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ALL People’s Party member of parliament Maria Kamutali has called on traditional authorities across the country to revive virginity festivals.
During these festivals, girls are taught the importance of remaining virgins until marriage to combat unwanted pregancies and HIV infection, among others.
Kamutali recently made her plea in parliament, but followed this up with an interview with The Namibian in which she says these cultural practices would also address a lack of manners among the country’s youth.
She says when Christianity arrived in Namibia, there had been mobilisation against these traditional practices, which are not harmful but would assist in promoting sex education and teaching young girls to abstain from sex until they are married.
In the National Assembly, Kamutali emphasised that the government in 2012 endorsed the traditional initiation event, called olufuko, which also has the support of founding president Sam Nujoma as its patron.
“I want to thank the founding president, Sam Nujoma, for respecting young women . . .
“When a girl reaches sexual maturity, she is supposed to be taught the importance of her virginity. To respect your parents, you have to know your traditions or culture,” she says.
“In my culture, we call it litembu. When girls get their first period, the community organises a festival for them, and old women will teach them how to behave.
“Imagine an 11-year-old is already having sex and infected with HIV. That is why we are losing our dignity now as women,” Kamutali says.
“I would like to submit my humble request to the founding president to save this nation by establishing traditional festivals all over the country. It must not only be in one region,” she says.
Kamutali says the current Namibian government undermines traditions and customs because of magistrates and lawyers.
“My political party and I will not support any bill or law that undermines our traditions or culture and traditional leaders in our country,” she says.
PROTECT HISTORY
Ongandjera Traditional Authority spokesperson Shiimi Shangula says Namibia is a democratic country and traditions cannot be forced on anyone.
“Whoever wants to do the traditional festivals, they can. But some of those things are being seen as pagan, and since most Namibians are Christians, some traditions do not fit the current era,” he says.
Shangula says although the government supports traditional authorities, some powers have been taken from them, such as punishing offenders.
“Back then, people used to be beaten up, but not any more. Now offenders are asked to pay fines, that’s it. The traditional authorities no longer deal with cases of land and rape,” he says.
Mbunza Traditional Authority hompa Alfaus Kaundu says traditions should be kept and respected, “but nowadays, our kids do not know about these things”.
It’s best to discuss the matter with women, he says.
“Etembu is practised by women only. Men are not involved in any way. It happens before a girl gets her first menstrual period, and at her first period the family comes together to celebrate and advise her that she is a big girl, she should not play with men because of things such as pregnancy and HIV. She is also taught how to cook,” he says.
Ondonga Traditional Authority spokesperson Frans Enkali says if traditional events are to be allowed again, the issue has to be considered by each traditional authority, as they all have different cultures.
Director of Woman Solidarity Namibia Rosa Namises says a similar ceremony exists in the Damara culture.
“In the #Nu-khoen (Damara) culture, they call it !Ae om ≠nuis (womanhood). After a girl gets her first //Ab /Aesen (menstruation), elders start educating her on how to take care of herself, how to stay tidy, and how not to fall pregnant,” she says.
Namises, says as elders, they have changed the curriculum of the festival.
“Nowadays we teach them they can become teachers, or someone in future, not just focused on men, and we have seen a change of manners in girls who have been part of this ceremony.
“We should keep doing this. We must do it and bring in the link with the current world,” she says.
CHURCH RESPONDS
Acting general secretary of the Council of Churches in Namibia Ludwig Beukes says the council is not in support of such practices and distances itself from any harmful cultural practices.
“These are things as a church we are not in support of. Traditional leaders need to be educated and come to a level of understanding that even culture or traditions are not static.
“They need to adapt to a changing environment. No culture stays the same … there is change”, he says.
Beukes says traditional leaders need to look at issues that are beneficial and of interest to the people.
“Today, we are in a different environment, and this will not have the same impact as back then.
“Today people are talking about their rights . . . I don’t believe these people have supporting data that this would work,” he says.
OLUFUKO
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (Elcin) general secretary Alpo Enkono has in the past labelled olufuko a pagan practice and a shameful act, which Christians do not want to associate with.
Olufuko is traditional Aawambo practice in which girls, often as young as 12, are prepared for womanhood, marriage and motherhood.
This practice is performed by an elderly man, known as a namunganga, and is accompanied by drumming and dancing.
Over the years, this initiation practice has been banned by some mainstream Christian churches.
“If parents take their children there, they will attend confession sessions (ekuthilo), because they have sinned,” Ekono said in March.
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