One Blood’s Daphne and Victor Kaune as well as Ethnix’s Etjo Katjivari Kangumine and Julius Page Hamwele will be touring the Omaheke and Otjozondjupa regions this week as part of Sanlam Namibia’s quest to promote and preserve culture among learners.
Now in its fifth year, the project also aims to engage teachers, governors and the community at large, with a focus on Ovaherero culture.
Evans Simataa, Sanlam’s general manager for brand and people,
during the launch said with globalisation, cultures and traditions are in danger.
“Once we ignore our culture, we are in danger of damaging the underpinning of identity. The result? Cultural norms, values and beliefs will become foreign to us. If we disregard our values, we will open our eyes one day and won’t be able to recognise our world anymore,” he explained.
Dubbed the ‘My culture, my life’, the roadshow has been hosted at several schools in Kavango East and West, Zambezi, Omusati, //Kharas and Hardap – all promoting various cultures and traditions in those respective areas, with a variety of artists sharing their knowledge on heritage and culture.
In Omaheke, the team will visit the Wennie du Plessis Secondary school on 8 August 2022, Rietquelle Junior Secondary school the following day and Epukiro Pos 3 SSS on 10 August 2022.
In Otjozondjupa, the team will head to Gustav Kandjii High school on 11 August and finish the tour with Okakarara Senior Secondary school on 12 August 2022.
Sanlam Namibia said it chose Ethnix Namibia and One Blood due to the influence they have, and on the basis that they are in tune with the Ovaherero culture and possess the youthful link for the targeted audience.
Daphne from One Blood said they are proud to be part of this project because young people sometimes tend to forget where they come from.
“It is crucial to remind them about our culture. Sometimes they might find it boring, but we will find a way to make it exciting for them so they know exactly where they come from,” she said.
Daphne will be speaking about the Herero attire and also the variety of foods they eat.
Her sibling and the lead vocalist of One Blood, Victor, will be focusing on traditional dances, instruments and other aspects related to music.
Etjo will be talking in detail about ‘Eyanda’, which is a way of highlighting an individual’s lineage from the maternal side, while Page will speak on the language, lifestyle, upbringing and more.
– psiririka@nepc.com.na