Apology for publication of Blackface & Ku Klux Klan costume photos

Post by Allgemeine Zeitung on its Facebook page from 30 June 2015:

Apology for publication of Blackface & Ku Klux Klan costume photos. Post by the Allgemeine Zeitung in Namibia on its Facebook page. Screenshot: Post on Allgemeine Zeitung’s Facebook Page

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Text in English (see Facebook post; last checked in November 2025):

“The AZ and Namibia Media Holdings would like to apologise unequivocally for the publication of the insensitive & offensive photos in Monday’s edition of the AZ.

We deeply regret this error of judgment and bad journalism.

Read tomorrow’s paper for our printed apology and feel free to direct any further queries you have on the matter via our Inbox on Facebook.”

Editor’s note:

Printed apology was published as an advert that was not to be found on the online edition of the Allgemeine Zeitung.

Blackface & Ku Klux Klan costume photos in the Allgemeine Zeitung’s print edition

Photo of the page in Allgemeine Zeitung’s print edition of Monday, 29 June 2015, containing photos of Blackface & Ku Klux Klan costumes on the Swakopmunder Karneval “Küska” (Küsten Karneval). This photo was posted by a Facebook page visitor in a comment to the Allgemeine Zeitung’s apology on 30 June 2015. Screenshot: Comment on Allgemeine Zeitung’s Facebook Page (last checked in November 2025)

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Caption of the photo showing three Küska participants in blackface make-up:
“They put a lot of effort into their make-up: T[xxx] (disguised as a ghost) and the “employees” of Salz-Gossow: A[xxx], L[xxx] and Z[xxx] (from left to right).”

Original German text of caption:
“Haben sich mit dem Make-up viel Mühe gegeben: [xxx] (als Geist verkleidet) sowie die “Mitarbeiter” von Salz-Gossow: A[xxx], L[xxx] und Z[xxx] (v.l.n.r.).”

Caption of the photo showing three Küska participants in Ku Klux Klan costumes:
“A resourceful costume that needs little description: A[xxx], E[xxx], and T[xxx] (from left to right) took part as the KKK.”

Original German text of caption [taken from a different photo showing the whole text]:
“Ein einfallsreiches Kostüm, das wenig Beschreibung benötigt: A[xxx], E[xxx] und T[xxx] (v.l.n.r.) waren als KKK dabei.”

Statement of the Committee of the Swakopmund Carnival (Küska):

Statement of the Committee of the Swakopmund Carnival (Küska) concerning blackface make-up and Ku Klux Klan costumes of Küska participants on their Facebook page on 30 June 2025. Screenshot: Post Küska – Swakopmunder Karneval (last checked in November 2025)

Text of the statement (see post on Küska’s Facebook page; last checked in November 2025):

“In response to the discussion about photos taken at the Küska Maskenball which were published by the Allgemeine Zeitung the Swakopmund Karneval (Küska) would like to make the following statement:

Küska condemns racist ideas. We believe in a diverse society in which every cultural group can celebrate their heritage. The Masked Ball (Maskenball) is a fancy dress event where everybody is welcome to attend in a fancy dress/costume of their choice.

In hindsight, we acknowledge that certain ways of dressing are not suitable because they are offensive or disrespectful. We made a wrong choice in admitting the groups in question to the event. We would like to sincerely apologize for this lack of judgment on our part.

We want to assure the public at large that we will implement costume guidelines to ensure that similar situations will not occur again. We will furthermore take up the topic with the individuals in question.

Küska is a non-profit organization that generates funds through the various events we host. With these funds we support charitable organizations like old age homes, churches and other social causes.

The Committee of the Swakopmund Carnival (Küska)”

Petition “Call for action KKK / blackface at Swakopmund Karneval

Online petition for a call for action against blackface make-up and Ku Klux Klan costumes of participants of the Küska Maskenball (fancy dress evening), initiated on 30 June 2015. It also calls for action against the publication of photos with approving captions in the Allgemeine Zeitung. Screenshot: Petition page

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Text of the online petition (see petition page; last checked in November 2025):

“if you’ve been on social media lately you’ll have seen the shocking images of youths dressing up in offensive gear for the Swakopmund Carnival (Kuska-Maskenball). A traditionally German festival that happens in Namibia. The youths in question dressed up as members of the Ku Klux Klan and did themselves up in laborers costumes using blackface.

Their get ups got them into the national German newspaper, Allgemeine Zeitung. But not for the reasons you’d expect! They were celebrated. And their outfits called ‘imaginative’.

We have been independent and democratic for 25 years yet we experience this offensive content in our press! We need to act, and fast. We need to stand up and call for an end to this racial insensitivity.

We hereby call for a public apology from the individuals in costume, an explanation from the organizers of the event as to how this was permitted to happen. Lastly it is important to ask that the newspaper in question makes an inquiry into it’s own reaction and lack of critical responce to heinous and damaging behaviour”

Editor’s note:

The petition was signed by 1,035 people and received 482 comments (last checked in November 2025).

• See also article on blackface in the ‘Glossary’ section of this website.