Omaongo Festival: Honouring Heritage, Embracing Unity

Each year, the northern part of Namibia comes alive with a vibrant celebration that unites the eight Aawambo communities and offers a chance to savour omaongo, a traditional drink made from the marula fruit.

Omaongo is a traditional beverage from the northern areas where the Marula tree is abundant. The variations in Oshiwambo dialects lead to the spelling of the term as omaango, omaongo, and omagongo. The production process involves fermenting the juice extracted from the marula fruits in specially designed clay containers for a duration of three days.

The recent festival took place at the Omedhi palace in the Ohangwena region, hosted by Queen Martha Nelumbu of the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority. The festival’s theme centred around ‘The Preservation of Cultural Heritage and the Enhancement of Unity Among the Community’. The festival showcased vibrant shades of reds, blacks, and striking animal prints. The women exhibited odhelela dresses and skirts, each featuring unique designs that captivated onlookers. Some embraced modernised designs, while the older generation remained loyal to the traditional versions. Some women donned leather aprons embellished with large circular white shells called omba, while the men wore traditional shirts featuring a diverse array of styles.

As the festival approaches, the men get busy crafting wooden goblets and small serving gourds, while also fashioning tools from cattle horns to expertly pierce the fruit. In the meantime, women are responsible for crafting the baskets and clay pots essential for processing omaongo. With help from the young, they gather the ripe fruit and begin the two-to-seven-day process of extracting and fermenting the juice in clay pots.

During the process, the women have conversations about various topics affecting their livelihoods, including family problems. They also engage in traditional singing, poetry reading, and the imparting of basketry and pottery making knowledge. Processing marula fruits is a group activity that ties the young and the elderly generations together over a common experience. Passed down informally by observation, active participation, and emulation, this custom promotes the sharing of knowledge and cultural preservation.

In attendance of was president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and several dignitaries who joined her for the occasion. She was introduced by prime minister Elijah Ngurare in Oshiwambo, which conveyed a sense of acknowledgement and respect for the community.

The president took to the podium to deliver her keynote address, expressing her gratitude for celebrating events that continue to enrich the culture and preserve the heritage of the Aawambo people. Furthermore, she addressed the pressing issues currently affecting Namibia, including cases of gender-based violence. She urged the community to assist in identifying the perpetrators, emphasising the importance of collective efforts to foster better citizens in Namibia. The president also paid tribute to former president Sam Nujoma, the visionary behind the yearly celebration and its esteemed patron.

With all the formalities completed, the festivities were set to commence, and the omaongo could finally be enjoyed. Community members gathered to enjoy a variety of food that had been prepared, while large drums of marula were brought into the tents for all to indulge in.

The atmosphere was charged with jubilation and joy as attendees danced and celebrated together.

In the coming year, the Uukwambi and Uukwaluudhi traditional authorities will take the lead in hosting the festivities on two distinct occasions.

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