WINDHOEK – Oscar Sheehama has been installed as the headman of Ondonga village, the traditional palace of King Nangolo dhAmutenya gwaSheya, who was reputedly one of the greatest founding royal kings according to Ondonga oral history. The late King Nangolo dhAmutenya was also known for his special art of rainmaking.
The Ondonga King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas crowned Sheehama on October 18, giving Sheehama the right to use the prefix title of ‘Tatekulu’ to signify his position as tribal leader.
Secretary of the Ondonga Traditional Council, Tatekulu Josef Simaneka Asino, said the “inauguration was conducted within the ambits of enabling laws defined in the Traditional Authority Act, Act 25 of 2000 and in the spirit of traditional norms and values of the Ondonga Traditional Authority.
Sheehama, a retired Detective Chief Inspector in the Namibian Police, is of the royal blood being the maternal grandchild of King Elifas. His installation as village headman follows the previous installation of Kuku Hilya Ndilimeke Shilemba as headman of Oshali village, which borders with Ondonga village of Sheehama.
Shilemba and Sheehama are maternal cousins, hence their installation to head the two neighbouring villages, which has been the practice since time immemorial.
Ondonga village is situated about 15 kilometres southeast of the town of Ondangwa.
The coronation of Sheehama as headman was marked by a lecture on the legacy of King Nangolo dhAmutenya, with the title ‘Treasure of our community, our culture, our pride’.
A special fund in honour of late King Nangolo, in whose jurisdiction the village is situated, was also announced with King Elifas as its patron.