Windhoek: Vice President Lucia Witbooi said the annual Omagongo Festival remains an important symbol of Namibia's cultural identity, unity, and heritage. Witbooi made the remarks during the 2026 Omagongo Festival fundraising dinner held in Windhoek on Saturday evening. She emphasized that the annual festival goes beyond the celebration of the traditional fermented marula drink, known as Omagongo in the Oshiwambo language, and represents the values of community, hospitality, and respect.According to Namibia Press Agency, Witbooi highlighted that the festival reflects the passing of knowledge between generations and reminds communities of the importance of unity, peace, and mutual care. She noted that the fundraising dinner was 'in defence of memory, identity, heritage, and nationhood'. Witbooi also paid tribute to Namibia's Founding President, Sam Nujoma, for spearheading the revival and unification of marula celebrations into a national cultural event.The Omagongo Festival is held annually on a rotational basis by the eight Aawambo traditional authorities in northern Namibia. Celebrated during the peak marula harvesting season, the festival traditionally brings together Ovawambo communities, particularly men, to enjoy the popular fermented marula drink known as Omagongo. Over the years, the festival has grown into one of Namibia's major national cultural events and was inscribed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2015.This year's festival will be hosted by the chairperson of the Uukwambi Traditional Authority, Chief Herman Iipumbu. Iipumbu stated that the festival celebrates the marula fruit and recognises its cultural significance to communities across southern Africa. He invited Namibians and international guests to attend the main festival at his traditional homestead at Onamega on 23 May, emphasizing that the celebration belongs to all Namibians and the wider region.