The Museum

The Living Museum of the Mafwe was initiated by the German-Namibian non-profit organisation The Living Culture Foundation Namibia and is independently managed by the Mafwe of Singalamwe since february 2008.

The Living Museum consists of a traditional village and its surrounding fields where the Mafwe demonstrate their original way of life. They present their old, almost forgotten culture in traditional dresses on a beautiful hill with a view on the Kwando River. Huge Baobab trees spend shadow for the guests that are interested in the original Mafwe Culture.

Three Profits

The Mafwe benefit in three ways from their work as actors in the Living Museum.  First of all it is a source of income for the villagers who are dependant on subsistence farming and struggling with poverty. Now the Living Museum as well as the craftshop provide the people of Singalamwe with an income! Second of all the Mafwe get in contact with their origins and face the loss of their original values. The Living Museum allows the Mafwe to profit from their traditional skills. The Mafwe have found a reason to actively begun retaining their cultural identity. Once again they are practicing the ancient skills that were disappearing and passing them on to new generations. So the Living Museum works as a school for history and culture. Third of all the Living Museum offers an active intercultural exchange. In the scope of the Living Museum a lot of people get in contact with the culture of the Mafwe and begin to understand what makes this unique culture so special. In turn the guests of the museum give the Mafwe self-confidence and also the youngest take pride in their culture.
 

Campsite

For the adventurous there is a basic bushcamp which consists of a cleared area, where tents can be pitched – there are no water and no ablution facilities. At the moment the costs are N$ 30 per person per night and N$ 10 for a bundle of fire wood.

New campsite - New income

The Living Culture Foundation Namibia would like to establish an official campsite at a beautiful spot next to the Living Museum. There - under huge Baobab trees with a breathtaking view down the valley of the Kwando River - we could built a campsite with all the necessary facilities to qualify for an official registration.

Once registered more income can be generated through higher camping fees and guests visiting the museum would be able to spend the night at a comfortable camp site, without having to rush on. An offical campsite would also attract more visitors to the museum.

Your support in achieving this goal will be highly appreciated!!! More information you will find here: Campsite support

Craftshop

At the Living Museum there is a craftshop where you can buy crafts, jewellery and common tools of the Mafwe. You will support the whole community of Singalamwe, the village where most of the actors of the Living Museum live.

Everyone from Singalamwe - not only the actors of the Living Museum - is encouraged to produce crafts for the craftshop to generate an extra income for the whole community.