On 07 March 2023, the German Embassy, represented by Ambassador Herbert Beck, and the Arts Foundation of Kavango (AFOKA), represented by Mr Mukoya Edward Diyeve and Mr Joseph Mukoya signed an agreement concerning the documentation and preservation of cultural practices of the HaMbukushu and VaManyo communities in Kavango East Region. AFOKAA will receive 53,000 EURO (circa 960,000 N$) to carry out this project until 2024.

The aim of the project is to preserve the traditional practices of craftsmanship skills, music and dance of the Gciriku, Shambyu and Mbukushu ethnic communities through the research and development of books, including audio-video materials (DVDs format), based on previously field work done from 2018 and 2020 by the Arts Foundation. This also, allows the cultural practices to be documented for future generations and transmitted to them.

Commenting at the signing, Mr. Diyeve stated that “It is a realization of measures, that will ensure that what remains before its disappearance is documented, so that these cultural materials remain an integral part of village life and the intergeneration transmission chain it is not broken. The critical safeguarding measure is through the research and documentation of the traditional crafts, music and dances practices of ethnic communities. This time is now to undertake a comprehensive documentation of what remains.”

Background

The project is funded through the cultural preservation fund of the Federal Foreign Office. Since 1981, Germany has supported the preservation of cultural heritage in developing countries and of German cultural heritage abroad, as part of the Cultural

Preservation Programme of the Federal Foreign Office. As part of this Programme, Namibia so far has received ca. 1 million Euros for the preservation of cultural heritage since 1985