9 Sep 2024
The plans for the renovation and remodeling of the historic Alte Feste in Windhoek have received a major boost. The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture (MEAC) is providing 5 million Namibia dollars (currently around 252,000 Euros; amount at the current exchange rate,1 N$ = 1 ZAR), the Namibia Craft Centre announced.
This means that almost N$ 9.5 million is now available for the project. The US Embassy had already donated 250,000 US dollars (currently over 226,000 Euros and a good N$ 4.48 million; amount at the current exchange rate) in April. However, at least N$ 15 million is needed, only for completing project phase I (see report on Namibian.org from the project presentation in April). Experts now estimate the costs for the realisation of all project ideas at N$ 61 million.
According to the Craft Centre, a genocide museum, a "Centre of Excellence" for arts and crafts, and a restaurant & bistro are planned. The inner courtyard of the rectangular former fort is to be roofed and used for events.
The Namibia Craft Centre has taken the lead for the project as part of an agreement with the Ministry of Education. Background: Its lease for the premises in the Old Brewery complex will expire next May. It then wants to move into the (partly) renovated and repurposed Alte Feste.
The Namibia Craft Centre can hope for further funding. At a meeting, the German ambassador Thorsten Hutter assured the project of his support. The centre applied to the embassy's cultural fund.
If the so-called Joint Declaration between Germany and Namibia comes into force, 50 million Euros (currently over N$ 990 million; amount at the current exchange rate) will be available for reconciliation projects. The repurposing of the Alte Feste undoubtedly falls into this category.
Why? The Alte Feste was built in 1890 during the German colonial period (1884 to 1915) as a military facility. Photographs from the time of the colonial wars (1904 to 1908) show a prison camp next to the fortress. Tens of thousands of OvaHerero and Nama died in the course of the genocide.
The Genocide Museum in the new Alte Feste aims to tell the story of this painful chapter in Namibian-German history, in the spirit of reconciliation and coming to terms with the past.
According to one of the project ideas, the equestrian statue could contribute to this. It has stood in the courtyard of the Alte Feste since it was dismantled in 2014.
Formerly a sought-after photo motif for Namibia holidaymakers, the horseman could serve as a magnet for visitors to the new Alte Feste. The former enemy fortress is to become a meeting place that will benefit tourists and craft businesses alike.
Sven-Eric Stender
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