Otjikaiva festival launched in Windhoek

OTJIKAIVA is more than a headdress for the Ovaherero people. It’s a symbol of who they are as a people, how far they have come and also represents their most prized possession – the cow.

To preserve the symbolism and heritage of this iconic Namibian headpiece and to educate especially young people on the rich cultural heritage of the OvaHerero people, the first ever Otjikaiva festival will be hosted on 28 April at the Habitat Research and Development Centre in Windhoek.

“We want to celebrate our rich diversity, our culture, our customs and our beliefs. Primarily, we’re looking at otjikaiva,” said Grace Pujatura at the launch of the festival which took place at a Windhoek hotel yesterday.

Alongside three other members of the organising commitee, Pujatura donned otjikaiva with one of them wearing the earliest version of the headpiece for demonstration purposes. “Otjikaiva is a unique styled headdress worn with a Herero dress. It went through an evolution as it’s being showcased here,” she added.

Touching on the recent debate surrounding the modernisation of otjikaiva, Florence Mbahupa Handura from the organising committee told a group of reporters at the festival’s launch that modernisation should be in moderation. “You can’t wear otjikaiva with a shorter dress showing your feet. You also can’t wear otjikaiva with pants, that is not our culture. Otjikaiva is only worn with a long dress with under dresses also and the horns represent our cows,” she said. She also explained why otjikaiva is worn differently by young women and elders, with elders preferring to wear the older version mainly because it’s less labour intensive to tie.

The festival is organised and will be hosted by a consortium comprising a charity organisation titled Ozongama Zomuara, initiated by Meriam Mbapeua Rukoro, the late wife of the paramount chief of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA), Vekuii Rukoro. Koma Trust, Bayocle and YK Enterprises are also partners in bringing the event together.

Leading up to the festival, a fundraising gala for the festival will be held at Airport Lodge on Tuesday, 24 April at 18h30. While funds are being raised to cover the costs of hosting the festival, the organising committee will donate the remaining balance to charities which will be identified in due time.

The Otjikaiva Festival will start at 08h00 and everyone is welcome to attend. For those attending, various activities such as competitions, a special education session on the origin and significance of otjikaiva, a host of food stalls and a general celebration of the rich Ovaherero cultural and traditional practices, customs and food will make up the day. Ovaherero men will also be present and dressed in their opanesa to complement the women.

For more information, contact Mavis Tjombone at 081 838 1872 or Yarukeekuro Steven Ndorokaze at 081 257 9981.