Damara Gaob Festival will take place

THE chairman of the committee organising the annual Damara Gaob Festival, Elifas //Khoaseb, insists that the festival will take place on November 10 and 11.

Rumours have been circulating on radio call-in programmes that the festival has been cancelled. “Nothing has changed in our schedule.We condemn these negative and destructive comments made by elements who undermine Damara unity in Namibia,” //Khoaseb told The Namibian.”We will have our festival, and it is still at Okombahe in the Daures Constituency.”//Khoaseb said this year’s theme is ‘Damara Unity’, and what will make this occasion even more special is that it will involve the restructuring of the Damara King’s Council, of which Justus //Garoëb has been the head since 1993.”King //Garoëb will remain the Damara’s king, but there are several positions in the King’s Council that need to be filled.We will do this at the Gaob Festival,” he said.He said the same people who are spreading bad publicity about the festival are also calling for a new king to take the place of //Garoëb.He said the Damara people condemned these aspirations, which he called a “political issue”.The two-day festival will be a time where all the deceased leaders of the Damaras will be remembered.It also aims at raising awareness of Damara traditions among the younger generation and cultural performances will be the order of the day.More than 2 000 people are expected to attend the festivities.//Khoaseb invited groups wanting to perform at the festival to contact him at 081 201 1160; or the Secretary of the organising committee, Dorda Shikongo, at 081 233 0918.”Nothing has changed in our schedule.We condemn these negative and destructive comments made by elements who undermine Damara unity in Namibia,” //Khoaseb told The Namibian.”We will have our festival, and it is still at Okombahe in the Daures Constituency.”//Khoaseb said this year’s theme is ‘Damara Unity’, and what will make this occasion even more special is that it will involve the restructuring of the Damara King’s Council, of which Justus //Garoëb has been the head since 1993.”King //Garoëb will remain the Damara’s king, but there are several positions in the King’s Council that need to be filled.We will do this at the Gaob Festival,” he said.He said the same people who are spreading bad publicity about the festival are also calling for a new king to take the place of //Garoëb.He said the Damara people condemned these aspirations, which he called a “political issue”.The two-day festival will be a time where all the deceased leaders of the Damaras will be remembered.It also aims at raising awareness of Damara traditions among the younger generation and cultural performances will be the order of the day.More than 2 000 people are expected to attend the festivities.//Khoaseb invited groups wanting to perform at the festival to contact him at 081 201 1160; or the Secretary of the organising committee, Dorda Shikongo, at 081 233 0918.