.

She also urged the community to make use of the museum by bringing their cultural artifacts so that their future generations could be taught about their culture. Furthermore, she also urged artists to bring their art work, adding that the museum could help them get an exposure or could easily market their work to potential buyers.

Malema further explained that the museum was there to preserve culture and traditions, and urged Ngamiland people to make use of their museum. Ends