Totem Expo has potential to go international - Iipumbu

Home affairs minister Lucia Iipumbu has called for cultural expos to be broadly supported because they have the potential to grow into international platforms while also supporting local communities. Speaking at the official opening of the 2025 Oshakati Totem Expo on Saturday, Iipumbu said totems play a pivotal role in telling the African story, a narrative that deserves to be shared globally. She also hailed the presence of traditional authorities at the expo and urged them to raise awareness within communities on the importance of cultural expos.“Our traditional authorities, your presence and support are essential. I urge you to inform your communities, especially those in the surrounding areas of Oshakati, about the importance of participating in the Totem Expo,” she said.“Your influence can mobilise villages and households to embrace this event not just as a spectacle but as a celebration of who we are as a people.“We must begin to view the Totem Expo not only as a northern event," she stressed, underlining that it deserves to be recognised nationally."With strategic planning and international partnerships, it has the potential to become an international cultural and trade event. Our totems are part of a much larger African story, and that story deserves to be told on global platforms.”Let your kids knowTotems are natural objects, plants or animals viewed as sacred symbols of a group of people. They hold spiritual significance and often represent a group's identity and ancestral heritage.Iipumbu also urged parents to ensure their children learn about and connect with their totemic heritage.“Let me use this platform to encourage all parents and guardians to allow your children to attend events like the Totem Expo from a young age,” she said."Exposing them early to cultural knowledge, traditional values and economic activities widens their horizons and plants the seeds for both cultural continuity and entrepreneurial thinking," the minister said. The Oshakati Totem Expo, held under the theme ‘Strengthening Ties Through Culture’, commenced last Friday and will conclude on 7 June.Iipumbu praised the Oshakati Town Council for organising the event and encouraged other local authorities to host similar cultural expos.“Events like the Oshakati Totem Expo showcase what this specific town has to offer, from culture and craft to innovation and enterprise,” the minister said. She noted that such initiatives provide young people with opportunities to showcase their talents, promote their businesses and foster valuable networking.“Every local authority in Namibia, whether large or small, should make it a priority to host trade shows and exhibitions,” she said. “This is because these platforms stimulate local economies, empower small businesses, promote tourism and create networking opportunities that can unlock national and even international investment.”kenya@nmh-hub.com.na

Totem Expo has potential to go international - Iipumbu

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-17

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Totem Expo has potential to go international - Iipumbu

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-17

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