Nujoma defends Olufuko Cultural Festival

OUTAPI, 29 JULY – Founding President Sam Nujoma says people who think Olufuko is an “uncivilised and satanic” practice do not want to think independently.
He made these remarks at the 2018 Olufuko Cultural Festival gala dinner held at Outapi in the Omusati Region on Saturday.
Nujoma said Olufuko critics still rely on “outdated Western concepts that considered Africans primitive and without cultural values.”
Olufuko is an Aawambo traditional event where girls aged 12 and older are initiated to prepare them for adulthood.
When Christianity was introduced to the Owambo communities, the church banned Olufuko as it was believed to be a pagan practice.

“The way some of our fellow Africans express their views on Olufuko is worrisome as they seem to promote cultural enslavement,” said Nujoma, who is also the patron of the festival.
He said the cultural festival should be acknowledged as “a genuine effort to prevent cultural enslavement” and as a way of decolonising people’s minds.

Many countries in Africa, Nujoma said, celebrate their initiation ceremonies without fear of retribution.
He further stated that many of the misdeeds in Namibia are the result of a disregard for cultural norms and values.

“Our traditional values never allowed us to harm innocent people. We were obliged to respect each other and treat our leaders and elders with utmost respect, be it our biological parents, our neighbours, strangers or traditional and community leaders,” said Nujoma.

A total of N$654 000 was collected in pledges and cash during the gala dinner for the hosting of this year’s Olufuko Cultural Festival from 24 August to 04 September.
Nujoma, on behalf of his family, contributed N$5 000.
This is the seventh year the Outapi Town Council hosts the event.
The council pledged the highest amount of N$250 000 towards the event during the dinner.
NAMPA