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The Manager of the Living Museum, Elizabeth Madima

The Living Museum of the Mafwe people

In Singalamwe, 19 km north of Kongola, at the river Kwando, the second Living Museum of Namibia will be opening on the 10th of February 2008.

The presentation of traditional Mafwe-culture

The Living Museum gives visitors an interesting insight into the life of the Mafwe. It is an authentic open-air museum where guests can learn a lot about the traditional culture and the original way of living of the Mafwe. They demonstrate and describe everything with great dedication and the guide translates into English. Almost every program offered is interactive, because it is also great fun for the Mafwe when the visitors try to dance to the rhythms of the drums or try to sing an original song.

Three Profits

The Mafwe benefit in three ways from the Living Museum. First of all it is a good source of income for the villagers, who are dependent on their subsistence economy. The Living Museum provides many people from Singalamwe with a regular income - a lot more benefit from selling crafts in the craftshop of the museum. Second of all the Mafwe get in contact with their origins and thus prevent the loss of their original values. As such the Living Musuem works as a school of history and culture. Third of all the Living Museum offers an active intercultural exchange. Within the scope of the Living Museum a lot of visitors get into contact with the culture of the Mafwe and begin to understand what makes this unique culture so special. In return the guests of the museum give the Mafwe self-confidence so that also the young generations take pride in their traditional culture again.

At the Museum you will find a campsite and a craftshop.

Video "The Living Museum of the Mafwe"

Map

Map of the Living Museum of the Mafwe