Namibia's capital embraces tradition with annual cultural festival

Namibia's capital Windhoek is alive with color and culture as the seventh edition of the Windhoek Annual Cultural Festival gets underway, drawing a record number of exhibitors from across the country and neighboring countries.

WINDHOEK, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's capital Windhoek is alive with color and culture as the seventh edition of the Windhoek Annual Cultural Festival gets underway, drawing a record number of exhibitors from across the country and neighboring countries.

Running from May 22 to 25, the festival aims to promote social tolerance and cultural diversity, while fostering an inclusive environment for knowledge transfer, according to Sylvester Shapwa, the festival's managing director.

"What began in 2018 as a response to limited cultural representation has blossomed into a national event, drawing artists and participants from across Namibia and neighboring countries," Shapwa said.

This year's festival features traditional cuisine, art exhibitions, dance performances, live shows, beauty pageants, and cultural competitions. Organizers said it has also evolved into an important marketplace for local entrepreneurs and artisans, especially amid a shortage of formal trading spaces.

A total of 101 exhibitors, the highest since the event's inception, are showcasing handmade goods, traditional crafts, and artworks. "This gives us the opportunity to present our art products and traditional items to the public, market them, and make sales," said David Mathias, an exhibitor.

Tina Sacky, owner of homemade crafts company Tina's Love of Crochet, lauded the festival for boosting visibility and business growth. "Since I started exhibiting here in 2022, it has served as a fantastic networking opportunity, helping me enter new markets," she said.

The festival also coincides with the annual commemoration of Africa Day on May 25, offering a chance to celebrate both national and continental cultural heritage. ■