By: Annakleta Haikera
The Mbunza Traditional Authority has urged the people of Kavango West to respect and uphold all aspects of their culture, including traditional attire, as part of safeguarding their identity.
Speaking during the official opening of the Ncuncuni Circuit Cultural Festival at Pandureni Combined School on Friday, Traditional Authority Leader Hompa Kaundu stressed the importance of preserving traditional dress codes that distinguish men’s clothing from women’s.
“In our tradition, women have their way of dressing and men have theirs. When we abandon these customs, we are slowly losing our identity,” he cautioned.
He emphasised that culture is a source of pride and should be preserved and passed on to future generations with honour.
“Cultural preservation goes beyond clothing, it includes our language, customs, and values that define who we are as a community,” said Kaundu.
“Times may be changing, but our culture should remain a strong foundation, if we let go of it, we let go of who we are,” he added.
The two-day Ncuncuni Circuit Cultural Festival celebrates and showcases the rich traditions of the Kavango West Region, featuring traditional dances, storytelling, cuisine, and crafts to encourage cultural pride and knowledge transfer.
Meanwhile, Ncuncuni constituency councillor, Leopoldine Nseu, called on parents, teachers, and community leaders to take the teaching and preservation of local languages more seriously, warning that the erosion of mother tongues threatens cultural identity. She also expressed concern over the growing trend of children mixing local languages with English, even at home.
“We should not be comfortable with our children calling us ‘mommy’ and ‘auntie,’ and pronouncing words in English,” Nseu said.
“This mixing of languages, especially at home, is killing our own languages,” she remarked.
Nseu urged local language teachers to ensure children learn to speak, read, and write their mother tongues correctly, stressing that these skills must be nurtured both in school and at home. She also encouraged parents to speak their native languages with their children to help preserve cultural heritage.
She commended the festival organisers for creating a platform that not only entertains, but also safeguards indigenous languages and customs, reminding the youth of their roots while fostering unity amongst residents.
