Founding President Sam Nujoma says the Olufuko Festival remains a crucial tool for the preservation of culture for young girls.

The Patron of Olufuko made the remarks during the official opening of the cultural festival underway at Outapi.

Nujoma added that the festival is a sign of excellence and serves as a platform to educate the nation about cultural values, norms, and heritages.

The Olufuko Patron dismissed the talk that the cultural festival promotes early childhood marriages.

"This traditional rite of passage of young girls into womanhood is also an opportunity to discuss contemporary issues such as teenage pregnancy. If this practise as a traditional rite of womanhood is widely celebrated in South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, and many other parts of Africa, why can't we also practise the Olufuko festival as a celebration of sexual purity and promotion of sexual abstinence among young girls?"

This year, a total of 33 young girls from Ombadja, Ombalantu, Ongandjera, Uukolonkadhi, and Uukwambi traditional authorities are undergoing initiation.

The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, says Namibia, being a country with diverse cultures, should allow people to practise their unique traditional practises without judgement.

"These types of events are important amongst our community and therefore should be preserved at all costs and celebrated as they unite us and inform us about our identity, which is very important."

The festival is being held under the theme "Our heritage, our pride."