Mbumba officially opens Olufuko festival

OUTAPI, 29 AUG – Vice-President (VP) Nangolo Mbumba officially opened the Olufuko festival in Outapi in the Omusati Region on Tuesday, in the presence of Founding President Sam Nujoma, who is its patron.

“This grand cultural festival is aimed at showcasing, informing, celebrating and educating the nation about Olufuko rite of passage and other norms and practices of the Ambalantu people,” Mbumba stated while delivering his official opening address.

Mbumba said the last Olufuko was held over 80 years ago before its reintroduction by the Omusati Regional Council in conjunction with the Outapi Town Council and traditional authorities.
The VP took cognizance of so many people criticising Olufuko as promoting child marriages and promiscuous behaviour.

“As I always say, we need to embrace the positives from our cultural heritage, while shunning anti-progress and anti-revolutionary practices,” emphasised Mbumba.
Mbumba believes the harmful and ancient cultural practices, such as the traditional marrying of underage girls, are not part of Olufuko’s aims, objectives and modus operandi.

He then encouraged Namibians, as responsible citizens, to report to the Police, wherever they see these regressive practices, so that action can be taken against the culprits.

Speaking at the same event, Nujoma stressed that the festival continues to grow and to attract a large number of visitors and exhibitors despite the retrogressive efforts of its critics.

The presence of many people from all walks of life at the official opening of Olufuko, Nujoma said, reinforces the organisers’ genuine effort to restore cultural heritage, which was in the past forcibly removed and replaced with European traditions to assimilate indigenous children into western culture.

“Let me make it categorically clear that initiation is not marriage but the rite of passage from childhood into womanhood or adulthood. We are mindful of our young girls, the initiates, who are taking part in this process,” Nujoma cited.

Outapi Town Council is hosting Olufuko for the seventh consecutive year. The festival started on Friday and will end on 4th September. – NAMPA