Written by Honorary Senator Erhard Roxin
I love carnival! A few of us Swakopmund carnival lovers got together at the beginning of 1986 and founded the carnival in Swakopmund. Carnival had long been celebrated in many parts of Namibia — just not yet in Swakop, even though it’s a town rich in German community, culture, and tradition. Perhaps it’s because Swakopmund celebrates all year round — not just during the "fifth season"?
But in 1986, the signs were all there: Klaus Pattis, the hotel manager of the Grüner Kranz, wanted to bring more activity into his hotel. Long-time carnival enthusiast Theo Schulte, along with Manfred Fritsch and Horst Cocék, surely felt the urge to bring some carnival spirit to the sleepy coastal town. Diethardt Fahrbach, Rainer Horsthemke, Joachim Bierberg, and many other newcomers were also looking for more action — and were thrilled to join in. And so was I. Wherever there was action, I was in!
The founding meeting of the Swakopmund Carnival Association (SKV) took place on 24 February 1986 at 8 PM at the Hotel Grüner Kranz. All attendees were registered as members, and a board was elected. The first official minutes were recorded.
"The success of such an undertaking depends primarily on good organisation and teamwork." I believe this principle has been upheld over the years and has contributed to the consistently high standard of the coastal carnival. In my view, another key factor in the continued success of the SKV is the fact that young, energetic, and talented individuals are continually integrated and visibly involved on stage as part of the Elferrat. It’s also essential that there is a steady hand overseeing programme planning, finances, and property — such as costumes, caps, lighting, sound equipment, and more.
The coastal carnival runs like a well-oiled machine! I believe that’s because the carnival-goers themselves enjoy being a bit “oiled” — and during the demanding preparations for smoothly run events, they keep spirits high by cheerfully “oiling” themselves with deep humour and good cheer. After all, what would carnival be without the right mix of a cold drink and some hearty laughter? Yes indeed — that wide smile on your face, the cheerful programme running for a whole week — it all radiates pure joy for life.
It all began in 1986, under the motto “Now or never!” It wasn’t easy to start with absolutely nothing and bring a colourful, traditional festival to life over several days. Our long-time president in those early years, Theo Schulte, was an experienced carnival enthusiast from Otjiwarongo. He knew exactly what was needed to stage a proper carnival. Of course, the rest of us helped shape it too. Diethardt Fahrbach took the reins as first chairman, and everyone on the committee was given their task. A donation account was set up, caps and costumes were designed. The caps were ordered from Germany, while the costumes for the prince’s guard were sewn by our ladies themselves – including the capes for the prince and princess. The “Bütt”, a few guard boots, and some decor came from Walvis Bay, where the carnival association had just been dissolved. The hall decoration was handled by the Swakopmund Brewery. The Grüner Kranz, under Klaus Pattis, provided refreshments and food during the programme. I designed the medal and had 150 pieces produced. A band was needed – the Bernstein Band from Windhoek entertained us for R80 per hour plus travel expenses. The prince’s feathers and cap, the sceptre, the princess’s crown, and the key for the symbolic handover were all ordered. We even thought of sound and lighting. But most importantly, a carnival needs Bütten speakers and dance performances.
Hiltrud Horsthemke took charge of the Prinzengarde and skillfully selected twelve senior schoolgirls with dance experience, choreographing the most phenomenal routines. Hiltrud also gave private dance and fitness lessons, and this group performed lively routines under the name “Die Flotte 13” (The Lively 13).
Where does German carnival actually come from? To answer that, we need to take a journey back to the Middle Ages. Carnival has pagan roots and traditionally marks a time of joy and the beginning of spring. It became a traditional celebration held before the start of the Christian Lenten season. With a long and rich history, carnival is still celebrated today in many countries around the world — each with its own customs. The key features of carnival include wearing costumes and masks. People dress up in colourful and often humorous outfits. Floats and walking groups parade through the streets in high spirits, accompanied by dance, music, plenty of food, and drink.
In the Rhineland, people began driving out winter in February with masks and loud parades. They dressed up to scare away spirits and create a bit of chaos in the otherwise dull everyday life. And as we know: where there’s chaos, there’s fun! After all, the deeper meaning of carnival lies in looking at past events — whether political, social, or local — through the lens of humour. Everything is fair game for laughter — even ourselves! As Oscar Wilde once said: “Life is far too important to be taken seriously.”
