PM officially opens Olufuko festival Niël Terblanché Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare officially opened the 2025 Olufuko Annual Cultural Festival on Friday, pledging that the government will revitalise, preserve, and promote indigenous knowledge systems across Namibia. Speaking at the event in Outapi, Ngurare said Article 19 of the Constitution obliges the state to protect culture, and that commitment is now being reflected in national policy. “Through the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, and the National Heritage Council, we are documenting languages, guarding heritage sites, and empowering traditional leaders,” he said. Ngurare urged those in attendance to continue championing Namibian culture.  “Let Olufuko stand as a symbol of this dedication, a celebration of tradition, a platform for empowering women, and a reaffirmation of our identity,” he said. This year’s festival saw 138 girls take part in the initiation rites, the highest number since the event was revived in 2012.  The girls arrived early last week to learn traditional etiquette, food preparation, and social responsibilities before Friday’s formal blessing by spiritual custodians. Residents of Outapi lined the streets as the young woman, dressed in copper-colored skirts and adorned with shells, processed into the fenced homestead. Ngurare paid tribute to founding president Sam Nujoma, the festival’s late patron, with a moment of silence.  “A nation without culture is like a tree without roots,” he said, quoting Nujoma and noting that the phrase has guided the festival since its beginning. He called on organisers to preserve Olufuko as a national treasure and a space where generations connect.  He also said the government’s vision extends beyond annual ceremonies. The school curriculum is being revised to include indigenous history and oral literature with the same depth as subjects like algebra.  He added that the arts industry would receive new grant funding to support livelihoods in music, craft, and design. “Customary practices will also be tested in the courts to ensure they are safeguarded within constitutional limits and never distorted for personal gain,” Ngurare said. Festival chairperson Selma Asino-Shaumbwako said the record turnout justified the local authorities’ decision to expand dormitories and utilities at the Olufuko Centre last year. The Outapi Town Council estimated that the festival could inject up to N$8 million into the Omusati regional economy through stall rentals, accommodation, and transport bookings. “Tradition meets transformation here. We honour the past, but we also equip our daughters for the future,” Ngurare said. He emphasised the government’s duty to pass this heritage on to future generations. “Without it, we would lose the very root of our nationhood,” he said.

#OlufukoFestival #NamibiaCulture #CulturalHeritage #EmpowerWomen #TraditionalLeadership

Prime Minister Ngurare affirms Olufuko as a blue print in preserving culture and tradition Prime Minister Ngurare affirms Olufuko as a blue print in preserving culture and tradition NBC Online Sat, 06/28/2025 - 18:15

#CulturePreservation #Tradition #OlufukoFestival #CulturalHeritage #PrimeMinister

Olufuko Festival attracts 134 girls Olufuko Festival attracts 134 girls NBC Online Wed, 06/25/2025 - 14:25

#OlufukoFestival #CulturalHeritage #Namibia #GirlsEmpowerment #CulturalCelebration

Over 120 girls register for Olufuko A total of 124 girls from different traditional areas have already signed up to take part in this year’s Olufuko Festival. Outapi Town Council spokesperson Joolokeni Haidula said in an interview on Thursday these young women are set to arrive at the Olufuko Centre at Outapi by 22 June, marking the commencement of their journey into womanhood. Haidula said the Olufuko Festival is a traditional Aawambo female initiation ceremony and cultural celebration that plays a crucial role in preparing young girls for adulthood. She indicated that participants aged between 12 and 20 undergo a rite of passage where they are taught about traditional responsibilities, domestic duties, and cultural norms. “The festival aims to instil a strong sense of cultural identity and promote responsible citizenship among the youth,” she said. She added that the event serves as a vital platform for intergenerational knowledge transfer and the preservation of Namibia’s rich cultural heritage. “We are getting ready to welcome all the participants for what promises to be another memorable and culturally rich festival; an extraordinary celebration of unity and identity,” she added. The festival is set to take place from 20 June to 1 July at the Olufuko Centre at Outapi. Prime minister Elijah Ngurare is expected to officiate the event. The post Over 120 girls register for Olufuko appeared first on The Namibian.

#OlufukoFestival #CulturalIdentity #YouthEmpowerment #InitiationCeremony #AawamboCulture

Nujoma Foundation commits to Olufuko festival continuity Allexer Namundjebo  The Sam Nujoma Foundation has confirmed its support for the annual Olufuko Cultural Festival, pledging to continue the legacy of its late patron, founding president Dr Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma.  At a fundraising gala dinner for the festival’s 11th edition on Saturday, the Foundation’s deputy chairperson, Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, said the Foundation will keep backing the cultural heritage and values promoted by the late president.  “This year’s edition marks the first Olufuko Festival held without its most ardent patron, but the Foundation will steadfastly support the cultural objectives he tirelessly advocated,” Iivula-Ithana said. She highlighted Dr Nujoma’s belief that cultural identity forms the roots of national development and unity.  “He often said a nation without culture is like a tree without roots.”  She also acknowledged his long-term support for traditional leaders and cultural institutions.  The Foundation contributed N$2,000 toward this year’s event, which is held annually in Outapi, Omusati Region.  Though a non-profit, the Foundation will keep mobilising resources and public support for initiatives that preserve Namibia’s cultural heritage. Iivula-Ithana addressed the role of culture in tackling social issues like gender-based violence, urging communities to teach traditional values to the youth.  She stressed the importance of education, especially for young girls who take part in the Olufuko initiation process.  Olufuko is a traditional Aawambo female initiation ceremony and cultural festival held yearly in Outapi.  The word “Olufuko” means “wedding” in Oshiwambo and represents a rite of passage for girls, usually aged between 12 and 20, into womanhood. During the festival, participants called efundula girls learn about traditional responsibilities, womanhood, and domestic duties, along with modern topics such as reproductive health and HIV/AIDS awareness.  Although it is rooted in precolonial customs, the festival today celebrates cultural identity and education, allowing girls to return to school after their initiation.  The festival was revived and officially launched as a public event in August 2012, with its first ceremony held on August 23, 2012.  The late Nujoma played a key role in the revival and remained a strong patron of the festival as an important part of Namibia’s heritage. Since the launch, Olufuko has initiated an estimated 800 to 900 girls.  Participation has grown from 17 girls in the first year to 78 in 2017, 69 in 2019, and 85 in 2024.  Although “Olufuko” means “wedding”, the festival is strictly a cultural rite of passage, not a marriage ceremony. 

#OlufukoFestival #CulturalHeritage #SamNujoma #Namibia #CulturalIdentity