Living Culture Foundation Namibia (LCFN) is hoping to add another Living Museum to its existing operations in the north of the country.

‘Living museums’ are projects set up by LCFN with native communities in Namibia with the aim of preserving the native languages and cultural traditions of each group. Each museum allows guests to experience the lifestyle of the community they are visiting, with interactive skill displays, traditional crafting and more.

It is the goal of LCFN that every language group in Namibia is represented by at least one living museum. Currently, there are six such experiences in the country and the foundation is hoping to establish another with the Khwe San people near Divundu.

In January the reality came closer with a workshop with the Ju/’hoansi people, who have been successfully running their living museum since 2004. “The main goal of this workshop was to show the Khwe the specific techniques of how traditional things like clothes, weapons, tools and jewellery can be made in an interactive way,” said project leader, Sebastian Dürrschmidt.

The foundation relies on funding donated by partners in Germany and independent supporters to promote infrastructure development in the communities around the museums. Money is put toward improving roads, investing in schools and fighting poverty.

Programmes available range from one-hour performances around traditional life at the Damara Living Museum to three-day excursions at the Hunter’s Living Museum. There are options to suit every kind of guest.