Omesho

Actofel Ilovu is a key figure in the Namibian art community, contributing as both a curator and a visual artist. Born in Ondangwa and currently residing in Windhoek, Ilovu graduated from the College of the Arts (2010) before earning his higher diploma in Visual Art and Advertising from the University of Namibia (2016). He is known for his traditional yet innovative approach to artmaking, particularly in printmaking and smoke drawings on paper. While he creates visual narratives that respond to his observation of contemporary Namibian society, there is an intimate relationship between the artist and his choice of materials, largely informed by his personal history.

As a child, Ilovu suffered severe burns to his body, an experience that impacted his sense of identity. He reflects, “Because of the fire that burnt me, I was rejected by many, including myself, while growing up. It wasn’t easy to look different from other kids. As an adult, I have fallen in love with my scars, and I see myself as an art piece created by that fire.” For some years, nuts from the marula tree have featured prominently in Ilovu’s work. Indigenous to Southern Africa, the tree’s fruit is harvested, and the inner kernel of the nut is extracted to make marula oil, which possesses numerous beneficial qualities. In the aftermath of the fire, marula oil was applied to Ilovu’s skin to aid the healing process. After the kernels are extracted, the husk of the nut is left with two or three holes, which are called “Omesho” (eyes) in Oshiwambo.

It is the shape of the husk and its holes that appear as small, pensive faces in Ilovu’s linoleum block prints. Referring to the characters in his prints as extensions of himself, the artist claims that the marula nut’s strong resemblance to eyes and a face gave him a cast of characters to work with. This cast came to life in the I See series, which debuted with his third solo exhibition titled Onlooker, presented by StArt Art Gallery and hosted by The Project Room (2023). As a commentary on his sociopolitical views and the events that were current at the time, each artwork featured a nut that stood for different people: politicians, women striving for change, vulnerable children, protesters beaten by police or flood victims from the north. “Like a mask, the nut allows me to tell stories that both are and are not my own to tell,” he says. Further aligning media and concept, Ilovu works with smoke from the burning husk of the nut to create ethereal smoke drawings on paper. The burnt husks produce charcoal and a fine white ash, which the artist also uses in his work to create charcoal drawings and pigment on paper.

Ilovu’s talents and interests manifest in many different forms, giving him a front-on and backend view of the art world. For the past few years, he has worked at the Namibian Arts Association, conducting workshops and curating exhibitions. He views his curatorial practice as an extension of his artistic practice, informing the conceptualisation, implementation and presentation of his own artworks. Upon reflection on the Namibian creative industry, his observation is that certain structures position art as a niche, when it should be accessible to all Namibians and accommodate emerging artists at the grassroots level. He also emphasises the importance of art education for those who want to pursue art as a profession, raising the need for recognition of the sector as a relevant industry in Namibia. When asked to offer advice, he says, ”I think artists should value their worth and stand up for their rights. I am also asking the Namibian artist to use any chance they get to showcase and be serious about their works.”

Ilovu recently exhibited work in Slow Burn, a group show presented by SMAC Gallery in Stellenbosch (2025). His group exhibitions also include the Bogenfels Artists’ Retreat (2021), as well as African Galleries Now (2020). In addition, the talented artist’s works are featured in the Bank Windhoek and Namdeb collections, among others. Through his exploration of themes of identity, personal history and transformation, Actofel Ilovu’s work continues to serve as a personal archive. The carefully controlled, graphic qualities of printmaking contrasted with the unpredictable results of working with fire and smoke, which resonate with life’s ebb and flow, both play crucial roles in shaping one’s human experience.