Nama Cultural festival's efforts to language and heritage restoration

Keetmanshoop, Namibia— The 5th Annual Nama Cultural Festival concluded over the weekend in Keetmanshoop, under the theme “|Gui!nâxasib !oa da ra ||gū,” meaning ‘We are striving to unity.’ The festival gathered Nama chiefs and community members from Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa in a vibrant celebration of culture, heritage and language. The overarching hope of the event was to foster unity among the Nama people and to revive the Nama language and culture across the region. Nichodimas Cooper, a Board Member and Heritage Activist from Botswana, emphasized the important role of Namibia in these efforts. “Namibia is the only country that still has a significant number of Namas,” he stated. “This is why Namibia is uniquely positioned to help us restore the Nama language in Botswana and revive our cultural heritage for future generations.” The festival featured traditional dances, music and storytelling, alongside panel discussion focused on Religious and philosophical foundation of the Nama and the history of the Nama people language. Participants shared knowledge and strategies for keeping the Nama language and history alive, particularly in areas where it is at risk of being lost. The presence of Nama chiefs from South Africa and Botswana underscored the transnational nature of this cultural revival. Edwin Salim Saidoo Chairperson of BW Nama Development Trust in Botswana talk about Nama heritage in Botswana said “We came to the Nama festival to learn from our elders that are here in Namibia and to learn a few things to better our Nama festival in Botswana that will be in August .” Chief John Cornelius Witbooi of the |Khowese /Witbooi clan in Northern Cape-SA highlighted the importance of solidarity and cooperation in these efforts. "Our culture and language are our identity," he said. "By coming together, we strengthen our community and ensure that our heritage is not forgotten." The men wear shirts made of the same material as the women and the Nama women with their colorful traditional dress.Additionally both the men and the women wear shoes called veldskoene. The elders at the Cultural Village talked about how a widow should dress when her husband passes away and how long she can mourn him, but her dress code must always indicate that she is still in mourning. She needs a black outfit, a black traditional blanket, and a black doekie during her mourning period. The seniors were dancing and singing around the fire. Stalls with traditional food, medicine and artifacts were on displayThe event was a vivid reminder of the rich cultural tapestry of the Nama people and a call to action to preserve this heritage. As the festival came to a close, the sentiment among attendees was clear: unity and collaboration are essential to the survival and flourishing of the Nama culture and language. The success of the festival in Keetmanshoop marks a significant step forward in the cultural and linguistic revival, with Namibia playing a central role in this regional effort.

Nama Cultural festival's efforts to language and heritage restoration

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Republikein 2026-02-03

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Nama Cultural festival's efforts to language and heritage restoration

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Republikein 2026-02-03

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