Windhoek
It kicks off with the official opening, and a photographic exhibition by renowned Namibian photographer, Christian Goltz, on the Olufuko Festival, which took place in Outapi last week. The theme for this year celebrations is Intangible Cultural Heritage-Keeping Cultural Alive. The Head of Culture at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Boyson Ngondo, explains that this year theme means practices, representations, expressions, knowledges, skills as well as the instruments, objects, artifacts and cultural spaces. “These intangible cultural heritages, transmitted from generations to generation, are constantly recreated by communities and groups in response to their environment, their interaction with nature and their history, and provides them with a sense of identity and continuity, thus promoting respect for cultural diversity and human creativity,” says Ngondo.
He adds that, this year theme showcase that Namibia recently became the second African country to host the tenth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage that took place at the Country Club Resort and Casino in Windhoek at the end of last year, and at the same time when the country registered its first element, Oshituthi Shomagongo, the Marula Fruit Festival at the end of last year as well.
However, the key objectives of the week is to celebrate Namibia’s rich and diverse heritages; promote the safeguarding and protection of all cultural heritages; to recogonise that all forms of cultural heritages are valued and of equal importance as well as to promote understanding across diverse communities of the communal value of heritages and many others. Human Resource and Administrative officer at the Museums Association of Namibia, Ndapewoshali Ashipala, says the Namibian Heritage Week originated from the annual Museum Day. “The Museums Association of Namibia became a partner and the day was extended to the regions. After the National Heritage Council and other stakeholders joined it was decided to enlarge the event and change the name to Namibian Heritage Week,” she says.
She adds that the week encourages all Namibians to celebrate and commit themselves to protect Namibian wonderful natural and cultural resources.
However, the point about the week is that every Namibian can participate in some way to celebrate the country’s cultural and natural heritage. The significance of the Namibian Heritage Week is an opportunity for Namibians to celebrate its heritage. It encourages Namibians to keep culture alive and to pass on inherited traditions and knowledge to other descendants.