Cultural Preservation Programme of the Federal Foreign Office

'The White Lady' bushman rock paintings near Uis Enlarge image 'The White Lady' bushman rock paintings near Uis (© picture-alliance) Since 1981 Germany has been supporting the preservation of cultural heritage across the globe as part of the Federal Foreign Office’s Cultural Preservation Programme. Some 40.7 million Euro were made available between 1981 and 2007 to fund a total of more than 2,100 projects in 135 countries.

Namibia is one of the major recipients of funds from the Cultural Preservation Programme. Since 1985 approx. 964,500.00 Euro were made available for projects which preserve the rich cultural heritage of this country. Important projects were, among others, support for the museums in Rehoboth, Swakopmund, Tsumeb and Grootfontein, the restoration of the building housing the Namibia Scientific Society in Windhoek, a Nama Dictionary Project, publication of Kavango literature and the recording of Oshivambo music. One of the major projects for which funds were allocated several times is the preservation of the famous Brandberg rock paintings.

Here you will find more information on some of the latest projects:

Titelseite "What the elders used to say"

Collection of oral history of different ethnic groups in Namibia

In 2007 the German Embassy - with funds from the Federal Foreign Office's Cultural Preservation Programme - facilitated the publication "What the Elders used to say - Namibian Perspectives on the last Decade of German Colonial Rule".

Officer's House Warmbad during renovation

Restoration of the Officer's House in Warmbad in 2005

In 2005 the German Embassy supported the restoration of the historical Officer's House in Warmbad in the south of Namibia. The Warmbad Community Lodge together with the renovated Officer's House was officially inaugurated by H.E. President Pohamba on 22 November 2006.