Kuska kicks off on high note
A celebration of the annual Swakopmund carnival, better known as Kuska, kicked off with a bang as the 2023 prince and princess were announced last Thursday evening at the Haus der Jugend Hall.This year’s carnival will be the 36th annual festival, and will be celebrated under the theme ‘Was ist schon normal’. The carnival has a line-up of exciting events, with the crowning of the new prince and princess of Kuska being one of the highlights of this traditional German festival.
An estimated 100 men, women and children came out to celebrate and witness Day 1 of the event, which was the royal ball, and featured performances, humorous talks and the announcement of the royal couple.
Last year’s prince and princess Erwin Leuschner and Benita von Schmettau handed over their crowns to Gerald Güther and Claudia Gabarde. The pair were also spotted on Saturday morning during the street procession.
Joachim Von Wietersheim, one of the organisers of the carnival, said the first international evening was held on Friday, 23 June, while the Kuskika took place yesterday.
The second international evening will be held tomorrow, 27 June, and entrance will be N$220 per person. The buffet evenings will take place on Wednesday, 28 June, and Friday, 30 June, with N$220 entrance each.
The carnival will conclude with a street procession on Saturday, 1 July. Attendees will start from M+Z Motors and walk towards the SFC sports hall in the coastal town. Entrance will be N$50 per person, but children aged 12 and younger will get in free of charge.
“I am very much looking forward to having a good time as the carnival takes its course. We all look forward to this time of the year as carnival is about having fun, enjoying yourself and forgetting about the sorrows of the day,” Von Wietersheim said.