Berlin Buddy Bear: a symbol of friendship

Windhoek (she) – Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner, together with the Senator for Culture and Social Cohesion, Sarah Wedl-Wilson, and a delegation of nearly 40 Berliners, met last Friday with Namibian artist Rui Bernard Steenkamp in front of the SanlamAllianz building, which also houses the German Embassy in Namibia. The occasion was the unveiling of the Berlin Buddy Bear, which had originally arrived completely white and was later designed and painted by Steenkamp.

The German Embassy wrote on Facebook: “The Buddy Bear is a symbol of the deep and lasting friendship between Berlin and Windhoek as well as between Germany and Namibia – may he always remind us of this bond.”

Rui Bernard Steenkamp said: “My bear, larger than life, represents my vision of a friendship between Germany and Namibia and is a significant milestone in my artistic journey. This bear is an important step for me as I try to establish myself as an artist. It symbolizes growth, resilience, and the pursuit of a promising future for our countries.”