23/12/2025
International Khoikhoi Languages Week 2025
The intention of International Khoikhoi Languages Week is for us to celebrate and acknowledge who we are as Khoikhoi people — the first and longest-standing peoples of this land.
This week was a space for recognising our rights as First Nation Khoikhoi people, and for affirming our history, our languages, our culture, our heritage, and our continued existence in a country, and a world, that has too often tried to erase or forget us.
We created this space to speak back to our own story.
To remember ourselves.
To reclaim what was silenced.
To remind one another — and the world — that we are still here.
Our languages live in our bodies.
Our culture lives in our memory and practice.
Our identity lives in how we show up, together.
We gather every year from 1 to 7 December, and we invite you to continue walking with us in this annual celebration.
In 2026, we will proudly mark our 5th Annual International Khoikhoi Languages Week, and we invite you to be part of our collective journey forward.
This is our voice.
This is our history.
This is us — Khoikhoi.
This year’s International Khoikhoi Languages Week was made possible through the support of our sponsors and partners:
Pereira and Amaza Fishing, Assitej South Africa, the Social Employment Fund, Northern Cape Arts and Culture Council, Richtersveld Municipality, Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, Lower Orange River Diamonds, and Richtersveldt Secure.
Photos by Voetpaaie met Chalwyn
