The Oukwanyama Traditional Authority still hopes that the head of Ohamba Mandume ya Ndemufayo can be found and buried with the rest of his remains at Oihole in Angola.

A standing call to anyone with information on the whereabouts of the head to get in contact with the traditional authority was reiterated during the 107th commemoration of Ohamba Mandume ya Ndemufayo at Omhedi Palace over the weekend.

Scores of people from the Oukwanyama Kingdom and beyond came in numbers in celebration of the late Mandume's life.

The annual event was preceded by the laying of wreaths at the graves of King Mwetupunga Shelungu, who took over the reigns after Ndemufayo's death, and other members of the royal family.

Ndemufayo is believed to have committed suicide in February 1917 during a battle, refusing to submit to South African forces.

His last words were, 'It is better to die fighting than become a slave of the colonial forces.'

Since his death, the Oukwanyama Kingdom was without a king until 1998, when Mwetupunga Shelungu took over.

Ohamba yOukwanyama Martha ya Nelumbu, in a speech read on her behalf, cited that Mandume's contribution to the kingdom and the country at large will forever be remembered with pride.

"The war started at seven o'clock in the morning until six o'clock in the evening, and the Portuguese shot about 2000 bullets and lost 164 soldiers as well as injured. Those killed were about 4000 to 5000, but the Germans refuted that. Oshiwanyama-speaking people were also killed in the battle, which also saw our leader die. We must always celebrate his life."