Olufuko must be embraced like homosexuality, says omusati governor

Omusati governor Erginus Endjala says it is a shame that Africans condemn traditions such as the Olufuko Cultural Festival while accepting “foreign lifestyles” such as homosexuality.

He says the annual festival is not a pagan event, as some have labelled it, and must be accepted similar to same-sex relationships.

The Olufuko Cultural Festival is held annually to initiate young girls into womanhood and prepare them for marriage.

This year saw 138 young girls gathering at Outapi on Friday – the highest number since the festival’s inception in 2012.
Endjala at the event said this tradition is passed down from generation to generation.

“This ceremony poses no harm to our girls or our nation. It is a celebration of unity, cultivating identity and cultural pride.

“To our future brides, as you stand in your attire, I want to repeat that Olufuko is not paganist.

It is not something to be ashamed of,” he said.
Endjala’s remarks were in response to some critics labelling the festival as a ritual to exhibit women as sex objects.

He said it is a shame that Africans are quick to condemn their own culture and accept foreign cultures.
Those labelling Olufuko as paganist are the same people calling for same-sex recognition, he said.

“As Africans we must shy away from these practices and embrace what belongs to us. I say that without fear or controversy.”
Endjala said Olufuko shapes young girls into responsible, confident women.

It is an Aawambo tradition where girls – often as young as 12 – are prepared for womanhood, including marriage, pregnancy, and caring for families.

The governor said participating in Olufuko does not stop them from going to school and chasing their dreams, as education remains their right.

Olufuko is simply there to support them and teach them who they are, where they came from, and to have self-respect.
“You are not being held back.

You are being prepared. You are being reminded of your roots, your value and your potential,” Endjala said.

He said the event teaches young girls skills, cultural values, good manners and the qualities necessary for becoming responsible citizens, mothers and community leaders.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex and other (LGBTQI+) activist Nicodemus Auxumub, also known as Mama Afrika, yesterday said culture must be separated from human rights and LGBTQI+ issues.

Mama Afrika said the Olufuko Culturalo Festival has been a cultural practice for many years and should be treated as such.

“I do not have any issues with Olufuko, but culture and human rights must not be mixed. The governor should not compare the festival with LGBTQI+ issues, because it is deeper, more spiritual. It’s a condition we are born with, hence it cannot be compared,” Mama Afrika said.

Prime minister Elijah Ngurare on Friday said Olufuko is a national treasure, a sacred space where generations connect and where tradition meets transformation.

Echoing the words of founding president and Olufuko patron Sam Nujoma, he said “a nation without culture is like a tree without roots”.

Ngurare reaffirmed the government’s dedication to revitalising, preserving, and advancing indigenous knowledge systems through key institutions such as the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, and the National Heritage Council.

In addition, he said there is a strong commitment to integrating cultural education into the national curriculum, promoting livelihoods in the arts, and ensuring that customary practices are protected under the Namibian Constitution.

Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa during the festival said without culture a person has no identity.

She said people should accept their cultural heritage and carry it with pride.

Nujoma’s wish has always been that the Olufuko Cultural Festival must continue, she said.

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