The Ju|'hoansi Traditional Authority will host the annual San Cultural Festival at Tsumkwe from September 24 to 26.

Organisers say the festival is intended to address decades of marginalisation by creating a platform for the San community to celebrate its identity, strengthen unity and engage with government.

The festival is intended to empower the San community to stand up for themselves, work with the government and create a greater sense of unity.

Matambo Kabila is one of the organisers who says, "The festival is the main objective to unite some people from across Namibia to deliberate on issues that are kind of affecting our culture or that are leading our culture to extinction. We want to come in somewhere and touch on critical issues like endangered languages which are not in schools, which are not taught in schools."

The festival will bring together San communities to celebrate and preserve their heritage, traditional values, music, food and languages, including those of the Ju/'hoansi, Naro and Hai//om.

Among the issues expected to be discussed are indigenous rights, land security and the recognition and inclusion of San languages in educational curricula.

"So this time if the Chiefs come together and give a message to the government to say that it's not 36 and we are touching, we are talking about Vision 2030, and yet we have languages which are not documented. Can the government, through the Minister of Education and the division of the marginalism, look into this as part of their mandate?"

The programme will feature traditional dances, storytelling, displays of traditional attire and food, alongside discussions by traditional leaders on issues affecting San communities.

Organisers say the festival marks an important step towards strengthening San cultural identity while creating dialogue on social, cultural and developmental issues affecting the community.