Oshiwambo language final-year students at the University of Namibia (UNAM) hosted a cultural festival called Oshipe as part of their continuous assessment marks.

The festival showcased various traditional activities such as dramas, songs, dances, food and drinks.
The group explained that the aim of the festival is to promote and preserve Oshiwambo culture, while also giving fellow students practical experience in organising cultural events.

Dr Edward Shikesho is an Oshiwambo lecturer at UNAM.

"Here we celebrate it through the use of our cultural items, where students have to demonstrate what they have learnt throughout their studies. Because these are final students, and then they have to make sure that they showcase their talents and demonstrate their cultural understanding, just for the lecturers to ensure that they have understood what they have learnt throughout those years of study. Basically this is just meant for Oshiwambo-speaking students because one of their overall ideas is for them to at least show something, demonstrate something for the purpose of generating their continuous assessment marks."

Here is what students Hilma Pilatus and Lazarus Mikael had to say. 

"This festival will benefit us in a good way because we'll have to remember our cultural diversity and the local products because the students are showcasing different things. It's either the way of producing food or the way that the traditional houses are built and the cultural dances. So it makes us remember our cultural roots and everything."

"The benefits that we are getting here are anthropological knowledge, research skills, and also the idea that one day you will need to be working. as a researcher in the field of anthropology or cultural research. It's so that we don't lose our cultural values.That is what we are benefiting from."