ONGWEDIVA – The Ongwediva campus for the International University of Management launched its third annual cultural festival this week.
The opening ceremony of the six-day festival saw several cultural groups coming together to share customs and traditions, cuisines, stories and traditional dances.
The cultural festival is held annually and this year, it is celebrated under the theme, ‘We Unite Through Consolidated Cultures’.
According to the Ongwediva IUM student representative council chairperson Jesaja Ndunga, the festival is one of the most exciting and significant events on the students’ calendar.
“The motive of the festival is to unite different cultures in Namibia through harmony, peace, and happiness,” he said. He added that the aim is not to profit from it, but rather to keep its cultural legacy and its diversified unique way of handling it rolling.
‘’Students seem to be happy and feel culturally rejuvenated, especially after the past two years of Covid-19,” he stated.
The inspiration of this festival is to create a platform, to broaden and deepen the connection and understanding of the different cultures, as well as embrace the different diversity of cultures within the IUM community. IUM is a culturally diverse university, meaning it has students and staff from different cultural backgrounds. There are also stalls where students, staff, and individuals from outside are selling items, such as traditional food and drinks.
“Musical performances by local artists and dancing competitions are also lined up.
The festival will conclude with the crowning of Miss IUM 2022 on Saturday,’’ he added.
Performances by cultural groups and IUM student societies will entertain guests at the crowning. – vkaapanda@nepc.com.na