Gearing up for Namibian Heritage Week

WINDHOEK, SEPT. 6 – Heritage is a word used to describe the things that we feel are important to preserve and protect. From objects, to places and traditions that one generation wants to pass on to the next.

Namibian Heritage Week originated in an idea of the National Museum of Namibia to have an annual Museum Day. The Museums Association of Namibia became a partner and the day was extended to the regions. After that, the National Heritage Council and other stakeholders joined it was decided to enlarge the event and change the name to Namibian Heritage Week.

The week encourages all Namibians to celebrate and commit themselves to protect our wonderful natural and cultural resources. Namibia’s major heritage institutions (dubbed `the Heritage Week Team) have joined together to organize Namibian Heritage Week. However, the point about the week is that every Namibian can participate in some way to celebrate our cultural and natural heritage.

Heritage Week is an opportunity for Namibians to celebrate our heritage. It encourages Namibians to keep culture alive and to pass on inherited traditions and knowledge to our descendants. Heritage gives us pride in our identity.

“You can’t know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’re coming from.” The week encourages people to experience the beauty of our cultural diversity or to visit a different part of the country to experience our natural wonders.

This year, the theme for Heritage Week is: “Turuganeni Kumwe” which means “Let’s work together” in Rukwangali.

The aim is for there to be a week dedicated to Namibian heritage each year which includes participation from government, organisations and individuals from all fourteen regions so that the week can successfully become an annual and national event.

The Heritage Week team’s role is to facilitate the success of the week through providing support to
organisations and individuals who host or participate in events during the week through logistical
support and marketing.

However, as the theme states, we’re all in this together. This is a week for every single Namibian to
get involved in celebrating and learning about Namibia’s rich and diverse heritage.
Namibian Heritage Week 2018 will be from the 17th-23rd September 2018 – info@namibiadailynews.info