Kamuhaka

This was a project I did for ReFrame Africa with the theme “home of mine.” For this project, I focused on the man selling ice cream on the streets with his bicycle. I named my project ‘Kamuhaka’, meaning to sell or work. The project “Kamuhaka” revolves around Alberto David who has been working as an ice cream seller for over 50 years. His job is physically demanding – a battle with the soaring heat of Windhoek’s streets on a bicycle. The 62-year-old walks around 60km per day to make a living and support his family. Schoolchildren meet him with joy and excitement, embracing the iced coolness he brings along. I took a deep dive into my own childhood memories when I would buy ice cream from Alberto in 2012; that is why I decided to focus my project on him. There is no denying that Alberto is a well well-known and public face around Windhoek, yet he still doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. I have talked to many people I know and many other strangers as well. The amount of people who recognises his face but don’t know his name is astonishing. Through my project “Kamuhaka” I am putting a name to the face people know but also don’t know. I am giving him the recognition he deserves, because his job isn’t easy, it’s not fun, but it is all he has and all he has known for over 50 years. I might as well make it worth it.