Ombu festival breathes newlife into Namibia’s heritage

The Ombu Heritage Festival, now in its second edition, is fast becoming a cornerstone of cultural preservation and revival in Namibia.

Founded by Vetumbuavi Mungunda, the festival seeks to showcase and safeguard traditional skills, indigenous knowledge and cultural practices at risk of being forgotten.

Mungunda says the festival was born out of a pressing need to preserve Namibia’s traditions while also making them relevant in today’s world.

“It’s important that we not only protect our customs and histories but also breathe new life into them through intergenerational exchange,” he adds.

Among the festival’s unique attractions is the living museum.

Mungunda says the festival actively connects the past with the present by researching and modernising traditional practices.

For example, traditional food-making techniques are studied, reproduced and even commercialised to ensure their sustainability.

“We want to keep these practices alive in ways that are relevant and beneficial today,” Mungunda notes.
Language preservation also plays a central role.

The festival encourages participants to document culture through literature, poetry and storytelling.

Elders, whose knowledge is often undocumented, are brought together to share their wisdom, which is then transcribed and published.

“If we don’t capture this knowledge now, we risk losing it forever,” Mungunda says.

Food, as both heritage and identity, forms another highlight of the event.

Mungunda believes this emphasis on local cuisine is a strategy for self-reliance.

“If we don’t promote and produce our own traditional foods, we’ll continue importing from elsewhere instead of exporting our heritage to the world,” he says.

Children as young as 10 participated in performances and competitions, reflecting the event’s mission to pass traditions onto the next generation.

“It’s about creating a space where our stories, songs, rituals and skills can thrive, even in today’s modern world,” Mungunda says.

He says the festival also carries economic potential by providing a platform for rural artisans and performers and creating vital opportunities for marketing and tourism.

“Namibia’s tourism is too focused on wildlife and landscapes. Cultural tourism is underdeveloped, yet it has enormous potential to uplift rural communities,” Mungunda says.

Looking ahead, he envisions the Ombu Heritage Festival growing into a national prototype that can be replicated across regions and cultural groups.

Mungunda says transport and logistical support remain challenges for rural participants.

“If we want this to grow, we must support those who want to showcase their skills and heritage,” he says.

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