We would like to warmly invite you to a special KIVA film and speakers evening on Wednesday 10 June. Various organisations dedicated to peace and the planet have joined forces. They recognise the vital importance – especially now – of coming together to pursue a long ‘forgotten’ path towards peace and balance. We live in a world of chaos, unrest, destruction and division, in which the longing for a sustainable future is growing ever stronger: a hopeful vision of restoring balance with the Earth and with one another.
The documentary KIVA: The Call of the Wisdom Keepers by Marijke Kodden and Jaap Verhoeven conveys the hopeful message of indigenous Wisdom Keepers worldwide, who are also coming together for peace, equality and reconnection with nature and with one another!
The documentary has been touring the country successfully for three years now! Following numerous sold-out screenings in major venues such as DeLaMar and Paradiso and collaborative projects with organisations including Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund – featuring a discussion with HRH Princess Irene – this special collaborative event will take place at the Omniversum on Wednesday 10 June.
- We’ll start with some inspiring music by Shishani (Namibia/Belgium).
- Followed by a meditation – led by Bonnie Bessem and Irina Veelders – as a prelude to the film, to shift the focus from the hustle and bustle of daily life to the present moment, from the head to the heart.
- We are open to the message of the Wisdom Keepers in this KIVA documentary: the Original Peoples who still live according to the Original Principles, in harmony with the Earth and with one another! With their ancient wisdom, they can inspire us and help us remember how we can restore balance with the Earth and with one another!
Two speakers will then bring this message from the past into the present.
- Annette Nobuntu Mul
Annette is, among other things, the founder of the Ubuntu Society. She teaches us the core message of Ubuntu: ‘I am because we are.’ And Desmond Tutu added: ‘We are here because the Earth is here.’ The Ubuntu philosophy emphasises togetherness rather than egocentric thinking, and the fact that we must take good care of the Earth, otherwise we – as humans – will soon no longer be here. The Earth will carry on, but without us.
- Carola Esparza (of Mapuche descent, Chile)
Carola Esparza is a ‘Wisdom Keeper of the Heart’, a true peacemaker and a powerful communicator who speaks from the heart. She helps people shift their communication from the head to the heart, so that we can understand one another better.
- Jan van de Venis will be hosting the evening and sharing his story. Jan van de Venis is the Acting Ombudsman for Future Generations. As he puts it himself, he acts as a kind of watchdog for the rights of people yet to be born.
You are more than welcome to this thought provoking and bonding evening full of wisdom and inspiration!
Biographies
* Annette Nobuntu Mul – Trainer, author, speaker and founder of the Ubuntu Society.
She is also chair of the Ubuntu Netherlands Foundation and Senior Lecturer on the ‘Ubuntu, Leadership & Citizenship’ course at the International School of Philosophy in Leusden. In addition to her work as a senior lecturer and trainer, she is also a columnist for The Optimist magazine. Furthermore, she plays a wide ranging social role and is: a Member of World Connectors, recipient of the African Special Recognition Award (2017), Member of the Recommendation Committee for Forum Levenslang, and ambassador for MaatschapWIJ.
Her book Opsoek naar Ubuntu was published in 2018, and she has been giving numerous talks ever since.
For many years now, she has been organising ‘De Mandeladag’ on 18 July in collaboration with the Herman van Veen Arts Centre. She was Jan Terlouw’s last partner.
* Carola Esparza (CL) – Mapuche Ancestry
Carola Esparza was born in Chile, at the foot of the Andes. Like many Chileans she is of mixed heritage, a result of the colonisation of Chile by Spanish settlers. For years she has followed in the footsteps of Dona Rosa Huenufil, a Mapuche grandmother and guardian of Mapuzungun (the language of the earth), who taught her the sacred art of the praying woman (Guillipullera).
* Shishani – Vocalist, songwriter, gitarist
Shishani (they/them) is a Namibian-Belgian vocalist, guitarist, songwriter and producer, beloved for her soothing yet powerful voice. Shishani uses eloquent storytelling to foster social awareness and empathy for oneself and others. The versatile and internationally touring artist moves between genres and cultures, striving to connect people from different backgrounds. Born in a country torn apart by apartheid, her mission is to raise awareness of important social issues and foster a connection between people and their environment. As a musician, musicologist and anthropologist, Shishani has conducted extensive research into Namibia’s cultural and musical heritage. Shishani has initiated various projects and albums focusing on social inclusion and has won several awards for her work.
* Bonnie Bessem & Irina Veelders – Your Modern Mystics
Bonnie and Irina: ‘We share a common mission aimed at helping as many people as possible to remember: who you are, where you come from, and why you are here. To make you aware of your divine essence and that you are the creator of your own life.’
* Jan van de Venis – Ombudsman for Toekomstige Generaties / Host of the evening
Jan van de Venis is the Ombudsman for Future Generations and an expert in human rights and sustainability. He also works for the Rights of Nature Foundation. He inspires others on topics such as ethics, law and sustainability. Jan is involved in national and international environmental and climate law cases and advises politicians, businesses and the UN on human rights. He is a TEDx ‘Rights for Nature’ speaker and National Park chair, and seeks connection in everything: ‘We are nature: all in it together’.
