Damaras warn against stopping festival

PART of the !Oe-#Gan Damara community of Okambahe (/A-#Gomes) yesterday warned that ‘any negative consequences’ following attempts to obstruct the Damara Gaob Festival, that is held in Okambahe annually, ‘will lie squarely on the shoulders of the Government’.

A large group of !Oe-#Gan Damaras marched peacefully to the office of their traditional leader, Chief Immanuel /Gâseb, to hand over a petition addressed to the Minister of Regional and Local Government, Jerry Ekandjo.The demonstration follows an NBC radio announcement last week by !Oe-#Gan representative Gruzi #Goseb, who said the festival could not take place unless permission is given by /Gâseb, since Okambahe was in his district.#Goseb said this was according to the Traditional Authorities Act of 2000, which states that no person or group or leader may plan traditional cultural activities in another group’s area./Gâseb is also the Chairman of the Chief’s Council, which is recognised by Government as the authority of the Damaras and not the King’s Council of Justus //Garoëb, who is considered by the Damaras as the true Gaob (King).’This is not a matter of one group of Damaras wanting to have a festival in another group’s territory. The Gaob Festival is held at Okombahe every year and it involves all the Damaras. The Okombahe stadium was built by the Damaras for the Damaras – not just the !Oe-#Gan,’ concerned member Abed Ganaseb told The Namibian.The petition stated that even /Gâseb’s own group of Damaras did not consider the festival as a contravention of the law.’To the contrary. The Damaras under the able visionary leadership of King Justus //Garoëb and his King’s Council held for the past 33 years annual cultural festivals at Okambahe, which was also attended by governmental dignitaries,’ according to the petition.’We petition the minister to intervene personally without any delay to enable us to proceed with arrangement [for the Gaob festival, scheduled for next weekend],’ the petition read. According to the petition Gâseb referred to himself as the ‘Gaob’ in a letter addressed to the Daurus Constituency Councillor, Apius !Auchab, in which resolution concerning the festival was stipulated – before the radio announcement was made.’By adopting himself with the Gaob, he undoubtedly pledges treason…,’ the petition stated.The petition accused /Gâseb of ‘zealously trying to come in through the back door to a tribe he has abandoned’ since 2002 when his office was terminated by the People’s Assembly of the Damaras.’As for the alleged jurisdiction of Okombahe, we say that in accordance with the supreme customary law, the Damara King’s Council has precedence of power over all the units, including the !Oe-#Gan, which is but one of the 24 tribes which make the whole,’ the petition read.