FISHERIES and marine resources deputy minister Chief Samuel Ankama has called on neighbouring countries to participate in the Oshakati Totem Expo.
“This could provide an important platform for us to relate to one another with more ease,” Ankama said while speaking at the official opening of the 2015 Oshakati Totem Expo at the town on Saturday.
The deputy minister said the expo should be used as a platform to, amongst other things, promote cultural heritage and entrepreneurship.
The expo is aimed at showcasing commercial activities and cultural tourism based on the traditions and cultures (totems) of Namibian clans.
Ankama pointed out that besides offering community participation in cultural promotion and rural development, the expo also encourages cultural appreciation within the community.The objectives of the Oshakati Totem Expo are, amongst others, to educate young people on the cultures of Namibia and promote tourism activities in the surrounding areas.
The deputy minister said the expo makes Namibians realise how most of them are related, irrespective of their ethical cultural background.
Speaking to Nampa on the sidelines of the Expo on Monday, the Oshakati Town Council’s chief executive officer (CEO) Werner Iita said nine of the 14 Namibian regions are represented at the event. These regions are the host Oshana, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshikoto, Erongo, Omaheke, Zambezi, Kavango East and Kavango West.
“Zambezi and Kunene are unable to participate this year because of a trade fair taking place at Opuwo at the same time,” he said.
Expressing satisfaction with the expo’s official opening event on Saturday, Iita said people attended the event in big numbers.
The Oshakati Totem Expo 2015, the fourth of its kind since 2012, has attracted 150 exhibitors compared to the 120 exhibitors that participated in the event last year.
The expo started on Friday with totem (omazimo) groups displaying their floats in the town’s main street.
The expo runs until Saturday.
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