TASA Bush Cook competition – Sense of Africa
September 11, 2013Get a star from Namibia Tourism Board
September 13, 2013The annual Namibian heritage week is set to kick-start on 16th of September, and will run for a week until 22nd of September.
Heritage Week is an annual opportunity to celebrate our heritage – natural and historical sites, the objects protected by our museums, arts and crafts and the traditional knowledge passed down from generation to generation. This year’s theme is `Heritage: Namibia’s Knowledge Bank’.
We have stories and histories that are woven into our landscape. We have elders who produce medicine from the trees and plants around us.
We have musicians and dancers that celebrate our identity. We have objects whose secrets can be unlocked by a visit to the museum. We have artists, chefs and fashion designers who keep our cultural knowledge dynamic and alive.
Our Heritage is the most valuable Bank in Namibia as it is the source of the unique knowledge that makes us Namibians ! We would like to invite everybody to join museums, art galleries and heritage institutions across the country in celebrating Heritage Week.
Events you can take part in to celebrate Namibia’s heritage:
City of Windhoek – The City of Windhoek will be organizing a `Walk for Culture’ on Saturday, 21st September. For more information please contact: Mariah Hamata, Tel: 061 – 2902588, E-mail: mnh@windhoekcc.org.na If you would like to take part please gather at 08.00 (the walk will start at 08.30) next to the new City of Windhoek Museum on Robert Mugabe Avenue (near the Millenium Building).
Namibia Wildlife Resorts and the Directorate of Parks, Ministry of Environment and Tourism – A range of `Namibian Heritage Week Specials’ are on offer. Bookings must be made in advance and will include free entry to the Park. For more information contact: NWR on 061-285-7200.
Franco-Namibian Centre. The exhibition ‘What We See’ will be open to the public throughout the week (9.00 – 18.00). The exhibition describes the sound recordings and body casts made of people in the 1930s, as part of a racial documentation project, and the way in which participants responded to this process. For more information contact: Ruth on 061-387330.
Gobabeb Desert Research Foundation – A special Open Day will take place on Sunday, 22nd September to celebrate the declaration of the Namib Sand Sea as Namibia’s Second World Heritage Site. The world recognizes the outstanding importance of this site. Come and help us celebrate and appreciate the Namib Sand Sea ! For more information contact: Esther Uushona on 064 694199.
Gobabeb training and research centre in the Namib deesert – by moonlight. Photo ©Joh Henschel
Grootfontein Museum – Guided Tours and animal quiz for all local grade 7 groups – on appointment. Please Contact : The Grootfontein Museum @ Tel 067- 242456
Helvi Mpingane Kondombolo Cultural Village and Tsumeb Museum – The Cultural Village will provide free entry to Namibians throughout the week. Guided tours for school groups will take place on Wednesday and Friday. The main celebration involving performances by cultural groups will take place on Friday, 20th September. On Saturday 21st September there will be a Crafts Market where visitors will be able to purchase unique Namibian crafts and dine on traditional food as well as speeches. Contact Lemmy Geingob, at 067221056 or 0811460011, Tsumeb.
Keetmanshoop Museum – The museum will host a three day programme of activities with demonstrations of local crafts and cultural performances involving local schools. For more information please contact: Ms Valerie Kleintjies on 063-221256.
Munyondo gwaKapande Cultural Village – A programme of activities will be taking place throughout the week including a competition for schools on local culture and traditions and drum-making and drum-playing competitions. For more information please contact: Mr. Mukuwe 0812180213, Mr. Pessa 0812485508/ 0816016012
Nakambale Museum – A group of skilled local craftworkers will be based at the museum throughout the week. Visitors will be able to learn how to learn traditional skills such as basket weaving, pottery-making and how to make oil from marula fruit, For further information please contact: Ms Magdalena Kanaante on 065-240472 or 0812493108.
National Archives of Namibia and National Library of Namibia – An Exhibition will be mounted that provides archival materials and literature that shows the importance of Traditional Knowledge in Namibia. For more information please contact: Mr Werner Hillebrecht on 061-2935211.
National Art Gallery of Namibia. On Saturday 21 September the Gallery will host a panel discussion about ‘Namibian Art’ from 11am to 11.30 with some light refreshments (if you take part in the `Walk for Culture’ this will be one of the activities). This is your chance to meet local artists and learn more about the richness and diversity of Namibia art works. For further information please contact: Ms Selma Kaulinge @ 061 231160.
National Earth Science Museum – Programme of events throughout the week including film on `Copper Smelting by the Kwanyama’, daily tours from 10:00, treasure hunting for kids daily from 9:00 to 9:40 and a presentation on geological heritage. Contact Ms Helke Mocke at 2848391 or email hmocke@mme.gov.na for more information.
National Heritage Council – Namibians can enjoy free entry to its major sites, such as Twyfelfontein World Heritage Site, Heroes Acre and Lake Otjikoto. For more information please contact: Ms Beverley van Wyk on 061-244375.
National Museum of Namibia – The specialized curators at the museum will be providing unique `backstage’ tours of their collections and inviting School Groups to participate in these tours throughout the week. For more information please contact: Benson on 061-276817
Ombalantu Baobab
Ombalantu Baobab Tree Heritage Centre – A programme of activities throughout the week will include performances by local cultural groups and storytellers throughout the week for visiting groups from local schools. For more information please contact: Mr Gebhard Shiimbi on 0814384705
Swakopmund Museum – Guided Tours for local School Groups throughout the week. Contact Engela at the Museum Tel. 064 402046
Uukwaluudhi Royal Homestead, Tsandi. Local schools will be participating in a programme of activities and competitions to learn about local culture and heritage. For more information contact: Joel Nekwaya on 0812853249 or Ms Hilda Iita on 065-258025.
University of Namibia: History Society. The Society will mount an exhibition in the foyer of the library and will have a programme of conscious-raising events for students at the campus on 18th and 19th September and will also participate in the `Walk for Culture’. Activities will include a cultural performance, a tour of local heritage sites for students and a quiz on Namibian Heritage (with prizes). The event will be held at UNAM Olupale Square on the 18th September 2013 from 10h00 to 14h00. For more information contact; Bethel 0818712057 OR E-mail; sylviaumana@gmail.com
Walvis Bay Museum – A programme of activities will take place during the week aimed particularly at local schools. Members of the Topnaar community will introduce learners to their cultural traditions and there will be a demonstration of the ways in which !Nara melons play an important role in the community. For more information please contact: Ms Antoinette Mostert on +264642013273, email: museum@walvisbaycc.org.na
