Art Lovers Say Farewell to Café Prestige
The local arts scene is suffering a major loss with the well-loved Café Prestige in Windhoek closing its doors.
After five years in operation and countless exhibitions and live performances, the little eatery has chosen to bid us all adieu.
Some frequenters of the establishment expressed sorrow over the news. Many flooded their social media pages to share in their collective grief and look back at the times they had.
Lisa Ossenbrick, a Namibia-based journalist and creative, told us she would miss the atmosphere Café Prestige curated.
“Losing Café Prestige means losing one of the biggest institutions and communities for creatives of all kinds in Windhoek. It will be missed tremendously!” she remarked.
From the time it opened, the café has played host to many art-centred gatherings, acting as a headquarters of sorts for writers, poets and visual artists alike.
Few places in Windhoek feel like home for lovers of the arts, and this was one of them.
In a statement announcing their closure, owners Hanan Paikin and Johnathan Fong reflected on the years they were open, describing themselves as a second home for many and a platform for creative collaboration and cultural exchange.
They also expressed gratitude to those who supported them: “We are profoundly grateful to the Windhoek community for embracing and supporting our vision. We extend heartfelt appreciation to the Franco Namibian Cultural Centre (FNCC) for being more than just landlords.
They have been co-creators in a unique partnership that has enriched the socio-cultural fabric of Namibia.”
Now with its discontinuation, many are mourning what once was.
Hildegard Titus, comedian, activist and photography curator, has been partnering with the owners since the 2020 inception of her pop-up photo exhibition ‘Efano Efano’, which the café hosted regularly.
She considers its closure a great loss.
“They’ve really supported the queer community and been like a safe space for us, whether it was in their old or new location,” she says, adding that the café would be sorely missed.
Through Café Prestige, Titus hosted several other events, like quiz nights for her Power Pad Girls non-profit, the ‘Stop Cramping My Style’ comedy show, and the ‘Trans Remembrance Week’ event.
She considers the venue a safe space for many communities.
Make-up artist and creative entrepreneur Jayn Aeron lauded Café Prestige.
“It was such a gorgeous establishment – it was really one of the few safe spaces we had as queer folk! Now that it’s closed, I don’t know where we’re gonna gather,” Aeron said.
Lize Ehlers, vocalist, shares these sentiments.
As someone who has been a big part of the evolution of the arts and entertainment scene, she recognises that many will feel the loss.
“Café Prestige is such a huge, monumental building, service provider and of course safe space for the queer community and allies,” Ehlers says, adding that Café Prestige was not only the birthplace of the regularly held, cabaret-style performance show, but that it helped catapult the careers of many Namibian performers.
“They welcomed us with open arms, and for that we will eternally be grateful. We’re truly sad to see the doors close to a space that we called home.
“And we wish the team all the best of luck and hope whoever takes over that space at the FNCC does it justice and does it with the same verve and nerve as the Café Prestige team.”
Aerial photo/video service/inquiries: info@traveltonamibia.com
No comments:
Post a Comment