Also known as: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation · Unesco National Office · Unesco Southern Africa
UNESCO — organization that recognized Namibia's Omagongo Cultural Festival as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and evaluates world heritage site nominations including Dâures/Brandberg.
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Informanté
UNESCO inscribed the Omagongo Festival on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list
“In 2015, UNESCO inscribed the Omagongo Festival on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list for its cultural significance.”
Omagongo Festival: Marula wine and culture to flow at Chief Iipumbu’s homesteadWindhoek Observer
UNESCO released World Trends Report for 2022 to 2025 showing decline in press freedom
“UNESCO's World Trends Report for 2022 to 2025 shows a decline in press freedom and growing threats from misinformation, economic pressure and digital challenges.”
Media sustainability at risk — IPPRNew Era
UNESCO is recognised as an international partner supporting educational initiatives in Namibia
“He also recognises international partners such as UNESCO and WFP that support educational initiatives.”
Know Your Civil Servant – Teaching is the mother of all professionalsNew Era
UNESCO is providing support for finalising copyright regulations
“Authorities are working with the Business and Intellectual Property Authority (Bipa) to finalise the regulations, with support from Unesco.”
Artists call for fairness in the NAMAsThe Namibian
UNESCO had Lake Malawi recognized as a World Heritage site
“To safeguard Lake Malawi, Africa's third-largest lake, we protected key areas by having them recognised as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation World Heritage site.”
Why the High Seas Treaty Matters for EveryoneInformanté
UNESCO listed in 2015 Omagongo as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
“The unified annual festival was introduced on the recommendation of Founding President Sam Nujoma in 2001 and was initially limited to the eight traditional communities of Aawambo, but has gradually morphed into a national event attended by people from all corners of the country and, in 2015, was listed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.”
Preparations for the Omagongo Festival are underwayThe Namibian
UNESCO proclaimed International Mother Language Day on 21 February to promote linguistic and cultural diversity
“It was proclaimed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to promote linguistic and cultural diversity, multilingualism and inclusive education.”
Language advocates warn English risks cultural lossNew Era
UNESCO receives nomination dossier for Dâures/Brandberg national monument world heritage status
“Rudolf Gaiseb Education minister Sanet Steenkamp this week announced the submission of a nomination dossier to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) for the Dâures/Brandberg national monument to become recognised as a world heritage site.”
Brandberg’s Unesco heritage application submittedThe Namibian
UNESCO expected to decide on world heritage site status by July 2027
“The ministry is awaiting the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's world heritage sitw committee's decision, which is expected by July 2027.”
Dâures/Brandberg monument could become world heritage siteThe Namibian
UNESCO held Intergovernmental Special Committee meeting to draft Recommendation on Ethics of Neurotechnology in Paris
“It is within this context that Namibia actively participated in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) Intergovernmental Special Committee meeting to draft the Recommendation on the Ethics of Neurotechnology, held in Paris this year.”
Neurotechnology: Promise, Periland the Need for Ethical GuardrailsThe Omagongo Cultural Festival, themed "Roots of Our Unity, Seeds for Our Future," will be held on 23 May at the traditional homestead of Chief Herman Iipumbu in the Omusati Region. The festival celebrates marula wine and culture, and has been held annually since 2001, rotating among eight Ovawambo traditional authorities.
13 May 2026 · Informanté →
The Omagongo Cultural Festival, themed "Roots of Our Unity, Seeds for Our Future," will be held on 23 May at the traditional homestead of Chief Herman Iipumbu in the Omusati Region. The festival celebrates marula wine and culture, and has been held annually since 2001, rotating among eight Ovawambo traditional authorities.
13 May 2026 · Informanté →
Former Namibian editor Gwen Lister has urged the government to urgently operationalise Namibia's Access to Information Act, signed in 2022 but not yet in effect, warning that delays are exposing journalists to growing legal and digital harassment amid increasing global threats against the media.
11 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The Institute for Public Policy Research has warned that financial pressure and digital disruption are weakening Namibia's media sector, calling for funding models such as grants, public interest funds, and tax incentives to sustain quality reporting, as well as transparent advertising policies from government and state-owned enterprises.
5 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
David Mandume Alfeus, who teaches English, Oshikwanyama, and ICT at Pahangwashimwe Combined School while pursuing a Master's in Educational Technology, believes teaching is a lifelong mission rooted in passion and commitment to using technology and mentorship to help learners succeed. He advocates for strengthening public-private partnerships and aligning Namibia's education system with global standards to address resource gaps in schools.
17 April 2026 · New Era →
Namibian artists have called for fair prize structures, better professional support, and financial literacy training as the government consults on reviving the Namibia Annual Music Awards, which were discontinued in 2020. The Arts Directorate is also advancing an updated copyright law to protect musicians and other creatives in the digital age.
23 March 2026 · New Era →
The High Seas Treaty, which establishes the first-ever framework to create marine-protected areas on the high seas covering nearly two-thirds of the ocean, has come into force. Malawi became the first landlocked country to ratify the treaty in February 2025, emphasizing that ocean stewardship belongs to all countries regardless of proximity to the sea, as healthy oceans are essential for global food security, climate stability, and carbon absorption.
13 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The omagongo (marula wine) season begins in early February, culminating in the annual Omagongo Cultural Festival in May, hosted on rotation by eight Ovawambo traditional authorities. UNESCO recognized the festival in 2015 as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
6 March 2026 · Informanté →
Speaking at the International Mother Language Day observance in Windhoek, language advocates urged local leaders to communicate more frequently in indigenous languages, warning that relying on English risks excluding communities from public engagement and causing cultural loss. The Unesco representative noted that nearly 40% of the global population lack access to education in their mother tongue, and urged Namibia to prioritise mother-tongue education given that about 70% of the population is under 35.
23 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Education Minister Sanet Steenkamp announced the submission of a nomination dossier for the Dâures/Brandberg national monument in the Erongo region to become a Unesco World Heritage Site, with a decision expected by July 2027. The site, a 135-million-year-old granitic inselberg containing rare archaeological traces and rock art, is expected to boost tourism, create jobs, and foster research if approved.
16 February 2026 · New Era →
Namibia has officially submitted a nomination dossier for the Dâures/Brandberg national monument area to be added to UNESCO's world heritage list, with the committee's decision expected by July 2027. The site, located in the Erongo region, is an ecological 'sky island' with over 900 rock art sites spanning 5,000 years of cultural history and featuring endemic species found nowhere else on earth.
11 February 2026 · The Namibian →