Windhoek — A permanent exhibition of images of the San people in Namibia has been established in the Owela Display Centre of the National Museum in Windhoek.

The development of the exhibition was made possible through a generous donation from the Embassy of Finland.

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Libertina Amathila, who has been a pioneer for the plight of the San people since she took office five years ago, officially opened the exhibition last week.

Deputy Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, Pohamba Shifeta also participated in the opening ceremony and explained that the exhibition was developed as part of a series about Namibia's distinct cultures.

He said, "Despite the fact that much has been documented about the San people, my ministry's responsibility towards culture is not simply to decide which part of the country's culture is important or interesting, but to make sure that the right information about the country's culture is available."

"We should make sure that the right information about our cultures is available and that all different cultures are respected and appreciated. The San are of special concern in this respect. There are still many popular beliefs or urban legends about the San people. They are also still often disparaged and marginalised by other Namibians, not for their culture, but because many Namibians do not realise how much the San suffered in the past," Shifeta said.

Opening the exhibition, Amathila said the exhibition was drawing people's attention to listen to a silent voice speaking to them. She described it as a voice that told how a society could find happiness and stability in their traditions, of the beauty that people create from simple objects and how people can cope with adversity through their own resources.

"It is that voice that we as Namibians know so well, as we all listen to it and find an escape in, the voice of the achievements of our ancestors, both remote and immediate, and the joy that we can find in life by living according to our cultures," the Deputy Prime Minister said.

According to her, the exhibition was developed with the idea of reflecting how Namibians could find unity in diversity; how they need to understand their history that affected the diverse Namibian nation and how Namibians have always been able to transcend the immediate difficulties and continue with their lives.

"Our Government has made it its mission to assist the San to benefit from our independence and to confront the modern challenges that they are faced with. I trust that this exhibition will make all Namibian realise that we all have to work together, regardless of tribe, culture, gender or religion if we are to prosper as a Namibian nation. To be able to achieve this requires mutual respect and tolerance," she asserted.

According to Amathila, Namibia is fortunate to have a rich heritage that was left behind by the ancestors of the San. The Government appreciates this heritage and has tried to ensure that all Namibians are treated in the same way and to mainstream the marginalised communities into the socio-economic system.

"This exhibition is a tool that will create the platform to explain to Namibians and visitors to our country what makes Namibian cultures unique, what their history is and how to appreciate every aspect of that culture. I trust that we will all learn something from it. Let us build an inclusive society, together," Amathila concluded.