Category: CULTURE & TRADITION

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Cultural Diplomacy in Lisbon: Honorary Consul Attends “The Rooms That Raised Us” Exhibition

Demonstrating Namibia’s commitment to cultural exchange and the creative industries, Dr. Rogério Tavares, the Namibian Honorary Consul in Lisbon, attended the opening of the exhibition “The Rooms That Raised Us” by Namibian artist Ale D’Afrique.

The exhibition, held at Travessa das Mónicas 65 in Lisbon, serves as a profound exploration of identity, memory, and the physical spaces that shape our upbringing. For Namibia, a nation that prioritizes the “Creative Industries” as one of its seven key sectors for socio-economic transformation under President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the event provided a unique platform to engage with international contemporary art that resonates with the African soul.

The presence of the Honorary Consulate underscores the mission’s role in supporting Namibian interests and promoting the country’s cultural presence on the global stage.

The exhibition was hosted and organised by M8TRIARCH, a Lisbon-based creative residency and cultural sanctuary founded by Alanna Nichelle. As a multidisciplinary ecosystem, M8TRIARCH serves as a vital platform for Artist-in-Residence programs, fostering connection and storytelling between local creators and the global diaspora.

By engaging with such “living galleries,” the Namibian Honorary Consulate aims to explore sustainable models for creative exchange that can further empower Namibian artists on the international stage. M8TRIARCH‘s focus on immersive environments and cultural programming provided the ideal backdrop for Ale D’Afrique’s narrative-driven works, which were independently produced and funded through a collaborative team effort.

#TheRoomsThatRaisedUs #AleDAfrique #M8triarch #NamibiaInPortugal #CulturalDiplomacy #CreativeIndustriesNamibia #LisbonArtScene #BlackArtists #ContemporaryArtLisbon

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Beyond 35: For a Prosperous Future | 36th Anniversary of independence

Happy Independence Day!

Since today is Saturday, March 21, 2026, Namibia is officially celebrating its 36th Anniversary of independence.

On this day in 1990, Namibia ended decades of colonial rule and South African administration, raising its own flag for the first time at Independence Stadium in Windhoek. The 36th anniversary is being observed under the theme “Beyond 35: For a Prosperous Future.” 

2026 Celebration Highlights

Here is how the nation is marking the milestone today:

  • Decentralized Events: For the first time, official celebrations are being held across all 14 regions simultaneously, rather than at a single national venue.
  • Key Locations:
    • Khomas Region: Main festivities at Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek.
    • Erongo Region: Celebrations are centered at Usab Stadium in Karibib.
    • Hardap Region: Events at the Mariental Sports Grounds.
  • Leadership: President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (Namibia’s first female president) has called for national unity, emphasizing that while the liberation struggle is won, the new “struggle” is for economic inclusion and addressing youth unemployment.

Watch the Celebrations

Did You Know?

The name “Namibia” was chosen to be ethnically neutral, derived from the Namib Desert, which is considered the oldest desert in the world.

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Namíbia destacada como o destino turístico mais autêntico de África

Com uma das mais baixas densidades populacionais do mundo, a Namíbia apresenta-se como um destino de grandes escalas: desertos, parques naturais extensos e longas distâncias entre centros urbanos. Para o ATB, esta característica transformou-se numa vantagem competitiva num contexto em que o “espaço” se tornou um dos bens mais valorizados no turismo global.

Entre os destinos destacados estão Sossusvlei, no deserto da Namíbia, o Parque Nacional de Etosha, a Skeleton Coast e as regiões remotas de Damaraland.

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Memorandum of Understanding on the Language Learning Promotion

The Republic of Namibia and the Portuguese Republic signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Language Learning Promotion under the Culture and Education umbrella protocol on the margins of the bilateral political consultations in Lisbon, Portugal.

This agreement builds on successful teaching of Portuguese in Namibian schools since 2011 where some 2000 students have already been learning the language in 26 public schools in 7 political Regions of the country. The new ambition is expand this opportunity to all 14 political regions of Namibia and to all public schools.

Ambassador Albertus Aochamub signed the agreement on behalf of Namibia and Joao Ribeiro de Almeida, President of Camoes Institute for Cooperation and Language on behalf of Portugal.

#bilateralrelations #education #language #opportunity

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Namibia commemorate SADC Liberation Day 23 March 2022

Namibia joins the rest of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to commemorate SADC Liberation Day, on 23 March 2022, in honour of the sons and daughters who sacrificed their lives and paid the ultimate price in the struggle for the political liberation and economic freedom of the Region.

Since 2019, SADC has commemorated March 23 as the day that marked the end of one of the fiercest conventional battles at Cuito Cuanavale in southern Angola, where forces of the apartheid regime in South Africa were defeated, leading to the independence of Namibia and the creation of a non-racial democratic South Africa as well as the consolidation of the independence and sovereignty of Angola.

Thus, it brought to an end, the senseless destruction of economic infrastructure and bloodshed in Southern Africa.

The new chapter of peace and stability was opened, enabling the region to pursue the path of regional integration rather than confrontation. Hence, in commemorating March 23, Liberation Day, we honour the brave sons and daughters of the region and their fellow internationalist fighters who made supreme sacrifice in lighting the flame of freedom and whose blood watered the tree bearing the fruits we enjoy today.

Likewise, we salute the visionary founders of SADC whose foresight of Southern Africa moving towards political liberation has been translated into reality and it is now up to us and future generations to move it forward through the SADC Vision 2050 and the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030; guiding the strategic direction of the Region.

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Germany returning Stone Cross artifact to Namibia

Berlin museum said it is returning the Stone Cross of Cape Cross, a key cultural artifact, to Namibia. The cross, placed on Namibia’s coast by Portuguese explorers in 1486, is a symbol of the country’s colonial past.

The German Historical Museum in Berlin announced that it is returning to Namibia a 15th century artifact known as the Stone Cross of Cape Cross. The country has called for the object’s return since June 2017.

The artifact was originally erected by explorer Diogo Cao in 1486 on the coastline of present-day Namibia to signify Portuguese territorial claims, as well as serve as a navigational marker.  The 1.1 ton, 3.5-meter (11-foot) Stone Cross is emblazoned with the Portuguese coat of arms as well as inscriptions in Portuguese and Latin. Its presence, alongside other such crosses, was so significant as maps at the time. The crosse also gave the coast’s present-day name: Cape Cross.

The restitution planned for August, is a “clear signal that we want words to be followed by deeds.” said Monika Grütters, Germany’s State Secretary for Culture and Media.