25 Years of Creative Ties: Celebrating Windhoek–Berlin Partnership and Reflecting on Opportunities and Challenges

The Sister Cities in Action anniversary event marked a significant milestone—celebrating 25 years of creative collaboration between Windhoek and Berlin. The event opened with a powerful screening of the documentary “Confronting Colonial Pasts – Envisioning Creative Futures”, produced by Joe Vision Production in collaboration with the Museums Association of Namibia, Ethnographic Museum of Berlin and other stakeholders. The film focused on the historic repatriation of 23 cultural artifacts returned to Namibia, a poignant reminder of the complex and often painful shared history between the two countries.

Following the screening, a panel discussion was moderated by Patric Sam and featured key voices of panelists included:

• Naita Hishoono, Director at the Namibia Institute for Democracy, with extensive experience in collaborations between Namibia and Germany.
  
• Maria Caley, a fashion designer and lecturer at the University of Namibia, bringing insights from the creative and academic sectors.
  
• Tuli Mekondjo, a renowned multidisciplinary artist who has exhibited in various countries across the world including Germany

The discussion explored the creative ties forged over the past quarter-century, as well as the challenges and opportunities shaping this cross-cultural partnership.

It was acknowledged that the dark and complicated history linking Namibia and Germany remains a critical backdrop to all collaborative efforts. This shared past cannot be overlooked; however, much progress has been made in building meaningful and successful partnerships during the past 25 years.

A significant challenge highlighted by the panel is the absence of a formal framework in Namibia to govern partnerships and collaborations with foreign entities, particularly those from Germany. This gap often leads to unbalanced and non-transparent arrangements. For example, differences in labor regulations mean that German workers may be paid according to German standards, while Namibian counterparts, lacking a comparable framework, receive considerably lower remuneration. This lack of clarity also extends to local Namibian collaborators who find it difficult to negotiate fair terms without established guidelines.

The panel emphasized the critical need for transparency on both sides to foster trust and equity. It was also noted that Namibian collaborators must clearly define their objectives and expectations in partnerships, especially when funding originates from external sources, where funders often hold greater influence.

Access to information—including budgets and decision-making processes, is essential to leveling the playing field and ensuring fair collaboration. 

Equally important was a deep urge for Namibians to clearly understand what they want and need before entering collaborations. Knowing and articulating clear objectives is key to ensuring fair and equitable partnerships.

Creatives at the event expressed hope for more inclusivity and open sharing of information regarding collaborative projects, noting that many events tend to circulate within the same groups and are not always accessible to the broader creative community. This is an area identified for improvement moving forward.

The event was attended by over 70 people, including a delegation from the City of Windhoek and representatives from the House of Parliament of Berlin. Additionally, various local stakeholders, creatives and the general public also participated, underscoring the wide interest and investment in the continued partnership between the two cities.

Overall, the event served as both a celebration of 25 years of creative exchange and a call to action for more equitable, transparent, and structured partnerships moving forward between Windhoek and Berlin.