Ancients come alive

Members of the Living Museums of Namibia are being displayed for the first time at the Namibia Tourism Expo, where visitors to Windhoek Show Grounds are flocking to experience their unique cultures and way of living.The Living Culture Foundation Namibia is represented at the expo by the Ju/’Hoasoni Living Museum, the Mafwe Living Museum and the Mbunza Living Museum.All three living museums are represented by seven members, who travelled to Windhoek to represent their culture and way of life at the expo.A living museum is an authentic way of presenting traditional culture, with the aim of fighting poverty, preserving traditional culture and creating a cultural and intercultural exchange.The Ju/Hoansi Living Museum, which was the first of its kind in Namibia, is situated in the small Grashoek village, about halfway between Grootfontein and Tsumkwe.It is a tourism highlight, as well as a good example of the sustainable development of the Bushmen community, as since July 2004 the Ju/’Hoansi run their museum completely on their own.The Ju/’Hoansi Living Museum gives visitors an interesting insight into the life of the San.It will, for instance, show visitors how to make a bow and arrow and how to shoot with it, as well as how to make a fire in the traditional way, with wooden sticks, and explain the making of snares for small animals.The women also exhibit their jewellery skills. The Mafwe Living Museum was opened in February 2008, and is cultural highlight in the Zambezi Region.It is an authentic open-air museum, where guests can learn a lot about traditional culture and the original way of living of the Mafwe.Visitors are shown the pounding of mahangu, the making of baskets and sitting mats from reeds, as well as the making of traditional jewellery and snares.The Mbunza Living Museum is located about 14km west of the Kavango capital of Rundu.As with all living museums in Namibia, the main focus is to provide visitors with detailed and authentic insights into traditional, pre-colonial culture. The living museum, situated at Samsitu Lake, is a traditional village of the Kavango, who have lived in the area for centuries.The village has been built entirely from natural material and the members of the museum wear self-tanned clothes, made from Mangetti nut oil refined leather.The outfits actually had to be reconstructed from old photographs.An essential part of the interactive programme of the living museum is the demonstration and preservation of the fishing and land cultivating culture of the Mbunza.The Mbunza light their fires with fire stones, and display their blacksmith skills. They also make small baskets and share pottery knowledge. All three living museums at the Namibia Tourism Expo, which finishes tomorrow, will entice groups with their traditional songs and handmade crafts. ELLANIE SMIT

Ancients come alive

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-18

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Ancients come alive

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-18

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