Rural dwellers embrace new social dynamics

Ndalimpinga Iita - At the far-flung village in Namibia's northern Oshana region, ten women, each with a cow horn in hand pressed juice out of a ripe marula fruit into a bowl.

The setup, however, is a contrast of the traditional practice of sitting close to one another.

What is different, the women are seated at least a metre and more from each other. They are adhering to measures by the Namibian government to curb the further spread of Covid-19.

"We are practising social distancing to prevent the spread of coronavirus as advised by the health ministry," said villager Hilma Asser on Monday.

The government in early March announced the suspension of mass gatherings as a measure in the fight against Covid-19.

According to Asser, usually, about 15 women or more would congregate to press the marula juice from the fruit, fermented for household consumption, but also mainly for traditional festivities such as the annual marula fruit festival.

The marula fruit festival element was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2015.

"The central aim is to protect our social environment, given that women are pillars of many households. Thus we need to protect each other from coronavirus," she said.

Social fabric

Meanwhile, rural dwellers have also adopted new social dynamics amid Covid-19.

At funerals, dwellers are social distancing themselves, and attendance is limited to close-knit family members or relatives.

"Interim, we just maximise on technology communication to extend our condolences and reach out to the bereaved families," said Agatus Timoteus, a leader at the village.

For him, this is disheartening in rural settings where the social fabric is intact.

"We have a strong sense of community. So if one cannot be there to support a loved one, it hurts, but we are doing it to sustain a healthy nation," he said.

Meanwhile, physical contact gestures of affection such as handshakes, are now ancient practice.

According to villager Fidrig Iyambo, most rural dwellers are only waving and nodding at each other.

"A lot of social patterns have shifted since the announcement of the Covid-19 confirmed cases. The priority is to prevent infection," said Iyambo.

Tradition hurt

The king of the Ondonga Traditional Authority, Fillemon Shuumbwa, said that the stringent measures put in place have affected many traditional processes and social gatherings, which usually attract many people.

These include weddings, usually attended by more than 100 people.

"However, new social and cultural dynamics should adhere to hygiene and safety measures put in place. Yet we should embrace alternative ways to celebrate weddings to ensure continuity of the family structures. I urge couples to get married to a few witnesses per guidelines set by the health ministry," said Shuumbwa.

Meanwhile, religious and faith-based gatherings have also been affected.

Following government's decision to suspend mass gatherings, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia, among other church dominions, cancelled church activities hosting more than 50 people, said Shekutamba Nambala, bishop of the church.

For village choir leader Helena Moopi, it means that all the activities, including choir rehearsals at the village, have been affected.

Social media

Rural dwellers have since resorted to the WhatsApp social media platform to rehearse songs.

"We share the lyrics on a WhatsApp group, and the chorister posts the audio to aid others to practice the song," she said.

In the interim, rural dwellers are hopeful that the spread will be contained soon.

"We also deliberate on our plans virtually as we are hopeful that this will end soon," Moopi added.

While Asser is optimistic that the efforts put in place by the government will aid in curbing further spread of the virus.

"I am hopeful that this will go back to normal, as long as all citizens cooperate and comply," Asser said. – Nampa/Xinhua