Okuyambera is historically and culturally intertwined with various
chains of events beginning with tomb homage, male child circumcision, otjoto
and weddings. The events are outlined as follows: First, Okuyambera was
performed by individual homesteads (Onganda) led by the head (Omupuee) of this
patrilineal (Oruzo) in those particular areas.
In many cases, all persons belonging to or related to this
patrilineal are expected to gather and bring ozongondjoza. This happened
because all paternal relatives brought their children for circumcision and the
men of this patrilineage (wOruzo) who are married come and have (Otjoto) and
the unmarried girls of this patrilineage who are willing to be given in
marriages. First, the otjamberero begins, then the circumcision, and then the
marriage.
These events happened in this order, which is why we saw a
homestead marry ten or fifteen girls, and also the peer group (Oviwondo
vyomakura) was formed at this event by boys who were circumcised at this event.
In some cases, the circumcision took place after the burial, when the woman was
taken out of the house (Ovakaendu tjiva piti mondjuuo), then the circumcision
and the marriage took place. Hence you hear Otjiwondo tjaKapuuo, these are the
peers who were circumcised at the time of his death.
Let me bring you back to Otjoto, many of you are hearing this for
the first time: Otjoto is a ceremonial ritual practice for a married man to be
authorized to eat man meat (Onyama yamwaha ndjiriwa ovarumendu). hence a married
man undergoes these practices and culturally this practice has a very important
meaning; If you undergo this practice, you are now considered a man, not a boy
or young man. So when you die, people will do ombimbi; A traditional practice
only performed at a man's funeral or when a man wins or kills something
symbolizing this process called (Outoņi) celebration. On that note, if you
haven't gone through (Otjoto) then people aren't going to do an ombimbi at your
funeral because you're still seen as a young man.
In my conclusion, ancestors are commemorated ideally on an annual
or biennial basis. However, not all ancestors are commemorated as frequently:
only prominent deceased male ancestors are commemorated more frequently, while
female ancestors are rarely commemorated. D Due
to distance and unforeseen circumstances, there may be times when the lineage
group chooses to construct an entirely new ritual homestead in a location that
is in close proximity to the tomb. The fact that it is culturally permitted is
not taboo. Therefore, in the next chapter, I will explain the difference between
okuyambera nokupueya and who does what, when, and where. I drop my case.
By Kahuhu Alphons Koruhama
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