Opuwo: Namibian Heritage Week 2026 was officially launched in Opuwo for the Kunene Region on Monday, with calls for Namibians to take collective responsibility for preserving the country's cultural and natural heritage for future generations. The week runs countrywide from 14 to 20 September under the theme 'Preserving Heritage for the Future Generation.'According to Namibia Press Agency, Director of the Museums Association of Namibia (MAN), Aaron Namandi, urged communities, particularly young people, to use the week to learn traditional skills, languages, stories, dances, games, and customs from elders. "Tradition and culture are what makes us. Without it, we are nothing," Namandi said. He encouraged Namibians to visit museums, attend storytelling sessions, and participate in cultural activities throughout the week.Namandi also announced that museums which normally charge entrance fees will offer free admission during Namibian Heritage Week, giving the public an opportunity to access exhibitions and lear n about the country's history. In a speech read on his behalf, Kunene Governor Vipuakuje Muharukua said heritage should be viewed as a living legacy rather than something confined to museums and historical sites.Muharukua stated that heritage is reflected in Namibia's languages, oral histories, songs, dances, ceremonies, traditional knowledge, food, dress, and the relationship between communities and their environment. He emphasized that preserving heritage is increasingly important amid rapid social, economic, and technological changes that could contribute to the loss of indigenous languages, knowledge, and cultural practices.The governor called for stronger collaboration among communities, traditional authorities, schools, museums, government institutions, researchers, cultural organizations, and the private sector. He further urged young people to use technology to document and promote Namibia's heritage. "A young Namibian recording an elder's oral history today may be preserving knowledge that could otherwise disappear tomorrow," Muharukua said.Namibian Heritage Week chairperson Loide Nathinda mentioned that the initiative originated as an annual museum day before expanding into a national week involving various heritage institutions and stakeholders. She said the week seeks to encourage all Namibians to celebrate, safeguard, and appreciate the country's diverse cultural and natural heritage.