8 Dec 2024
Just in time for the pre-Christmas season, the City of Windhoek reminds us of the importance of the feast of God's love. Together with the tourism company Gondwana Collection Namibia, the city has launched the 'Hearts Across Windhoek' initiative.
The Windhoek municipality and Gondwana have erected red curved steel frames in the shape of a stylised heart at five locations. According to the press release, they serve as frames for selfies and stand for (neighbourly) love, unity and reconciliation in Namibia. The initiative runs until the end of January.
The most prominent location is probably the area between the Independence Memorial Museum and the Christ Church. There you can now choose between the small red heart and a large blue rectangle that the tourism department of the municipality installed as a photo frame at the beginning of September (see report on Namibian.org).
You have to look for the other four hearts a little. At least as a tourist. They are located in front of the parliament building near the Christ Church, in front of the municipality in the city centre, in front of the Windhoek City Museum on Robert Mugabe Avenue and on the central UN Plaza in the township of Katutura.
Both the City of Windhoek and Gondwana are emphasising their social responsibility with this initiative. Gondwana has even founded its own institution for its extensive social projects: the Gondwana Care Trust.
Heart as setting for a romantic competition
Many people might not only reach for their smartphone when they see the red hearts, but also for their partner. This is also quite intentional. Because Gondwana is linking the initiative with its 'Valentine's Kiss of the Year' competition.
Couples are invited to stage a romantic moment in the 'heartily' setting. Anyone who shares their selfie on social media with the specified hashtags has the chance to win an exclusive 'Valentine's Getaway'.
Heart as a sign of reconciliation
The hearts in front of the municipality and the Windhoek City Museum have an additional and much deeper meaning. With regard to coming to terms with the colonial past and reconciliation. In both cases, the red heart-shaped steel frame also refers to the statue of the German Schutztruppe commander Curt von Francois.
Erected during South African rule in 1965, the statue honoured Von Francois as the founder of Windhoek by moving to this place in 1890. Wrongly so, as Nama had already settled on this site in 1840. Their captain Jan Jonker called it Winterhoek.
In addition, Von Francois raided the settlement of the Nama Kaptein Hendrik Witbooi on 12 April 1893, killing dozens of women and children. As part of a Namibian initiative within the international 'Black Lives Matter' movement in 2020, the city council discussed the removal of the statue.
In November 2022, it had the statue removed from the pedestal in front of the municipality and moved to the City Museum (see detailed report on PadlangsNamibia.com). A red heart now stands in place of the statue before and after the turn of the year. Another one in front of the City Museum emphasises: 'Never again'. As a contribution to reconciliation and a signpost to a common future.
Sven-Eric Stender
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