Cooperation between Estonia and Namibia in the field of creative industries

Estonian Ministry of Culture,
13 December 2024, Estonia

Estonia and Namibia started cooperation in the field of creative industries last year, when the Academy of Creative Industries was held in Windhoek under the leadership of Creative Estonia, in cooperation between the national committees of UNESCO of Estonia and Namibia and the Viljandi Culture Academy of the University of Tartu, within the framework of which a conference and hackathon. This year, the cooperation continued and the University of Namibia joined the partners. Why cooperate with Namibia, choose creative industries as a direction and what to learn from it, write Madli Kumpas from the Estonian National Commission of UNESCO, Tiiu Allikmäe from Creative Estonia and Ave Matsin from Viljandi Culture Academy.

Namibia is located nearly 12,000 kilometers from Estonia and is one of the driest countries in sub-Saharan Africa, serving as a meeting place for the deserts of Namib and Kalahari. Namibia could accommodate 18 Estonia and, with a population of 2.1 million, Namibia is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. Both Estonia and Namibia have historically been greatly influenced by Germany – which is illustrated in practical cooperation by the validity of the agreements and the accuracy of the time – and we are both in a good relationship with Finland. While Estonia's warm relations with our northern neighbours stem from our geographical and cultural proximity, an important role in Namibia was played by Finnish missionaries who migrated to Namibia in the 19th-20th centuries and Martti Ahtisaari, who, as UN Special Representative for Namibia, helped to achieve peace and Namibia's independence from South Africa in 1990. Thus, it is perhaps not surprising that Finnish influences can be found in the folk costumes of the Ovambo tribe of Namibia, and the first name Martti is common among Namibian men.

Background to cooperation

In addition to the perhaps slightly surprising cultural recognitions arising from the links with our immediate countries, we are connected to Namibia by a globalised world and international organisations. The SDGs are binding on all UN member states, and both Estonia and Namibia are working diligently on the fields of culture, science and education under the UNESCO mandate. The creative industries support cultural diversity and identity, which are essential for creating social cohesion and enriching everyday life. The development of the creative industries contributes to exports, the promotion of culture and identity, and the opening up of new markets, which, together with the acquisition of modern skills and knowledge, are important factors in moving towards sustainable development and a better life.

Namibia is one of Estonia's priority development cooperation partners in Africa, alongside Botswana, Kenya and Uganda. Working with Namibian organisations gives Estonian organisations the opportunity to share their experiences and discuss how the field of creative industries contributes to the diversification of the economic environment, heritage preservation and entrepreneurship in different regions of the world, and what kind of state structures, educational reforms and both individual and collective skills and knowledge it requires. Cooperation between the countries of the European Union and Africa in various fields strengthens intercontinental relations, establishes important contacts and helps to reduce the sphere of influence of Russia, China and North Korea in the countries there.

At the service of digital heritage

Estonia is known in the world as a digital country. In development cooperation, the application of digital technologies and support for the uptake of innovative solutions are also a horizontal priority. However, digitalisation is not an end in itself, but a means of realising broader objectives. An important part of Estonia's cultural identity is the knowledge, preservation and development of its heritage. The main part of what we consider to be heritage is stored in our memory institutions, Namibia, on the other hand, has a rich living cultural heritage that needs responsible documentation and research. The collection of this information, in turn, creates the prerequisites that heritage can be used to enhance the cultural, social and economic well-being of communities with the support of creative entrepreneurship.

Events in Windhoek

Estonia started thinking about the creative industries and preservation of Namibia's cultural heritage in 2023, when the partners of the two countries, led by Creative Estonia, organized a conference in Namibia, where the possibilities of digitizing heritage were discussed. The conference was followed by a youth hackathon on the same topic. Interest in the topic was visible, and high-ranking officials of ministries and representatives of several universities had gathered in the hall. On the Estonian side, Viljandi Culture Academy, which has extensive experience in both researching and creatively applying heritage in front of the chariot of entrepreneurship, the Estonian National Commission of UNESCO and experts from the private sector, were involved. On the Namibian side, the main partner was the National Commission for UNESCO Namibia from the Namibian Ministry of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation, and the UNESCO Windhoek office was also involved. The cooperation was carried out and implemented with the funding of ESTDEV – the Estonian Centre for International Development Cooperation.

The focus of the next conference, which took place in 2024, was on the relationship between education and culture and the development of curricula, since in order to promote the digitization of culture and creative industries, it is worth starting with knowledge sharing at the university. Perhaps the opening remarks of Minister Dr Itah Kandjii-Murang at this year's conference give an idea of the importance of the topic in Namibia: "We need to review our educational programs, revisit how we train our educators, and rethink how we package and present cultural components in our education system. These conversations are not just academic – they are important to ensure that education plays a central role in preserving and digitising our cultural heritage."

During the two-day debate that followed the conference, the lecturers from Estonia and Namibia were already able to delve into the topic of curricula and teaching methods in more detail. In the process, a substantive dialogue emerged and a number of new professional cooperation plans began to develop. For example, it turned out that there are also regions in Namibia where, like Estonia, the production of sheep wool has been important, but has now become an industry, and in cooperation with local farmers, they want to revive it. During the meeting, it became even clearer how lively and rich the cultural heritage of the various tribes of Namibia is, and how it is necessary to take into account the needs and opinions of communities when maintaining it. At the same time, it is certainly an inexhaustible source for the development of heritage-based products and services, and Estonia's experience in this field can be a good support.

Namibians' move in Estonia

The goal of sharing mutual experiences was fulfilled by a study visit to Estonia by the Namibian delegation in October 2024, during which they visited the National Archives of Estonia, the Ministry of Culture, the Estonian National Museum and the UNESCO Chair of Applied Research on Intangible Cultural Heritage at the University of Tartu. During the meetings, a thorough overview was obtained of how the creative industries are being developed and culture is being digitised in Estonia. Guests in Estonia were most impressed by the appreciation of works of art and old buildings, as well as by a rather large cultural unity.

At the Heritage Festival conference "Heritage in the Service of a Sustainable Community" in Viljandi, University of Namibia professors Rosa Johnson and Kennedy Khariseb shared their experiences of preserving Namibia's cultural heritage with listeners. At a large heritage party at the end of the Viljandi program, Namibian craftswoman Kay Charlotte Chavinne presented Namibian handicrafts, where those interested could also buy beautiful items.

Further cooperation

In March, there will be a visit to Namibia, within the framework of which it is planned to promote cooperation between the ministries of culture of the two countries, for which the visit of the Namibians to Estonia and the meetings here created a good base. In order to confirm the knowledge gained so far, Creative Estonia and its partners are also organising a hackathon for students, where in addition to Estonian experts, Namibian lecturers will participate as mentors. The cooperation links between Viljandi Culture Academy and UNAM continue with the support of ESTDEV in microdegree programs supporting the management of creative projects, where Namibians can improve their skills academically. In addition, with the support of Erasmus+ grants, mobility of both students and teachers is planned in both directions.

Based on the cooperation so far, all the participating organizations agree that the key to the success of cooperation is the presence of good and reliable partners, an open attitude and a desire to learn from each other. Good relationships and the understanding that only together can we achieve results play a big role in the success of events. Despite being located at different ends of the world, we are bound by the unity of being human, the appreciation of culture and the desire to live a better life.

https://www.kul.ee/uudised/eesti-ja-namiibia-koostoost-loomemajanduse-vallas