Georgia’s Newest Diplomat Is an African Honorary Consul in Albany

The southern African nation of Namibia has named a new honorary consul in Georgia who is eschewing the urban bustle of metro Atlanta in favor of a slower pace — and less-crowded field — in Albany, Ga.  

Otto von Feigenblatt, an academic who studies international development and conflict resolution, has been appointed to represent the country’s interests throughout the state, making Namibia the latest of 70-plus countries with diplomatic representation here.  

The arrangement is unconventional: Though he lives in the majority of the time in Florida, Dr. Von Feigenblatt set up the consulate in Albany after having visited the city on a research trip. It’s the first consulate in the southwest Georgia city and one of the few outside of metro Atlanta.  

“I found it interesting that there were no other consulates in Albany,” he said, noting that this would allow him to be a sort of unofficial liaison between the consular corps and the city, bringing international speakers and lining up globally focused events where possible to enrich local life and create exchange opportunities.  

Albany also presented an interesting case study for an academic versed in international development and conflict resolution, given its location in a state where an urban-rural divide seems to be ever-widening. The city also had a role in the civil rights movement, which Dr. Von Feigenblatt said would resonate with Namibia. The country achieved independence in 1990 after suffering racial apartheid under South African administration. More than a century after it was first colonized by Germany, Namibia has transitioned into a multi-ethnic but majority-Black democracy, like its neighbor to the south.  

Namibia boasts vast, diverse landscapes including two deserts — the Namib, a rare coastal desert known for its rust-colored dunes, and the Kalahari. In normal years, the country relies in part on tourism to drive its economy. With just 2.5 million people in a land area the size of Turkey, it’s known for high-end safari trips.

But Dr. Von Feigenblatt said the economy offers other opportunities, from diamond mining to industrial agriculture, and a growing middle class that would benefit from services and American brands, including franchise concepts. He aims to facilitate stronger business connections, an ambition that Namibian ambassadors have promoted during multiple visits to the state.  

“That is my passion — to see a country grow, and see what I can do, even if it’s something small, to help out,” Dr. Von Feigenblatt said, adding that he sees it as part of consulates’ mission to bring cultural activities to places that are far away from Washington D.C.  

“It’s a connection to a wider world,” he said, floating the idea of creating monthly meetings on the intersection between civil society and the world in Albany.  

Sylvester Muchila, first secretary at the Namibian embassy, told Global Atlanta that the country takes an all-hands-on-deck approach to covering the U.S., where it has appointed 13 honorary consuls so far and would welcome others in the South.

“Sometimes we headhunt candidates, but sometimes we work with those who approach the embassy,” he said of honorary consuls. “We would like to have as many as possible — the more the better. Then we don’t have to stretch ourselves to try and cover as many states as we can.”  

He noted that the embassy vets the applicants to see if they fit the main criteria: a sizable business network and a willingness to help drive investment and trade.  

“That’s their key objective: To market the country, to promote the investment opportunities that are in Namibia to as many contacts as they have,” said Mr. Muchila, who said Mr. Von Feigenblatt has been in contact with the embassy for more than a decade.  

Dr. Von Feigenblatt maintains an international development consultancy and teaches at universities abroad. Born in Costa Rica to a family that he says left Germany around World War I, he has embraced the accoutrements of diplomacy, boasting membership in various royal academies and orders in Spain. He also served in an unofficial capacity as representing Kosovo.  

Dr. Von Feigenblatt’s educational pedigree includes undergraduate degrees in Japan and Thailand as well as a Ph.D. and Doctorate of Education from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.  

Nico Wijnberg, Georgia’s chief of protocol and director of international relations, said the state was excited to welcome Dr. Von Feigenblatt to the consular corps and congratulated Albany on its first-ever consulate.  

“The consular corps is the backbone of Georgia’s thriving international community, and many countries choose to locate here in part due to our central location in the Southeastern U.S. Today, 70 countries have some kind of representation in our state, and we are delighted to include the Republic of Namibia in that growing list.” 

Dr. Von Feigenblatt is not the first honorary consul of Namibia here. In 2013, attorney Alan Gorman was named to the post. His term lapsed and was not renewed.  

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Contact  Dr. Von Feigenblatt at vonfeigenblatt@hotmail.com or by phone at (229) 638-1182, or learn more him at www.vonfeigenblatt.com. 

Learn more about Namibia via its embassy at www.namibiaembassyusa.org.