ONGWEDIVA – Running a business is no small task. Raising a family is even harder. 

Doing both while caring for a visually impaired sibling it the daily reality of Sophia Shilongo, a woman from northern Namibia. 

She has quietly built a name for herself in the traditional food business.

What started as a small table with a bucket of sour milk at the Ondangwa Open Market in 1989 has today grown into one of the most well-known traditional food stalls in Namibia. 

Shilongo is the woman behind Nangalo Trading, a business that carries Oshiwambo culture through food across the country.

Now 36 years into the business, she has become a familiar face at trade fairs and local events, where she sells a wide range of traditional food.

“My journey hasn’t been easy, especially selling sour milk in the open market. It wasn’t much, but it was something. With no formal shop, no big marketing and no transport, I relied on loyal customers and my deep belief in the value of traditional food,” she said. 

As time passed, she saw others showcasing their products at the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair. 

At first, she only watched from a distance. 

“I used to see people selling at the fair, but I didn’t know how to join. One lady gave me the right information and encouraged me to apply,” Shilongo shared. 

That advice changed everything.

Since then, Shilongo has become a regular at trade fairs, showing off not only her food but her excellent customer service. 

In 2018, she won two awards at the Ongwediva Trade Fair: Best Customer Service Exhibitor and Best Traditional Food Exhibitor.

These awards gave her more than just recognition.

 She was motivated to push harder.

Shilongo has now taken her traditional flavours across Namibia, selling in towns like Walvis Bay, Oranjemund, Rundu, Nkurenkuru, Eenhana, Swakopmund and even at the Windhoek Showgrounds. 

This year, she decided to sell her products at the Zambezi Bream Festival in Katima Mulilo, a place she had never marketed before.

She travels by public transport, often with buckets and baskets filled with food items. 

“It’s not easy. Carrying heavy things on buses and taxis, sometimes with children, can be tiring. Another challenge is selling in towns where traditional food is not well-known or appreciated. Some people don’t understand our food, especially in places like Oranjemund or Walvis Bay. So, sometimes I go back with unsold food,” she said.

“This business is my only source of income. This income takes care of everything – school uniforms, food and healthcare – all that comes from selling traditional food,” she said. 

Shilongo encourages young Namibians to embrace their roots and to find ways to earn an income. 

“Our traditional food is healthy and special. We should embrace our traditional lifestyle,” she remarked. 

“I hear young people on the radio asking for money, but they have nothing to offer. It’s better to start small even if it’s selling vetkoek or oshikundu. God gave us skills and natural resources. We must use them,” Shilongo advised the youth. 

-pmukokobi@nepc.com.na