Oshakati Totem Expo to pull crowds
All is set for the 14th edition of the Oshakati Totem Expo, with preparations already underway, while organisers say they are working hard towards a bigger and better event this year. This year’s edition, which will incorporate culture, commerce, entertainment and community spirit, will be held from 29 May to 6 June at Oshakati’s Independence […] The post Oshakati Totem Expo to pull crowds appeared first on The Namibian.
Black News 
All is set for the 14th edition of the Oshakati Totem Expo, with preparations already underway, while organisers say they are working hard towards a bigger and better event this year.
This year’s edition, which will incorporate culture, commerce, entertainment and community spirit, will be held from 29 May to 6 June at Oshakati’s Independence Stadium under the theme ‘Building Relationships Through Culture’.
The Oshakati Totem Expo, which, since its introduction in 2012, has been one of the most significant cultural and commercial exhibitions in northern Namibia, is planned to attract thousands of people from different parts of the country and neighbouring countries.
Oshakati Town Council spokesperson Martin Kapuka says the event remains a key factor in sustaining Namibian culture while offering entrepreneurs opportunities and giving creatives a platform to showcase their talents.
“The Oshakati Totem Expo is much more than a cultural festival. It’s a chance for our culture to connect with opportunities. It provides a venue for communities to express their identity by creating room for business and other organisations to showcase their abilities,” he says.
Kapuka says the expo is a cultural event put together annually at the town to foster unity, and to celebrate Namibia’s rich cultural heritage.
This year’s focus will be totems, because they represent identity and heritage within the Aawambo tribe.
Vice president Lucia Witbooi will be the keynote speaker of the event and will officiate the expo.
Cultural activities include dance demonstrations, clan and totem displays, folk tales, cultural attire displays, native foods, and different entertainment activities.
Kapuka says the expo will also feature educational forums, and cultural and business exhibitions to stimulate interest among business people, tour operators, small and medium enterprises, and artisans.
“On top of that, entertainment will play an important role in the expo. Although the entertainment programme for the performances has not yet been released, the expo will host opening and closing ceremonies, live concerts by local artists, cultural dance and singing competitions, boxing tournaments, DJ entertainment, and other family fun events,” he says.
Other activities will include beauty and fitness competitions, such as the Miss Oshakati Totem Expo, Miss Womalenga, Owela, Eembenzi, Oxungi and Cultural Dance competitions, and the Mr Totem bodybuilding competition.
Participating exhibitor Sesilia Tonata says the expo is an ideal opportunity for young entrepreneurs to market their products.
“More than just an exhibition, the totem expo is a great platform for up-and-coming businesses to reach out to their markets, network with new people, and develop their brands amid our culture,” she says.
Tomas Markus, a resident of Oshakati, says he is already anticipating the expo activity lineup.
“I’m always anticipating the totem expo since it brings people together in terms of culture, music, and entertainment. It is one of the few events which combine business, tradition, and pleasure,” he says.
The post Oshakati Totem Expo to pull crowds appeared first on The Namibian.
