Nedbank awards kapana champions

TRIPHANIA Hamunyela, a kapana vendor from Ondangwa, is the 2016 Nedbank Kapana Cook-Off champion. She walked away with a cash prize of N$15 000.

Hamunyela was chosen the overall winner out of nine other contestants, who battled it out at the Kapana Cook-Off final round that took place on Saturday at the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair. The 2nd-place winner was Phillips Haihambo, who won a cash prize of N$10 000. Tulongeni Gabriel was the 3rd-place winner, who became N$5 000 richer.

This is the second time that Nedbank Namibia is hosting the kapana cook-off competition.

An ecstatic Hamunyela could not contain her excitement at winning the competition, relating that she put a lot of effort into preparing for winning the title.

“I was inspired to do my utmost best to win this competition from the very first round that was held here at Ondangwa back in June. Back then, I told myself that I needed to prepare myself to outperform the competition at the final round, where I just emerged the winner. I knew that presentation would be everything, and I came prepared to set myself apart from the competition,” she beamed.

Hamunyela operates and manages her own kapana business at Ondangwa, and said she will use her winnings to expand her business.

The head of Nedbank’s marketing and communications department, Gernot de Klerk, said the kapana cook-off competition aims to recognise, appreciate and promote micro-businesses within the economy.

“Kapana vendors symbolise something great about our nation in that they show us that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well, along with the drive to make things happen, regardless of circumstances. We at Nedbank respect and admire these characteristics in our Namibian entrepreneurs. We hope the kapana cook-off will in its own way help to inspire our fellow Namibians to celebrate the spirit of togetherness,” he noted.

At the introduction of the kapana cook-off competition last year, the attendees heard many different interpretations of what kapana actually means, and what the essence of the word conveys. There was one constant, and that is: “ Kapana is the embodiment of the Namibian spirit. It is both naturally and uniquely proudly Namibian.”

“Coming together around a fire and grilling meat over the coals is part of the fabric of Namibian life. It is the one thing we all have in common,” De Klerk said.

The judging for the competition was done by the Namibia Chefs Association, while Meatco provided the meat used by the finalists.

“As Nedbank, we believe celebrating and promoting kapana is to celebrate and promote the unique way in which we as Namibians have embraced this culture. It is also our way of promoting unity in our diverse nation,” added De Klerk.