Kapana the ‘okatomeno’ way

IF YOU ask anyone at Okongo where to get roasted juicy kapana, the answer will most likely always be: “Go to okatomeno”.

Literally meaning an abattoir, okatomeno is where cattle are slaughtered and the meat sold in the open.

Sheltered under a large jackal tree on the southern end of the town, this place has become many people’s favourite.

From taxi drivers, casual workers, police officers and other government officials to even the town’s pickpockets, all frequent the place to have a bite.

On approaching the place, the smell of roasting meat greets you. The sight of men and women of different sizes and ages gathered around tables is the first physical encounter. One might mistake this for a get-together, but this is miles from that.

The men and women at okatomeno have all come for the meat – either raw to take home, or already roasted for on-the-spot consumption. Some people prefer to buy their raw meat and roast it themselves at okatomeno.

This group believes they get much more of their money’s worth when they prepare the meat themselves.

One of them is Natangwe Antonio from Okongo, whom The Namibian met on Saturday morning. He said ever since okatomeno came into existence about two years ago, he had never had a meal elsewhere at Okongo town.

“This is where I eat two or three times a day. No KFC, no chips, nothing. This is just what I eat, and that explains why my body is fit,” he stated.

The Namibian observed camaraderie among the patrons at okatomeno as most appeared to know each other. Jokes and news were shared. People mingled, regardless of their social standing. A regional councillor and a senior police officer were among those roasting their own meat.

The okatomeno business venture belongs to enterprising Festus Helao. He buys and slaughters the cattle, and then sells the meat.

Two of his female employees roast pieces of meat for patrons, and sells them for N$20 each. Those who prefer to roast their own meat are free to do so on one of the braai stands.

The spirit of sharing was also dominant. Even those who did not buy meat joined in eating.

At the time that I was speaking to Antonio, he and a friend were busy cutting a piece of meat that they bought for braaing. Other patrons were also preparing their meat for roasting. Some were already eating.

“But can meat alone make a solid meal for a man?” I ask him.

“Look over there,” he points to a woman not far from where we are standing. “She is preparing porridge. She sells scoops of the porridge to people who want to eat it with the meat. She will be done soon,” he tells me.

Stirring a big pot of hot pap was Secilia Nakatumbe. She said her job was to supply the patrons with porridge. “I do not handle the meat. My responsibility is just providing the pap. The other guys sell meat,” she said, adding that they could not all compete to sell meat.

She sells a portion of porridge for N$5, and makes about N$200 from one pot of porridge. On a good day, she cooks three pots, making N$600 in total.

“Like today, they will eat well because it is raining. The rain makes people hungry, that is why you can see all those cars,” she noted while carrying the hot pot of porridge to the tables.

At the tables, people stand as they eat because there are no chairs. “How many chairs can you provide here? The place is always full,” Helao said while cutting chunks of meat for his clients.

That Saturday, the cold morning showers which fell did not deter the okatomeno patrons from making their ‘pilgrimage’ as usual to enjoy their meals.

There are some good places with friendly people to visit in this world. Although I am not a big meat consumer, nor a serious one, okatomeno is a place to visit when one makes a turn at Okongo. You don’t need to buy the meat.