Namibia Up – Being 18 in Africa Today
This film explores the lives and dreams of fourteen 18-year-old Namibians, from different backgrounds and
parts of the country as they enter adulthood. What has shaped them? Where will their lives lead them?
2026 showings
Zürich: Kulturhaus Zürich, November 6, 19:30 followed by Q&A
Africa is rich in creative, ambitious, and hopeful young people. In fact, over 70% of the African population is under age 30. This documentary offers an inspiring glimpse into their transition to adulthood. Fourteen 18-year-olds from different parts of Namibia describe their upbringing, current lives, and the dreams that propel them toward the future.
Inspired by Michael Apted’s longitudinal documentary “Up Series'' made for BBC, Namibia Up plans to revisit the participants every 4 years to learn how their hopes and dreams unfold.
Grounded in the Namibian context, the stories echo broader experiences across sub-Saharan Africa, where young people balance traditional values with globalised opportunities. The film is intended to inspire reflection about emerging adulthood around the world and the hopes and prospects for Africa’s diverse youth in particular.
Interviews with their elders highlight changing mindsets between the generations. We see the process of becoming an adult in a globalized world through the young people’s eyes.
Meet the 18-year-olds!
Alucia singing at her home in Gobabis.
Fabiola and Berencia near Khorixas at Fabiola's grandmother’s farm.
Augustu dreams of being an artist but keeps actuary or accounting as Plan B.
Avihe wins dance competitions and would like to make a career of dancing.
Mata (right) wants to become an activist or a lawyer and go into politics.
Pandu wants to become an agronomist, linking science with agriculture.
Anastacia plays the Trumpet every Friday with a group at church.
Taikeisha and Bianca pose. They reflect on how cell phones have shaped their generation.
Paul dreams of designing software or becoming a physicist.
Namibia is sparsely inhabited but has incredible cultural diversity, home to over a dozen languages.
Sunset behind an acacia tree.
Geovany listens to beats, makes music and dreams of getting work in IT.
Bianca and Taikeisha live in Windhoek, the capital city.
Paulina dreams of traveling abroad and living in UK or South Africa.
Paulina working on her first novel.
Herman dreams of becoming a professional soccer player, or becoming a boilermaker.
Alucia dreams of studying music or becoming a pilot.
Paulina's mother, Josephina, sorting omahango (millet).
Berencia (left) and Fabiola (right) look forward to finding work and living independently.
Anastacia's father, Jonathan, playing the accordian.
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