...we are a member of the German Choral Association 

About Us

The Swakopmund Men’s Chorus of 1902 (SMGV) is one of Namibia’s oldest and most time-honored choirs. For more than 120 years, we have been united by the joy of singing together and a passion for keeping musical traditions alive.

Our roots lie in preserving the German song tradition. At the same time, we have continued to evolve over the years and remain open to the cultural diversity and song traditions of our country.

Today, our repertoire includes not only German folk and choral songs but also music in Afrikaans, English, Oshivambo, Damara, Nama, and Herero, among others. Through this, we aim to honor Namibia’s diverse cultures and demonstrate that music brings people together—regardless of language or background.

Our club’s history is marked by continuity. Despite wars, political changes, and social upheavals, the SMGV has remained active to this day—with the exception of a hiatus between 1937 and 1952. This makes us the only men’s choir from the era of former South West Africa that has continued to exist uninterrupted in Namibia to this day.

Our varied concert evenings, where music and entertainment go hand in hand, are especially popular. With creative themes such as “A Wild West Evening at Tom Dooley’s Saloon, ” “Berlin Is Still Berlin, ” “A Cruise Through the Mediterranean,” or “Vienna, Women, and Song,” we consistently delight our audience with a successful blend of choral singing, humorous skits, and instrumental performances.

A special highlight in our association’s history was the trip through Germany to mark our 100th anniversary in 2002. It served as a reminder of our roots and, at the same time, strengthened the friendly ties between Namibia and Germany.

Even offstage, we are deeply passionate about our choir’s community life. Our newsletter , “Die Seeschwalbe,” is published several times a year and keeps members and friends of the choir in Namibia and around the world informed about current events, concerts, and our choir’s community life.

For generations, we have been guided by the motto of our longtime conductor, Hans Müller, which continues to shape our identity to this day:

“Wherever there’s singing, feel free to settle down—evil people have no songs.”