Tate Nujoma is stalking me

Tate (pronounced tah-tay) is an Ovambo term meaning father; it is a sign of respect to elders in society. In the very same way, Meme (pronounced may-may) means mama or mother. It emerges from the core African values of respect and family unity that you will find almost anywhere on the continent. It is for that reason that I call my dad’s friends and relatives Papa Richard or Papa Kabuya – depending on their first or last name – and Mama Rebecca or Mama Mabiala for my mother’s relations.

Nujoma (pronounced noo-yo-mah) is the name of Namibia’s founding father: His Excellency Dr. Samuel (Sam) Shafiishuna Nujoma. And no, the double “i” in his first name is not a typo. He was born May 12, 1929 in Ovamboland, the stronghold of the liberation movement. The Ovambo region played such a monumental role in Namibia’s history that it deserves a separate blog entry entirely dedicated to its past, present and future. Dr. Sam Nujoma founded the Ovambo People Organisation (OPO) in 1957 which was renamed South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) shortly after. After decades of struggle, SWAPO led Namibia to independence from the brutal regime of the Republic of South Africa (RSA) in 1990. As of today, Dr. Sam Nujoma is still the head of the ruling SWAPO party although no longer president of the republic.

Nevertheless, from the time I arrived in Namibia, Tate Nujoma and current president, His Excellency Hifikepunye Pohamba (it took a week to get the correct pronunciation, his portrait just above), have been following me everywhere I go. In every public and private office I have been to, they are right there in the main lobby welcoming me with smiles on their faces. I am sure that by now you know that I am only being facetious. Nevertheless, there is actually an existing law in the books stating that every government office must have both the current president’s and the founding father’s photo portraits hanging on their walls. It even specifies that Dr. Nujoma’s portrait should hang a few centimeters below President Pohamba to distinguish between former and current president. The law applies only to public office but it seems the private sector has followed suit voluntarily, or did they? One thing is for sure, Dr. Nujoma and President Pohamba welcome me at my office every morning as I walk in.