Keetmanshoop
Cultural identities and traditional attire were on display as students at the celebration of the campus’ second cultural festival exhibited various traditional foodstuffs and dances.
The Unam southern campus joined the rest of the country’s campuses to celebrate cultural differences under the theme ‘cultural identity in a global village’.
Speaking at the official opening last Thursday, the //Kharas Regional Governor Lucia Basson urged students to embrace traditions and cultures and never to forget who they are and where they come from.
She said the theme for this year is well chosen and quite befitting in the current era, where we speak of the world being a global village, adding that the festival aims to promote and celebrate the university’s rich and diverse cultural heritage and to cultivate a spirit of tolerance.
Basson noted although it’s imperative to acknowledge that the world is a world of diversity; individuals should never forget that they are unique in their own traditions and cultures. “You can be wherever you are in the world, but you should be yourself and proud of that,” she stressed.
Dr Erold Naomab, the campus director, in his short statement thanked the //Kharas community and other regions for participating in the notable event. He congratulated all staff and students at the campus for making the event possible, “allowing us not only to celebrate and share our cultural diversity but also our thriving academic existence.”
SRC vice president Hivirikee Kaurivi said, “When a person identifies with their culture they often embrace traditions that have been passed down for years.” He further explained the importance of this year’s theme of cultural identity relates to the sense of belonging to a certain nationality or ethnicity with a distinct culture.
He said the cultural identity that defines a person’s heritage helps them to identify with others, who have similar traditions and basic belief systems. Various cultural groups entertained guests at the event while a great variety of traditional dishes were on sale.