Born in Opuwo (Kunene Region), Kapena Joe is a 33 year old Namibian full time visual artist. Having grown up in the traditional Himba society, at the tender age of 6 he discovered the love of art and he used the soils of Opuwo as his canvas. Soon after he lost his father, he relocated to Grootfontein to live with his extended family until he matriculated in 2007 at the Grootfontein High School.

In 2008 he moved to South Africa on a rugby scholarship. He played for the famous Blue Bulls, the University of Pretoria “Tuks” and Tswane University of Technology (TUT). Kapana was also part of the national team set up “The Welwitschias”. After five years of playing rugby professionally, he decided that it was time for a career change. He returned to his first love, that of drawing and painting.

B2Gold discovered Kapena while he was sketching in a shopping mall and decided to assist him to advance his career in visual arts.

Kapena now draws with pencil and charcoal on paper, creating spectacular life-like images and long lasting memories of and for Namibians from all walks of life.