Omangongo Festival

Oshituthi shomagongo is one of the colorful events in the Namibian calendar that promotes unity / Science Techniz. This year the Omagongo cu...

Oshituthi shomagongo is one of the colorful events in the Namibian calendar that promotes unity / Science Techniz.

This year the Omagongo cultural festival was held from 26 April- 27 April 2019 at Uukwandongo village in Ongandjera, Omusati region, northern Namibia. Marula Festival is a catalyst for unity amongst the eight communities of Ovambo. 

It also demonstrates the cultural diversities of Namibian people through the celebration of our traditions, country's authentic pastries, cuisine, and drinking omagongo - which is an organic beverage made from marula fruit juice that contains Vitamin C and other essential constituencies good for the healthy body.

Oshituthi shomagongo is our national heritage (uuthiga wetu woshilongo) and here to stay. The festival is hosted each year by a different Aawambo community of northern Namibia.  All people from all works of life and different ethnic groups from the various regions of Namibia attended the Omangongo festival that ended over the weekend. Last year over 5000 people including foreigners took part in the Festival. Both men and women, dressed in their colorful traditional clothes. 

Promoting development through cultural heritage is the guiding thread of Marula Fruit Festival event / UNESCO.

The event is an integral important tool in accelerating development through tourism. The event - is hosted annually on a rotational basis by the traditional authorities of Ondonga, Uukwaluudhi, Uukwambi, Ongandjera, Oukwanyama, Uukolonkadhi, Ombalantu, and Ombadja respectively.

Namibia’s Founding President Sam Nujoma, who is patron of the festival, reiterated his usual message of last year about men who neglect their families, mainly due to alcohol abuse. He said some men spend prolonged hours at cuca shops instead of spending their time imparting cultural values and norms to younger generations. As a result, Nujoma said, many young people have resorted to social media as there is a lack of parental cultural guidance at home.

Namibian people dancing during Omagongo Festival photography / Annelien Robberts.

Following other institutional speeches during which the importance of preserving the traditions and culture of ethnic groups is still considered as the cradle of humanity and once again has been reaffirmed. The Festival continued with a rich banquet, hectoliters of Omagongo, musical entertainments, and live performances during which the crowd in joy was unleashed in songs and dances.

The National Heritage Council of Namibia is the statutory body mandated by the National Heritage Act, No. 27 of 2004 to protect and promote the country’s natural and cultural heritage. Established in 2005 as successor to the National Monuments Council, the NHC works with traditional authorities and communities to document, safeguard, and celebrate intangible cultural heritage—Oshituthi shomagongo among them.  

A central feature of the festival is the direct involvement of youth. Children and young adults observe and participate in fruit collection, processing, dance, music, and storytelling. This engagement ensures that cultural practices are transmitted from one generation to the next, strengthening identity and community pride. For many young Namibians, the festival is their first immersive experience in traditional knowledge systems.

The festival also highlights the roles of both women and men in cultural practice. Women often lead in food preparation and marula processing, while men contribute through the crafting of utensils, music, and public rituals. Both roles complement each other, reflecting values of cooperation and balance. In contemporary Namibia, these dynamics also provide space for rethinking gender equity within cultural heritage.

The marula tree itself carries symbolic and ecological value. Beyond providing fruit for the festival, it is deeply embedded in local cosmology and environmental stewardship. Protecting marula groves contributes to biodiversity, soil conservation, and sustainable rural economies. The festival, therefore, doubles as a celebration of ecology and an affirmation of Namibia’s commitment to sustainable development goals.

Since its recognition by UNESCO, Oshituthi shomagongo has attracted greater media coverage, academic research, and cross‑cultural exchange. Delegations from other African countries and beyond attend to learn about Namibia’s approaches to safeguarding intangible heritage. The festival serves as a model for how culture can strengthen identity while contributing to modern development strategies.

Festivals like Omagongo are living repositories of knowledge. They transmit craft techniques, foodways, moral teachings, environmental care, and creative expression. They also provide a shared stage where urban and rural Namibians, elders and youth, and local hosts and foreign guests meet as equals. In doing so, the celebration advances unity, pride, and sustainable development.