Rundu man makes strides in the beauty industry
KENYA KAMBOWE
RUNDU
Although many men are fearful of joining female-dominated industries, 29-year-old Eric Immanuel Nsamba is the exception.
Nsamba is one of the best nail technicians, hairdressers and make-up artists at Rundu in the Kavango East Region.
Nsamba says he used to be a footballer who tried his luck in the taxi industry to earn a living.
“I did not make it in grade 12 but luckily I got my driving licence and it was my dream at the time to drive a taxi which would allow me to take something at home and assist my family because no one was employed by government,” Nsamba said.
He drove his taxi from 2010 to 2013 and then took some time off.
“In 2013 I realised that I could not get what I wanted from life and it was then when I decided to visit Angola for better business opportunities,” he said.
Nsamba said he discovered there that it was mostly men doing nails and hairdressing in the streets.
“After seeing that in Angola I told myself I have to get the training and be the first guy to do nails and hairdressing in Rundu,” Nsamba said.
Nsamba said hairdressing was a family business. Over the years he would assist his sisters and aunts until he became good at it.
“When I was bored at home, I used to assist my sisters when they had a client,” Nsamba said.
Stereotype
Nsamba said at first his male friends did not accept his new career path.
“It was a tough time, like when I used to post my business on social media and when my friends viewed it and they would tell me to go back to the taxi business and leave nails and hairdressing to the women,” Nsamba said.
Nsamba said he did not take the advice of his friends and they eventually came to terms with it and today are supporting him.
Challenges
Nsamba said Covid-19 has not affected his business that much, besides shortening his working hours.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic he used to work until the late hours but that was brought to a halt by the curfew.
Nsamba urged unemployed young people to stop hoping for formal employment, saying that it does not matter how you earn money, as long as you can make a living.
[email protected]
RUNDU
Although many men are fearful of joining female-dominated industries, 29-year-old Eric Immanuel Nsamba is the exception.
Nsamba is one of the best nail technicians, hairdressers and make-up artists at Rundu in the Kavango East Region.
Nsamba says he used to be a footballer who tried his luck in the taxi industry to earn a living.
“I did not make it in grade 12 but luckily I got my driving licence and it was my dream at the time to drive a taxi which would allow me to take something at home and assist my family because no one was employed by government,” Nsamba said.
He drove his taxi from 2010 to 2013 and then took some time off.
“In 2013 I realised that I could not get what I wanted from life and it was then when I decided to visit Angola for better business opportunities,” he said.
Nsamba said he discovered there that it was mostly men doing nails and hairdressing in the streets.
“After seeing that in Angola I told myself I have to get the training and be the first guy to do nails and hairdressing in Rundu,” Nsamba said.
Nsamba said hairdressing was a family business. Over the years he would assist his sisters and aunts until he became good at it.
“When I was bored at home, I used to assist my sisters when they had a client,” Nsamba said.
Stereotype
Nsamba said at first his male friends did not accept his new career path.
“It was a tough time, like when I used to post my business on social media and when my friends viewed it and they would tell me to go back to the taxi business and leave nails and hairdressing to the women,” Nsamba said.
Nsamba said he did not take the advice of his friends and they eventually came to terms with it and today are supporting him.
Challenges
Nsamba said Covid-19 has not affected his business that much, besides shortening his working hours.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic he used to work until the late hours but that was brought to a halt by the curfew.
Nsamba urged unemployed young people to stop hoping for formal employment, saying that it does not matter how you earn money, as long as you can make a living.
[email protected]
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