Olufuko remains relevant
Plans are well underway for the construction of a centre for the Olufuko Festival, with the master plan already being completed and fundraising efforts ongoing.
There are currently no permanent structures at the venue where the Olufuko Festival is held annually. Organisers erect tents and other temporary structures during the festival.
Former President Sam Nujoma revealed these plans in a speech read on his behalf during the opening of the fifth Olufuko Festival here on Saturday.
He said a centre should be built in order to strengthen the ties that will make the festival relevant for current and future generations.
Nujoma said the centre will not only help with the promotion and development of arts and culture, but will also create jobs and generate income.
“We have a rich cultural heritage built over a long period of time and we must therefore fight against the erosion of traditions, values and norms. Thus, our rich cultures have to be promoted and preserved as it defines us as people within the global community,” he said.
The former president also recommended that a museum be built within the envisaged Olufuko centre, which will collect and conserve artefacts and other cultural objects of historical importance and make them available for public viewing through exhibitions.
“Some of our cultural values and beliefs seem to be disappearing owing to various factors which include urbanisation, globalisation and acculturation, hence the need to preserve and promote our heritage has become more important in the face of the mentioned factors.”
With regards to the Olufuko Festival, Nujoma said it is a good initiative that should be used as a platform to de-stigmatise the initiation, which has previously been referred to as being a pagan practice.
The festival not only revives and promotes the cultural heritage of local people, but also enables the exchange of views and initiates strategies that will help with the reaching of Namibia’s goals, the Minister of Urban and Rural Development Sophia Shaningwa says.
The festival, which runs from 23 August and ends on Wednesday at the Olufuko Centre, involves the initiation of girls between the age of 15 and 20. It amongst others prepares the young women for marriage by teaching them how to carry out various tasks such as pounding mahangu, preparing traditional beverages and caring for the men in the house.
This process is performed by a woman called Namunganga.
The festival is aimed at informing, educating and entertain people with a view towards appreciating and enhancing traditional and cultural identities. It also creates tourism opportunities; creates awareness within the region through culture, arts and agricultural activities; and strengthens the local and regional economy.
Shaningwa emphasised the importance of the Olufuko Festival, saying that people need to know their heritage in order to be directed to where they are headed.
“Culture also serves as a unifying factor in our society. It is also used to instil much-needed discipline in our society and restore the dignity of our young women,” she said.
Shaningwa, however, said some members of society, including traditional leaders, want to use the Olufuko Festival to promote tribalism.
“I strongly condemn such practices as they are detrimental to nation building and progressive development,” she stated.
This year’s festival has brought together 88 maidens from six different Owambo tribes as well as the Ovahimba and Ovazemba people from the Kunene Region.
Olufuko is an Oshiwambo term for the initiation of girls between the ages of 15 and 20 into adulthood. They are amongst others taught how to pound mahangu and prepare traditional beverages.
NAMPA
There are currently no permanent structures at the venue where the Olufuko Festival is held annually. Organisers erect tents and other temporary structures during the festival.
Former President Sam Nujoma revealed these plans in a speech read on his behalf during the opening of the fifth Olufuko Festival here on Saturday.
He said a centre should be built in order to strengthen the ties that will make the festival relevant for current and future generations.
Nujoma said the centre will not only help with the promotion and development of arts and culture, but will also create jobs and generate income.
“We have a rich cultural heritage built over a long period of time and we must therefore fight against the erosion of traditions, values and norms. Thus, our rich cultures have to be promoted and preserved as it defines us as people within the global community,” he said.
The former president also recommended that a museum be built within the envisaged Olufuko centre, which will collect and conserve artefacts and other cultural objects of historical importance and make them available for public viewing through exhibitions.
“Some of our cultural values and beliefs seem to be disappearing owing to various factors which include urbanisation, globalisation and acculturation, hence the need to preserve and promote our heritage has become more important in the face of the mentioned factors.”
With regards to the Olufuko Festival, Nujoma said it is a good initiative that should be used as a platform to de-stigmatise the initiation, which has previously been referred to as being a pagan practice.
The festival not only revives and promotes the cultural heritage of local people, but also enables the exchange of views and initiates strategies that will help with the reaching of Namibia’s goals, the Minister of Urban and Rural Development Sophia Shaningwa says.
The festival, which runs from 23 August and ends on Wednesday at the Olufuko Centre, involves the initiation of girls between the age of 15 and 20. It amongst others prepares the young women for marriage by teaching them how to carry out various tasks such as pounding mahangu, preparing traditional beverages and caring for the men in the house.
This process is performed by a woman called Namunganga.
The festival is aimed at informing, educating and entertain people with a view towards appreciating and enhancing traditional and cultural identities. It also creates tourism opportunities; creates awareness within the region through culture, arts and agricultural activities; and strengthens the local and regional economy.
Shaningwa emphasised the importance of the Olufuko Festival, saying that people need to know their heritage in order to be directed to where they are headed.
“Culture also serves as a unifying factor in our society. It is also used to instil much-needed discipline in our society and restore the dignity of our young women,” she said.
Shaningwa, however, said some members of society, including traditional leaders, want to use the Olufuko Festival to promote tribalism.
“I strongly condemn such practices as they are detrimental to nation building and progressive development,” she stated.
This year’s festival has brought together 88 maidens from six different Owambo tribes as well as the Ovahimba and Ovazemba people from the Kunene Region.
Olufuko is an Oshiwambo term for the initiation of girls between the ages of 15 and 20 into adulthood. They are amongst others taught how to pound mahangu and prepare traditional beverages.
NAMPA
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article