Oshana festival returns over Easter weekend – The Namibian

FESTIVAL attendees and residents in the north of the country can look forward to being inspired and entertained once again during the Easter weekend, when the Oshana Annual Festival returns with a programme of unique events.

In 2019, the event was hosted for the first time, showcasing Oshana’s magnificent art, cultural spaces and incredible homegrown talent.

Hosted by Dot Investment, the event will run under the theme ‘Day Time Vibes’ at the Ongwediva Trade Fair Centre from 6 to 10 April.

One of the organisers of the festival, Erkan ‘Skinchy’ Shinoto, says there is nowhere better than Ongwediva to experience an exhilarating summer of art, and seeing how the Oshana region needs more leisure activities and themed events, they decided the best way to bring the masses together to celebrate and enjoy the Easter weekend in style, is to bring the entertainment directly to the people.

“We chose to host it at Ongwediva because we firmly believe Ongwediva is a town that is fast growing in terms of entertainment or the events industry, and it needs more events of this sort,” says Skinchy.

“The exhibition festival will bring together both young and old to create a market, to showcase exhibitions, innovation, culture, music and corporates,” says Skinchy.

Various activities like sports, arts, culture and entertainment will be on offer, as well as stalls for food, drinks, music, a kiddie’s corner and street theatre, among others, he says.

The festival will also host the Miss Oshana 2023 pageant on 9 April, which will see up to 10 contestants vying for the main crown, with N$12 000 up for grabs.

The festival will end with a musical show featuring a line-up of artists to be announced at a later stage.

“This event is in response to the loss of so many great events of this sort in our area, and a first step towards developing first-class events, not only in Oshana, but throughout the northern side of Namibia,” says Skinchy.

Apart from that, the event looks forward to a successful and fun weekend for the whole community, and aims to attract 5 000 to 7 000 people, he says.