Namibia celebrates tradition /Ae //Gams festival

Source: Xinhua| 2024-04-26 22:07:45|Editor: huaxia

People perform during the /Ae //Gams Arts and Cultural Festival in Windhoek, Namibia, on April 26, 2024. Namibia opened the popular /Ae //Gams Arts and Cultural Festival on Friday to promote cultural diversity in Windhoek. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)

WINDHOEK, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Namibia opened the popular /Ae //Gams Arts and Cultural Festival on Friday to promote cultural diversity in the capital, Windhoek.

/Ae //Gams is the indigenous Khoekhoe word for Windhoek, which means "hot springs."

The two-day festival, organized by the City of Windhoek, gathers traditional groups, artists and entrepreneurs to display their traditional dances, fashion, local and international cuisine, and other products.

Lydia Amutenya, the Windhoek Municipality spokesperson, said that the 17th edition aims to cement cultural roots and serve as evidence of the city's cultural richness not often seen on a daily basis.

"The event was first established in 2001, with its last edition in 2015. After a long break, we revived the festival in 2023. We hope to make it an annual occurrence," Amutenya said.

The festival aims to boost trade, promote creativity and inspire entrepreneurship in the southern African nation. One of the exhibitors, Samueline Uapingene-Masule, participated in the festival to promote her recycling and upcycling business.

"To expose my business, generate income, and demonstrate the positive environmental impact of our business in embracing our cultures," she said.

The festival also aims to aid tourism growth and immerse international guests in the national cultural diversity for which the city is strategically located, Amutenya said. ■