Etotha Carnival on the cards
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism, in collaboration with the Ondonga Traditional Authority (OTA) agreed to host the annual festival Etotha Carnival under the jurisdiction of the OTA, starting in July 2024 the Ekangonde salt pans in the Oshikoto region.Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta in his speech at the launch and fundraising event, said that the carnival aims to improve the livelihood of local communities, preserve their cultural heritage, promote the development of sustainable tourism, the to preserve biological diversity and strengthen the social cohesion of communities throughout Namibia.
He noted that as an important heritage site, the celebrations at the Ekangonde Salt Pans bring people together to celebrate the crucial role they play in supporting and shaping the communities' traditional lifestyle. This event, Shifeta said, aims to improve the living conditions of communities in the Onanke area and the region as a whole by promoting domestic tourism and spreading its benefits.
Meanwhile, the head of the Ondonga Traditional Authority, Fillemon Shuumba Nangolo, said the salt pan, which is off-limits to women for cultural reasons, will be open to all genders. Nangolo explained that the salt pan was previously used as a place where boys were raised into men. However, their ancestors gave permission for women to also visit the salt pan during Carnival.
The event saw a fundraiser for the carnival with significant financial support, with the Ondonga Authority as the main sponsor pledging N$500 000 to host the carnival, raising close to N$1.6 million.