Farewell, Omukwaniilwa Elifas

THEY came to Onamungundo in the Olukonda constituency of the Oshikoto region last Saturday to bury Ondonga King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas. They came in cars and on foot. They braved the sweltering Onamungundo sun to witness their king’s burial.

Elifas, who died on 26 March at the Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital, had ruled the Aandonga for 44 years. He was 86 when he died.

Affectionately known as omukwaniilwa, Elifas was buried at the Olukonda cemetery in the Oshikoto region.

Among the mourners were chiefs, village heads, politicians as well as ordinary villagers – young and old.

President Hage Geingob and his wife, Monica Geingos; as well as former presidents Sam Nujoma and Hifikepunye Pohamba also graced the occasion. Prime minister Saara Kuungogelwa-Amadhila was the director of ceremonies.

The Ovaherero Traditional Authority’s Ripatururua Tjindjumba from Opuwo; Kilus Nguvauva, who is the chief of the Ovambanderu, and chief Immanuel /Gaseb of the Damara people also came.

/Gaseb also serves as the deputy chairperson of the National Council of Traditional Leaders in Namibia, of which Elifas was chairman.

Elifas was mourned for about three weeks as per tradition – a king cannot be buried immediately after his death.

Traditionally when a king dies, his subjects do not cry. They ululate. But this ululation is not similar to that done at a wedding.

It could be heard as Air Namibia spokesperson Paul Nakawa delivered his tribute and the women would ululate in between.

On average, eight cows were slaughtered per day for the three weeks of mourning. And for the burial weekend, 20 were slaughtered.

Unfortunately for Elifas, the succession battle overshadowed his burial.

One feels this in the atmosphere when visiting the old palace (onkulumbala), where one witnesses the different camps each person has aligned themselves to. Each field prepares its own food, as trust has been broken. A house divided. A troubled kingdom!

ORDINARY BURIAL

Since this was the first time I attended a king’s burial, I imagined something else, big and different, but it turned out that Elifas’ burial was ordinary – no rituals were performed. If there were any, they must have been carried out in private.

So, there was a church choir which entertained the mourners. Ovaherero horse riders from Opuwo accompanied the casket to the cemetery. There were army officers, and a military brass band complemented the ceremony.

The horse riding symbolises two things – a fallen hero, or simply paying respect or honour to anyone who has done a commendable deed.

The horses were brought to Onamungundo by a trailer from Opuwo.

“If someone killed a lion, they would be honoured for defeating the king of the jungle,” major Tjindjumba of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority explained to The Namibian shortly after the exercise.

He said horse riding can never be done at a woman’s funeral.

Also, when Elifas’ death was announced, people at Opuwo started riding their horses already.

“If it’s a community with horses, you will see many of them around. They are well-tamed and trained,” Tjindjumba added.

It was evident, as the horses remained calm even as the Namibian Defence Force fired a six-gun salute to honour Elifas.

“One can shoot while on their back. Communication is key to the horses as they hear the sounds you are telling them, and the signs or movements you show. They will follow,” Tjindjumba noted.

In addition to the horse riding, the group also hoisted three flags – red, white and green. Red stands for Ovaherero, green for Ovambanderu and white for Otjizemba, a group of Hereros residing at Omaruru.

“The flags are hoisted anywhere where there is a funeral. They show unity during difficult times. They are only put up for big events. Commemorations, funerals. You can’t have a party and put them up,” Tjindjumba stressed.

Nakawa would chant: “Omukwaniilwa omo eli? Kemo! (Is the King here?).” Bishop emeritus Kleopas Dumeni did the rite of committal and benediction. People observed a moment of silence as the casket was lowered while the Namibian Defence Force offered a six-gun salute to Elifas.

TRIBUTES

Founding president Sam Nujoma said Elifas was unwavering in his determination to end the rule of the apartheid government in Namibia. He made the remarks while addressing thousands of mourners during a state memorial service held at Onamungundo on Friday.

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