Cura Afrika Keynote Panel, titled “Southern African Creative Industries – Opportunities & Challenges: Developing Creative Trade Pathways”

This keynote panel brings together leading voices from across the region to explore how Southern Africa can unlock the full potential of its creative industries. The discussion highlights key opportunities, persistent challenges, and the strategies needed to build stronger cross-border creative trade pathways. Designed for artists, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and cultural leaders, the session offers actionable insights for shaping a more connected, competitive, and innovative creative economy.

Moderator:

Dr. Nashilongweshipwe Mushaandja is a resident cultural worker, educator and writer at Owela Live Arts Collective Trust (previously known as Kaleni Kollectiv) since its inception in 2014 . As a performance artist, his practice and research interests are in African performance archives and public cultures of social movements. He obtained a PhD in Performance Studies from the University of Cape Town and was previously trained at University of Witwatersrand and the University of Namibia. His musical and performance art work has been performed widely at festivals, museums, theatres and archives in India, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Cameroon, Senegal, United States of America and Namibia. Mushaandja is a Lecturer in Drama and Theatre Arts at the University of Namibia where he trains theatre makers and teaches courses in voice, performance, writing and applied theatre practices.

Pannelist

Atang L.S. Arnold is a Botswana-based cultural leader, visual artist, and curator with over a decade in the creative and cultural industries. She is the founder of The Space Botswana and The Spaces Africa Limited, platforms driving creative innovation across Africa and internationally. A 2025 Mandela Washington Fellow at the University of Notre Dame and Oxford Climate Journalism Fellow, she is also an Earthshot Alumni and speaker at the 10th World Art Summit in Seoul. Atang was a panellist at PACT Zouverllin on Transdisciplinary Practices and an ESG Award Nominee in London 2025. Recognised by the Art Connects Women Award (UNESCO, Dubai). Atang is accredited by the Sotheby’s Institute of Art and the British Council. She has exhibited across Southern Africa, Europe, and America, and collaborated with organisations such as Conservation International, Afrikin during Art Basel Miami, SPANA-UK, and GIZ. Through her practice and leadership, Atang continues to advance conversations on storytelling sustainability, gender, and cultural identity in Africa’s creative landscape.

Takudzwa Kanyasa is an Information Systems and Management specialist and a seasoned Sound Engineer with advanced expertise in sound design, and setup. He is a consultant focused on acoustical design, musical equipment infrastructure, and manufacturing solutions. 

Leon Mubiana is a Namibian filmmaker and educator from Katima Mulilo. He earned his BA in Screenwriting and Directing from the South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance (AFDA) in Cape Town. While at AFDA, Leon wrote and directed the award-winning short Intruder (Best Film, AFDA), and his early works Canvas and Chasm screened at the AFDA Experimental and Graduation Film Festival. In 2016 he received a Best Screenplay nomination at the Namibian Theatre and Film Awards.

Following graduation, Leon collaborated with New Era Publication Corporation to produce social-media and television commercials. In 2017 he presented six of his short films including Inonge, Sold Out, and Control at the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre, exploring themes of betrayal and psychological intrigue. He subsequently wrote, directed, and co-produced his first feature, Lubinda, a crime drama about a retired criminal drawn back into the underworld to save his daughter.

Leon currently lectures in Television Production at the College of the Arts in Windhoek, mentoring the next generation of Namibian filmmakers. His creative vision and commitment to industry growth have made him a leading voice in Namibia’s emerging film community.