Donna Collins

SWAKOPMUND - When it comes to laughter and merry-making you can always count on the week-long ‘ KÜSKA Carnival’ activities, which celebrated 34 years of a fun-filled programme, ending with a lively carnival float procession through the streets of Swakopmund last Saturday. 
The theme for this year was ‘Swakop Strand Imposant’, and like all the years before this, it takes months of preparation to pull off one of the town’s most celebrated and crowd-pulling traditional German-style events - in a grand entertaining fashion.
With over 150 men, women and children taking part in the various KÜSKA stage productions and events throughout the week-long celebrations, there were too many highlights to mention. An organising team of about 40 people has been working flat out to put up another unforgettable experience which ended off with one big party.
Of course, one of the main features of this year’s carnival programme was the crowning of the  KÜSKA Prince and Princess Andrea Egner and Holger Kleyenstuber, who were the chosen duo. The Prinzenball was one of the favourite features of the week’s programme, with all the pomp and ceremony being awarded to the newly crowned royal couple, who are tasked with, among others, organising a big environment clean-up project. 
A total of 15 floats and processions took part in the grand finale parade through the town, which involved participants all dressed up in vibrant costumes, while sitting atop decorated flatbed trucks and bakkies, waving and dancing to the music.
Once again, all eyes were on the Namibian Navy Band members, who led the carnival parade with their big brass sound, setting the beat for the procession that followed. Behind them, a bevy of leggy ‘Garde Girls’ strutted their majorettes’ moves, dressed in KÜSKA attire of mini-skirts, bright red blouses, and feathered headgear.
In fact, the Namibian Navy Band has become an integral part of this traditional annual German celebration and has been invited to lead the KÜSKA float procession for many years now, which takes a lot of practice to pull off such an impressive performance. 
The Navy band, who rehearse their music for hours each day, as well as participate in a physical training regime, need to be super fit to play and march in synch, which on occasions like the KÜSKA street parade covers a distance of nearly five kilometres from start to finish while playing a number of heavy brass instruments and big bass drums. 
There was everything from riders on horseback, a doggy parade with SPCA staff and volunteers walking dozens of strays wearing cute body suits, the winning float of Swakop Hire Sales and Services recreating the foam of the Atlantic Ocean, to the lively Stepping Stone Kindergarten float. 
KÜSKA Carnival Chairperson, Heinz Schulte, said the carnival was very well received again this year and that they were grateful for the support of the town, as well as the Swakopmund Municipality that for the second year entered a float.
“The best way to cope with some of the hardships of life is to bring some fun and humour into it, which is precisely what KÜSKA aims to do every year with resounding success,” said Schulte. 
Furthermore, he said each year donations from the proceeds are made to various charities, and are able to share the spirit with old age homes and the needy.