WINDHOEK, June 5 (Xinhua) -- At Okongo village in northern Namibia, an ox took centre stage in an open exhibition surrounded by a crowd of onlookers at the Omaludi Festival. Standing behind those people, Tate Shipila, who fed the ox, was praising it with a sense of pride.

Shipila was one of the over 30 farmers who showcased their best cattle breeds at the festival held last week in the Ohangwena region.

"I remember when this ox was just a calf, and today it is my best. Here I describe the six-year-old ox based on its character and lineage. The praise is a tradition practiced by local farmers," he said.

Omaludi Festival, initiated in 2018, is pushing forth the preservation of the ancient tradition in Namibia. During the festival the Aawambo, a majority ethnic tribe in Namibia, parades their livestock and determine which cattle is the winner.

According to Usko Nghaamwa, a local leader, the tradition was slowly vanishing, and the festival presents an opportunity to revive this old traditional practice.

The event of this year, held under the theme "Dream Agriculture and Think Tourism," is expected to change the life of farmers for the better by facilitating the trade and attracting tourists to attend this traditional activity. Statistics show that over 70 percent of Namibians depend on agriculture for food security and employment.

Calle Schlettwein, minister of agriculture, water and land reform, said the festival brings farmers a chance to access Namibia's local agricultural supply chain.

"The Omaludi Festival is what one wants to see as an outcome of agricultural activities beyond farming, and it is also a social event that involves entertainment and trading," Schlettwein said.

"I earned about 20,000 Namibian dollars (about U.S. 1,025 dollars) after I traded two heifers," said John Nekoto, another farmer who attended the festival, which attracted more than 2,500 people.

"I also sought to cement the business idea to run a cultural village here and tap into opportunities in the tourism sector," Nekoto said. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)