The city partnership between Berlin and Windhoek is celebrating 25 years of collaboration, exchange and shared history. Under the theme “Same, Same but Different”, the anniversary programme in Windhoek brought together creatives, communities and people active in civil society to reflect on the past, celebrate the present and envision the future.

From the 14th to the 19th of October 2025, Windhoek hosted a busy week of events to kick off the anniversary celebrations. The diverse programme included talks with Windhoek’s mayor, Ndeshihafela Larandja, and meetings with individuals involved in civil society, businesses, schoolchildren and local creative professionals. Highlights included the world premiere of the music theatre production “People of Song” at the National Theatre of Windhoek, the “Street Threads” fashion show and a roundtable discussion on the creative industries.

Through workshops, exhibitions and cultural events, the programme highlighted shared identities, decolonial dialogue and creative exchange, thus showcasing the partnership as a model for equitable and meaningful collaboration between cities.

A senior delegation from Berlin also visited the Namibian capital, including Kai Wegner, the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Sarah Wedl-Wilson, the Berlin Senator for Culture and Social Cohesion and representatives from politics, business and culture.