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Information about projects of the Living Culture Foundation Namibia...
on the 10th of February 2008 in Singalamwe / Caprivi.
Finally it‘s done: After great efforts of the project group of the Mafwe in Singalamwe and the LCFN members in Namibia, the second Living Museum in Namibia will be opening on the 10th of February 2008. The Living Museum of the Mafwe people will show the traditonal, pre-colonial culture of this northern Namibian language group and it is certain that this Living Museum will be as successful as the Living Museum of the Ju/‘Hoansi, which is running for almost 4 years now.
Although the cooperation between the LCFN, the manager of the Living Museum Elizabeth Madima and her projectgroup has always been of sympathy and high motivation, the LCFN members who met with the project group in December 2007 were positively surprised about the progress of the Museum. The Mafwe had worked on their Museum with such dedication and persistence that they almost finished everything in a suprisingly short time (the first meeting with Mrs. Madima was in December 2006).
Here you can find the descritpion of the first rehearsal from the LCFN members:
We were fascinated about the presentation of the Mafwe. The women showed - with enthusiasm - old, traditional dances and rituals and some of the attending young men seemed astonished about the initiation- and wedding-rituals they had never seen before - as were we. Then the men tried to beat the womens presentation with rhythmic drumming and dancing. We were especially impressed with the interaction of music and rythmic dancing of the women and men and we were obliged to proof our sense of rhythm as well. Then the Mafwe presented a traditional cuta, kind of a judicial gathering, during which the villagers communicate their requests to the nduna, the chief of the Mafwe. The real Nduna himself, who was present at the rehearsel, was really suprised about this cuta. At the end two musicians brought a marimba, a traditonal instrument of the Mafwe, and totally impressed us with their virtous play
Allthough still lacking some authenticity - the main objective of a Living Museum - it was quite clear, that the Living Museum of the Mafwe would be ready to open soon. Once again it was surprising how fast the project group worked to reach the required level of authenticity and they were almost ready to start operating in the beginning of January, when Freca Menzel and Werner Pfeifer from the LCFN met with them again. Back in Windheok they happily reported the news and together with the project group of Mrs. Madima we decided to celebrate the opening of the Living Museum of the Mafwe on the 10th of February 2008.
Now the LCFN is busy with preparing everything for the event. Alomst every tour operator in Namibia, the accomodation facilities in the close area of the Living Museum and some Namibian newspapers have been invited. The LCFN will hand over a donation-financed singboard to the Living Museum of the Mafwe, which can hardly go unnoticed by anyone who is travelling through the Caprivi.
The Living Culture Foundation Namibia would like to thank all their friends, who helped to built up the Living Museum of the Mafwe.
You will find further information and a small video here:
Info + VideoJanuary 2008 - 2. Volume - Issue 2
