For Thaddeus Chedau, the Khwe Living Museum in Bwabwata National Park is more than a tourism initiative. It is a mission to preserve his people's cultural identity, pass traditional knowledge to younger generations and create livelihood opportunities for the community.

The museum, one of Namibia's seven official living museums, was established following an idea Chedau developed in 2012.

"If your culture or language is dying, nobody is going to know who you are. But if your language is alive and children know how to speak it, then language is your identity. Everyone who sees you will know that you are Khwe, Subia or Mafwe. We are becoming mixed. I was listening when the children were talking, and two or three words were in Mbukushu, then four words in Afrikaans."

Chedau says he envisioned the museum as a learning space where elders could teach children their language, culture and traditional skills before that knowledge is lost.

"I planned to set up this place as a school for the children, and then the older people that you saw here are the teachers of the language and culture. So before they die, they have to transfer the knowledge to the young ones. And you saw the small boy who was drilling the fire alone. I am proud of seeing that because the knowledge is really transferring."

With support from Natural Justice, which sponsored his training in Ghana, Chedau eventually received approval from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism in 2015 to establish the initiative.

Today, the museum provides livelihood opportunities for 46 community members, who work in two groups that alternate every two weeks.

"There are our own community who come to learn or to teach the young ones, and also there are people from outside who come to see our culture. Then that time we must have people who know how to practise and show them what we did in the past, and those people will pay for the programmes for the people to fight with poverty."

However, income from tourism remains seasonal. While the museum attracts local and international visitors during peak periods, visitor numbers decline from November to April, forcing community members to rely on farming and other activities to supplement their income.

Beyond tourism and employment, the museum also serves as a centre for cultural education, helping younger generations understand and practise their traditions.

Mayenga Dikuwa is an artist at the Khwe Living Museum.

"I remember when learners from Martin Ndumba Combined School came. We helped them prepare for a cultural competition in Andara and corrected certain aspects of their presentation that did not reflect authentic San cultural practices. They went on to win first place."

For Chedau and the community, the museum remains an important space for preserving cultural identity, sharing traditional skills and ensuring that the knowledge of older generations lives on.