Access static variable from static method
Use @classmethod instead of @staticmethod. Found it just after writing the question.
In many languages (C++, Java etc.) "static" and "class" methods are synonyms. Not in Python.
def get_msg(): return "hello " + Messenger.nameYou can't use self.name because self is not defined. self is a naming convention for the first parameter of non-static or non-classmethod methods. It points to the object on which you called the method. Since your method is static, you don't need an object to call it on.