Riemvasmakers Traditional Community Cultural Festival

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Cultural & TraditionalDe Riet

DatesDates TBA · Usually OctoberCheck locally before booking

DurationAnnualEstimate from available data

Crowd-Public scale varies

Best forLiving tradition, ritual symbolsThe festival is anchored in a specific and

LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: NAD

CategoryCultural & TraditionalFestival type

The story

Riemvasmakers Traditional Community Cultural Festival in De Riet

The Riemvasmakers Traditional Community Cultural Festival is held each October in De Riet, a Nama settlement in the Kunene Region, commemorating the forced 1974 relocation of the Riemvasmaker people from Riemvasmaak in South Africa to the arid lands of what was then South West Africa. The festival combines visits to elders' graves with traditional Nama food, song, and the distinctive foot-stamping Nama stap dance.

The Riemvasmakers Traditional Community Cultural Festival, held each October in the settlement of De Riet in Namibia's Kunene Region, is built around one of the more specific and documented displacement histories among Namibia's Nama communities.

Your trip starts here

What is special

The part that makes it specific.

The place changes

The festival is anchored in a specific and painful historical memory: the Riemvasmakers were declared squatters on their own land and forcibly relocated by the South African government in 1974, scattering the community across De Riet, Vrede, Bergsig, and Khorixas in what is now Namibia's Kunene Region, far from their ancestral home

The mystery stays covered

That history of displacement gives the festival a commemorative depth beyond typical cultural celebration, combining solemn remembrance at the graves of community elders with genuinely festive Nama food, drink, song, and dance, making it as much an act of collective memory and resilience as a celebration

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The Riemvasmakers are a Nama community whose modern identity is shaped by their 1974 forced removal from Riemvasmaak in South Africa's Northern Cape by the apartheid-era South African government

Water and renewal

Living ritual

which administered South West Africa at the time

The sacred route

Living ritual

Resettled without consultation into the harsh

The local code

Living ritual

arid lands around De Riet and neighboring Kunene Region settlements

Tradition 5

Living ritual

the community has maintained distinct Nama cultural practices

Tradition 6

Living ritual

including the Nama stap dance

Tradition 7

Living ritual

traditional foods like roosterbrood and magou

Tradition 8

Living ritual

and oral history traditions that keep the memory of their original homeland and forced displacement alive across generations

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually October

Getting around

Base the route around De Riet; confirm local transport, road controls or venue access close to the day.

What to wear

Modest, respectful clothing suits both the commemorative grave visits and the festive dancing that follow; comfortable closed shoes are useful given the foot-stamping Nama stap dance and...

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

Stay near De Riet or a practical transport base if you want a simpler arrival and return.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

NAD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map20.47 S, 14.19 E Open in Google Maps

De Riet, Kunene, Namibia

Nearest airportADI — Arandis

TransportBase the route around De Riet; confirm local transport, road controls or venue access close to the day.

Stay areaStay near De Riet or a practical transport base if you want a simpler arrival and return.

Your Trip Starts Here

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How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to De Riet via local transport.Search routes Find a place to stayStays near De Riet, close enough for the event-day route.Browse stays Find flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for October.Compare fares Festival gearModest, respectful clothing suits both the commemorative grave visits and the festive dancing that follow; comfortable closed shoes are useful given the foot-stamping Nama stap dance and time spent outdoors in De Riet's arid Kunene Region climate.Shop the kit Check visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Namibia and apply online.Check entry rules Travel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Riemvasmakers Traditional Community Cultural Festival?

Riemvasmakers Traditional Community Cultural Festival is listed for October. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Riemvasmakers Traditional Community Cultural Festival take place?

The festival is listed in De Riet, Namibia. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Annual is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

De Riet, Kunene, Namibia

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLnamibian.com.na

Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →

SourceSource link available

Listed datesDates TBA · Usually October

Source statusOfficial source linked

Spotted something out of date? Submit a correction →

Riemvasmakers Traditional Community Cultural Festival

Riemvasmakers Traditional Community Cultural Festival in De Riet

The part that makes it specific.

The place changes

The mystery stays covered

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Water and renewal

The sacred route

The local code

Tradition 5

Tradition 6

Tradition 7

Tradition 8

Essential information

When to go

Getting around

What to wear

Safety

Where to stay

Tickets/cost

Language/currency

Family friendly

De Riet, Kunene, Namibia

Your Trip Starts Here

Quick answers.

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

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