…President calls for modernisation rooted in culture
Patience Makwele
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has urged young women participating in the Olufuko initiation programme to pursue their education while embracing their cultural heritage, saying Namibia must modernise without losing its cultural identity.
The President’s message was delivered on her behalf by minister of education, innovation, youth, sport, arts and culture Sanet Steenkamp during the official opening of the 15th Olufuko Annual Cultural Festival in Outapi on Friday.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said participation in Olufuko should not bring a young woman’s education to an end, urging the initiates to complete their studies and pursue their ambitions.
“There is nothing that prevents any of our young women from becoming entrepreneurs, professionals, academics, innovators and leaders,” Steenkamp said.
According to Steenkamp, 121 young women participated in this year’s initiation programme, with 26 having returned to holiday school while 95 remained at the festival.
She emphasised that culture and education should not be viewed as competing priorities.
“Culture and education are intertwined,” she said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia’s pursuit of modern cities, technological advancement and participation in the global economy should go hand in hand with preserving its history, languages, customs and indigenous knowledge.
“We can be modern without becoming culturally rootless,” Steenkamp said.
She said Namibia should prepare its young people for the industries of tomorrow while ensuring they remain “proudly rooted in who we are”.
Also speaking at the opening, Ombalantu Chief Oswin Mukulu stressed that participating in Olufuko should not be interpreted as preparation for marriage, but as a cultural transition into adulthood.
“It is not marriage, but a step taken to uphold the culture,” Mukulu said.
He encouraged the young women to continue with their education after completing the initiation programme, reinforcing the message that cultural participation should complement rather than replace schooling.
Olufuko has increasingly developed beyond an initiation programme into a platform for tourism, enterprise, education and cultural exchange.
The festival, which began on 24 August, has attracted 165 exhibitors, including small and medium enterprises, government institutions, financial institutions, artists, artisans and cultural practitioners.
Outapi mayor Victorina Neingo said the festival was creating economic opportunities for the town and surrounding communities.
She said visitors to the festival support accommodation establishments, restaurants, transport operators and other local businesses.
“This is why we must continue to develop Olufuko, not only to celebrate our culture, but also as an opportunity for our community to grow,” Neingo said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said cultural festivals such as Olufuko could contribute to development by creating opportunities for tourism, artists, artisans, farmers and entrepreneurs.
She encouraged communities to document their histories, languages, customs and indigenous knowledge using modern technology.
“What we fail to transmit today may be impossible to recover tomorrow,” she said.
The President also linked cultural preservation to national identity, saying Namibia’s diversity should strengthen rather than divide the country.
She cited Article 19 of the Namibian Constitution, which recognises the right to enjoy, practise, profess, maintain and promote culture, language and traditions.
However, she cautioned that cultural practices must uphold human dignity, safety and wellbeing.
“Tradition is strongest when it protects, teaches and builds the next generation,” she said.
The festival also provided a platform for cultural exchange between Namibia and Nigeria, with a delegation from Nigeria’s Plateau State attending the official opening.
Plateau State executive governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang described the visit as a demonstration of African unity and shared cultural heritage.
He said Plateau State, which is home to about 56 ethnic groups, draws strength from its cultural diversity and expressed interest in strengthening cultural ties with Namibia.
The delegation encouraged Namibia to position Olufuko more prominently on the international tourism map and indicated that future editions could bring representatives from more African countries, including Ghana and Senegal.
As part of the visit, the Nigerian delegation toured sites linked to agriculture, education and tourism, including the Etunda Irrigation Scheme, Ogongo Agricultural College, Olushandja, Ruacana and the Baobab Tree Heritage Site.
Meanwhile, the Sam Nujoma Foundation used the occasion to reinforce the late founding president’s emphasis on cultural identity and education.
Foundation representative Kashindi Ausiku, delivering remarks on behalf of its chairperson and former prime minister Nahas Angula, congratulated the initiates for embracing their culture.
Ausiku said the festival, revived in 2012 with 17 young girls, had continued to grow despite resistance to indigenous cultural practices.
He stressed that Olufuko is a rite of passage into womanhood and not preparation for marriage.
“Marriage will come after you are finished with your studies,” Ausiku told the initiates.
He urged young people to take education seriously and pursue careers in emerging fields, including artificial intelligence, renewable energy, data science, agriculture and drone technology.
Ausiku also called on young men to prepare themselves to become responsible future husbands and fathers and to reject gender-based violence.
The ceremony further recognised 16-year-old Cornelius Tulotokela Shimwaafeni, who was brought forward with his family during the event.
Cornelius gained national attention after saving nine-month-old twins and was subsequently recognised for his bravery.
Ausiku cited the teenager as an example of the importance of responsible upbringing and strong families.
Steenkamp said the responsibility for preserving culture rests not only with traditional authorities but also with parents, guardians, communities and young people.
She urged young Namibians to use technology to record and preserve knowledge passed down by elders while pursuing the opportunities presented by a modern economy.
“Namibia can participate fully in the world without surrendering what makes us Namibians,” she said.
Steenkamp officially declared the 2026 Olufuko Annual Cultural Festival open, calling on young people to carry forward the best of Namibia’s heritage with “confidence, knowledge and pride”.
