Promoting traditional Nama music

The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture in partnership with the Namibia National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) launched the mobile exhibition for the project entitled “Aixan ganajob #ans tsi ||khasigu” which refers to ancestral musical sounds, knowledge and skills of traditional Nama music.

The music serves as the basis of the transfer of knowledge and skills, as well as providing entertainment in Nama communities.

According to a ministerial statement, the Nama traditional music element was placed on the Unesco list in December 2020 as there is an urgent need for it to be preserved. At the same time, Namibia requested international support to ensure that the musical element is preserved for the next generations.

According to the ministry, the project is gaining more and more support at community level. The project is based on two main principles, namely awareness and training, and is mainly aimed at involving more young people in the practices and training the local youth.

Activities include developing awareness and educational material to engage communities and ensure the further transmission of the music to future generations.