By Clemence Tashaya
EENHANA – Valentine’s Day is known around the world as an opportunity to celebrate love. Lovers express their love for one another by presenting red roses and sending each other humorous or sentimental cards and gifts wrapped in Valentine colours. It is one of the busiest times of the year for most schools and institutions of higher learning such as the University of Namibia, Polytechnic, restaurants, night clubs, boutiques and salons as both men and women prepare for the day.
Here, the capital city of the Ohangwena region, instead of being systematic, lovers this year have a rare opportunity to celebrate their love for one another with a choice of romantic restaurants which have been prepared for the day, especially today a Friday on which the day falls this year.
At Eekanda restaurant, which is located at the heart of the town, according to the Senior Chef and Cooker, Lydia Kashiyakumwe, they have prepared a traditional Oshiwambo cuisine, which will include chicken (Oxuxwa) that will be served with a delicious nutty marula oil commonly known as Ondjove or Omagadhi, Oshifima (thick porridge or pap) and the traditional wild spinach called ekaka or Omboga. Other dishes that will entertain lovers during the night will be bean sauce, Oshigali and mopani worms Omagungu. All these cuisines will be served in a large and attractive weaved granary baskets in which they store mahangu called Eshisha.
“Our Valentine’s special meal will be complemented with a fermented mahangu drink, which is also referred to as Ontaku. To round off the meal, we have desserts which include the small sweet bird-plum fruit called Eembe and makalani palm fruit,” she says. All these for as much as N $ 50, lovers will be able to enjoy and dance the night away to cool romantic music playing behind in the restaurant with cocktails served with delectable hors d’oeuvres in the house. Alcohol will also be served at booked tables going for N $ 30 for lovers and N $ 50 dollars for a family.
Dry meat Oodhingu will be served with chopped crispy onions among others. Each table will be decorated with red roses and the first couple coming in all in red will automatically be entered for a competition in which the winners will walk away with a N $ 200 hamper. Eekanda Restaurant Chef and Cooker says there is no better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Eenhana other than at this restaurant. “Full moons are strongly linked to relationships, romance and passion. Nothing can be more romantic for lovers than spending a night together under the full moon, which always brings romance and passion,” says Kashiyakumwe
Ladies who will have a make up done at Eekanda salon , opposite the restaurant will also receive free roses and champagne. Meanwhile, a Valentine’s fashion show and beauty pageant will be held at the Haimbili Haufiku Senior Secondary school for school learners. Guests at the event will have an opportunity to see the latest fashion trends to be exhibited by designers from Ohangwena region. Young and upcoming kwaito musicians, Nestor aka Flybeck and Ompt’ will be entertaining guests at the show.