OUTAPI – Organisers of the Olufuko Cultural Festival have dismissed misconceptions surrounding the traditional initiation ceremony, saying Olufuko is not about finding husbands for young girls, but about educating them on womanhood, culture, discipline and acceptable behaviour in society.
This year, 121 girls are partaking at Olufuko cultural festival.
Speaking in an interview with New Era, one of the organiser Rachel Mukulu said the ceremony provides girls with cultural education and guidance as they transition into womanhood.
Mukulu said one of the major misconceptions about Olufuko is that girls who participate in the ceremony are there to find husbands.
She, however, stressed that this is not the purpose of the traditional practice.
“Girls are not looking for husbands; they are looking for education on womanhood,” Mukulu said.
According to Mukulu, the girls are taught about their culture, how to conduct themselves as young women and the responsibilities associated with womanhood.
She said the initiation is intended to equip girls with knowledge and values that can guide them as they grow into adulthood.
The programme also encourages girls to avoid criminal activities and adopt positive attitudes and responsible behaviour. She stressed said the lessons provided during the initiation are aimed at helping girls make positive choices and understand their responsibilities towards themselves, their families and society.
Girls return to school
Mukulu also emphasised that participating in Olufuko does not mean that girls abandon their education.
She said the girls return to school after completing the initiation, allowing them to continue with their formal education while also embracing their cultural heritage.
“Some of these girls are students. They are here because they want to embrace their culture,” she said.
She said the participants come from different parts of Namibia and belong to various religious backgrounds, demonstrating that the cultural practice is not limited to a particular religion.
According to Mukulu, the diversity of the participants shows that culture can be embraced alongside other aspects of people’s lives, including education and religion.
No participation fee
Mukulu further said girls who participate in Olufuko are not required to pay a participation fee.
She attributed this to the position taken by the late founding President Sam Nujoma, who served as a patron of Olufuko.
“Nujoma maintained that girls should not be required to pay to participate in the cultural initiation programme,”
She said this has enabled girls from different backgrounds to participate without financial barriers preventing them from embracing their culture.
‘Olufuko is not satanic’
She urged the public to stop spreading rumours and misinformation about Olufuko, saying such claims create unnecessary fear and misunderstandings about the cultural practice.
She strongly rejected claims that Olufuko is associated with Satanism or other satanic practices.
“Olufuko is not a curse. It is not satanic. It is our culture,” she said.
Mukulu explained that Olufuko is a traditional platform through which knowledge about womanhood, cultural values, discipline and appropriate conduct is passed from one generation to another.
She said the practice should therefore be understood within its cultural context rather than being judged based on rumours or misconceptions.
The organiser believes that cultural practices such as Olufuko remain important in preserving Namibia’s heritage, particularly at a time when younger generations are increasingly exposed to different cultures and influences.
She said young people should be given an opportunity to understand and appreciate their cultural identity while continuing to pursue education and other opportunities.
She further encouraged communities to seek accurate information about Olufuko from cultural custodians and organisers instead of relying on rumours.
She said open dialogue and education are necessary to ensure that traditional practices are properly understood and preserved for future generations.
The Olufuko Cultural Festival continues to serve as a platform for cultural education, bringing together young girls, elders and cultural custodians to share knowledge and promote the preservation of traditional values.
She said the organisers remain committed to ensuring that Olufuko is understood as a cultural practice aimed at educating and preparing girls for womanhood, rather than as a platform for marriage or religious practices.
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