Annual festival to promote Namibian culture

The Windhoek Annual Cultural Festival, now named the PstBet Festival, will be returning to the capital for the fifth time from 28 to 31 March at the Sam Nujoma Stadium.

The festival, initiated for the first time in 2019, plays a pivotal role in supporting the art and culture landscape in Namibia.

Festival founder Sylvester Shapwa says this year’s event, which has a bigger and better focus, aims to promote Namibia’s rich culture in association with creativity, social empowerment and diversity.

The upcoming event will be hosted under the theme, ‘Cultural Inclusion’.

Shapwa says the theme aims to include all cultures.

“We have a diverse range of activities that cater to all age groups. We have also included as many cultural groups as possible,” says Shapwa, adding that they have a fresh line-up of activities this year, including a cultural fashion show, cooking competition, a battle of the cultural groups, an eating competition and the Miss PstBet Windhoek Annual Cultural Festival, among others.

“We expect the event to be full of fun, with some surprise activities in store for the public. We urge everyone to come and have fun,” Shapwa says.

He adds that what is different about this year’s event is the addition of different cultural groups from different towns.

“Usually, the cultural groups that took part in the previous festivals were all from Windhoek, but now we have groups coming from as far as the Zambezi region and the Ohangwena region,” says Shapwa.

Apart from different cultural activities and exhibitions, the festival will also see the return of Sally Boss Madam, Lady May Africa and PDK on stage. Other artists to perform include James Omlongo, 4X4 Too Much Power and many other artists.

To make it more exciting, on Saturday there will be a cooking competition, the battle of the cultural groups, as well as musical performances.

Popular South African TV star, DJ and performer Gogo Skhotheni from South Africa will be headlining Saturday’s event.

The Sunday session will host the Miss PstBet Windhoek Annual Cultural Festival, as well as the eating competition.

According to the organisers, there will also be traditional games and musical performances with the headlining artist, Lady Du from South Africa, on Sunday.

Shapwa says the festival aims to promote and celebrate Namibia’s rich culture while creating a platform to enhance entrepreneurship, source local talent and educate Namibians through social creativity and innovation.

This year’s edition will be bigger and better compared to last year’s event, which attracted over 12 000 attendees over five days.

“The festival provides a space for leading cultural groups, artists, galleries, collectors, writers, thinkers and art lovers to engage and congregate,” Shapwa says.

He adds that for several years they have had the privilege of growing the festival into one of the largest cultural festivals in the country.

“The festival has become an iconic event that continues to unearth many a talent and, in so doing, enables Namibia more inroads in defining the imagery that is associated with the country and its modern culture,” he says, adding that the festival provides Namibian artists and galleries a platform through which to showcase their considerable talents.

“It has become a sought-after event for collectors, investors and enthusiasts alike, drawing an ever-increasing number of local and international visitors and forever entrenching the love for the arts and culture in new audiences each year,” says Shapwa.