WIKA turns 59

The Windhoek Carnival, better known as WIKA, turns 59 years old when this year’s festivities kick off with the Biwak on Saturday, 26 March. Visitors to the carnival can expect a host of fun-filled and exciting events under this year’s theme “Der Ton macht die Musik”, loosely translated as “It’s not what you say, but how you say it.”

“We invite all Windhoek folk and carnival lovers from around Namibia to join us in our quest of bringing the capital city to life with fun and laughter and some breathtaking displays of music and stage shows”, says Jörg Finkeldey, the president of the Windhoek Carnival Society. “Let’s prove to the world and to ourselves that we are a nation that is able to exercise our right to celebrate a true German tradition that has mutated into a German Namibian tradition,” he said.

At the Biwak still-reigning ‘royal couple’ Jens Viëtor and Gaby Raith will address the crowds at Auas Valley Shopping Centre as of 11h00. As usual, the event will be accompanied by live music and dance in midst of a truly Namibian beer garden atmosphere, said organisers. The royal couple hands over crown and sceptre to the new Prince and Princess during the Royal Ball which – like all other show events – takes place at the SKW in Olympia on 1 April.

Windhoek’s new royal couple, whose identity is being kept secret until their enthronement on 1 April, will make their first appearance in front of the broad public on 2 April during Windhoek’s traditional carnival float procession which parades through mid-town as of midmorning. Thereafter, the party will continue at the SKW where all floats will assemble at the end of the float procession. Individuals, groups or corporate bodies interested in organising a float for this year’s street procession can download the relevant application form on the WIKA’s website, www.skw.com.na/ wika.

Tickets to the various events can be purchased online on www.skw.com.na/wika or at Auas Valley Shopping Mall from 29 March to 1 April and again from 5 to 8 April and 11 to 13 April. Tickets will be sold between 09h00 and 11h00.

This year the final event scheduled for the Wika celebrations will be on 16 April at 11h00 when the Kehraus takes place at SKW in Olympia.

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