Stolen Moments – Namibian Music History Untold is an exhibition about stories, adventures and experiences of the people who shaped Namibian popular music from the 1950s to the 1980s, and whose rich legacy was almost completely destroyed by the cruel exploitation of the apartheid state.

Visitors are taken on a musical journey throughout which questions of cultural identity as well as matters of daily life are explored. How did musicians in Namibia live back then? Who influenced them musically? How did artists deal with the restrictions of the apartheid system? What repercussions did socio-political realities have on their careers? What concessions had to be made?

The exhibition is the outcome of an extensive four-year research project conducted by the Stolen Moments research group , and draws on a comprehensive multi-media database which the group compiled in the course of the project. The Stolen Moments database includes historic films, music recordings, stills, photography, press clippings and oral history, all relating to the Namibian music scene from the 1950s to the 1980s.

Opening hours

• 27 July 2017, 18:30: Exhibition Opening
• 28 June – 02 July 2017: Daily, 11:00-19:00
• 04 July – 14 July 2017: Tue.-Fri., 14:00-18:00; Sat. 11.00-16:00 (closed on Sunday and Monday)

Featured Artists
With works by Ben Molatzi, Wiks Louw, Willy Collins, #Kharixurob, Samuel Flermuis, Kakuja Kembale, The Rocking Kwela Boys, Rita Ikwambi, The Ugly Creatures, Kwela and Lexington, Papa Shikongeni, Phillipus Shehama, David Amukoto, Sandile Pazvakavamwa, Stephan Zaubitzer and many more.

Artistic Direction
Aino Moongo (NAM) and Dr. Ulf Vierke (D)

Stolen Moments Research Group
Aino Moongo (NAM), Eljakim “Baby” Doeseb (NAM), Thorsten Schütte (D)

Team Iwalewahaus
Lucie Ameloot, Alexandra Kuhnke, Sabine Linn, Thorsten Schütte, Wolfgang Spahn, Hercules Viljoen

Team BAB
Dag Henrichsen, Reto Ulrich, Christian Vandersee, Anna Vögeli

Event Photo by John Liebenberg