Windhoek–Berlin city partnership celebrates 25 years

The Village Opera House in Windhoek came alive last week when Namibia and Germany marked the start of celebrations commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Windhoek–Berlin city partnership. The event, which officially launched the anniversary program, brought together artists, policymakers, and civil society representatives to reflect on a quarter-century of cooperation between the two cities.The evening opened with remarks by Naita Hishoono from the Namibian Institute for Democracy (NID), followed by contributions from the partnership ambassadors, Dina Graf and Officially Poetic, who shared their perspectives on the evolving connection between Windhoek and Berlin.New logo and visual identityOne of the highlights of the launch was the unveiling of the partnership’s new logo and visual identity. Although the design team, Gerath Gilliem and Kela-Mo, could not attend, NID program manager Jacinta Kasume presented the concept and explained its symbolism.According to Kasume, the color palette was carefully chosen to represent the spirit of the partnership: deep blue stands for trust, dialogue, and global connections; soft rose symbolizes reconciliation, empathy, and shared remembrance; earth brown reflects Namibian heritage and identity; sand-toned peach expresses warmth and openness; olive green represents growth and sustainability; while lavender grey evokes creativity and diversity.“Together these colors embody the partnership’s essence: two cities, distinct yet connected, celebrating 25 years of collaboration, creativity, and shared purpose between the global north and the global south,” said Kasume.The Anniversary ProgramThe anniversary activities are designed to raise public awareness and strengthen civic engagement around the partnership through media, storytelling, and cultural initiatives. In Windhoek, celebrations will take place from 14 to 19 October, featuring flagship events such as Voices of the Cities — an interactive exhibition highlighting collaborative projects between Windhoek and Berlin, along with other global North-South partnerships.Special sessions are planned for school and university students to place young people at the centre of the dialogue. The Future Vision panel discussion will bring together policymakers, urban thinkers, youth leaders, and civil society representatives to imagine the next 25 years of city-to-city cooperation.A full-day workshop in partnership with Sister Cities in Action and Kulturprojekte Berlin will explore themes of remembrance, fair collaboration, and shared urban futures. In a more artistic format, Street Threads will transform Windhoek’s city centre into a runway where Namibian and German designers present creations inspired by identity, liberation, and decolonial creativity.The Berlin leg of the anniversary celebrations will take place from 17 to 23 November, featuring exhibitions, musical theatre, guided tours, discussions, and workshops.Behind the scenesThe 25th anniversary programs in both cities are jointly implemented by the City of Windhoek, the Namibian Institute for Democracy, and Kulturprojekte Berlin. The Berlin program is curated in cooperation with the Senate Chancellery of the Governing Mayor of Berlin. At the same time, the Namibian events are supported by local partners and funded by the Lotto Foundation Berlin.Official delegation visits will form part of the celebrations, with Berlin’s Governing Mayor, Kai Wegner, expected to visit Windhoek, followed later by Windhoek Mayor Ndeshihafela Larandja’s return visit to Berlin.A milestone in partnershipThe Windhoek–Berlin partnership, established in 2000, represents an ongoing dialogue between two cities linked by history, culture, and a commitment to reconciliation. Rooted in Germany’s colonial past in Namibia between 1884 and 1915, the partnership has evolved into a platform for exchange in education, youth engagement, sustainable energy, culture, and urban development.Beyond its symbolic importance, the 25th anniversary is being used to confront historical injustices, amplify youth voices, and promote intercultural understanding through art, culture, and education. As both cities look ahead, the celebrations aim to highlight success stories from two decades of cooperation — and to chart a more equitable future of collaboration between the Global North and the Global South.

Windhoek–Berlin city partnership celebrates 25 years

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Namibian Sun 2025-11-18

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Windhoek–Berlin city partnership celebrates 25 years

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Namibian Sun 2025-11-18

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