Odibo

Odibo is a village in the north of Namibia close to the Angolan border known for its Anglican mission St Mary. It belongs to the Oshikango electoral constituency in the Ohangwena Region. Odibo is also an Archdeaconry in the Diocese of Namibia.^[1]

Odibo
Settlement
Odibo Location in Namibia
Coordinates: 17°24′S 15°57′E
Country	Namibia
Region	Ohangwena Region
Constituency	Oshikango Constituency
Government
• Headman	Charles Namoloh
Time zone	UTC+2 (South African Standard Time)

Odibo is situated on top of a large underground water reservoir. Cracks in the soil and in stone structures are attributed to this. The village Headman is Charles Namoloh, Namibia's Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development.^[2]

Odibo in Igbo language of South Eastern Nigeria means servant.

History

Portuguese and South African soldiers in Odibo (1929)

St Mary's Mission in Odibo was established in August 1924 by George Tobias, Nelson Fogarty, and Reverend R White, Anglican priest that had the task of setting up a mission in northern Ovamboland.^[3] The tree where they camped before starting their work is today known as Tobias' Tree.^[3] The mission eventually comprised a church, a hospital, and the St Mary Mission School, a high school and seminary.

St Mary Mission School operated until 1979 when it was closed by the South African colonial administration.^[4] Several notable people attended this school, including human rights activist and Bishop James Kauluma,^[5] National Council member Michael Hishikushitja,^[6] People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) commander Peter Mweshihange,^[7] National Assembly member and Bishop of Ovamboland Peter Kalangula^[8] and Minister of Foreign Affairs Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.^[9]

During the Namibian War of Independence the seminary was bombed in 1981 by the South African Defence Force.^[10]

Education

There are two schools at the village, St. Mary's Odibo High School, the successor of Saint Mary Mission School, and Odibo Combined School.^[11] There is also a Lutheran Centre for Arts and Crafts for artistic subjects, established by one of Namibia's most famous artists,^[12] John Muafangejo, in the early 1970s.^[13]

Further reading

• Wolfe, E. M. (1935) Beyond the Thirst Belt: the story of the Ovamboland mission. London: S. P. G. & S. P. C. K. (Sister Wolfe tells the story of St. Mary's Mission to the Ovambos)

People

Sons and daughters of the village include:

• Hidipo Hamutenya, former opposition leader^[14]
• Charles Namoloh, Minister of Safety and Security^[15]

References

1. "Archdeaconry of Odibo". Anglican Church of Southern Africa. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
2. Shivute, Oswald (8 January 2014). "Land cracks shock Odibo villagers". The Namibian. p. 3. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014.
3. "Inventory: AB934 – George Wolfe Robert Tobias Papers 1882–1970". University of the Witwatersrand. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
4. Shiremo, Shampapi (4 November 2011). "Michael Hishikushitja: An effective and eloquent Parliamentarian of the National Council (1953–2001)". New Era. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012.
5. James Kauluma: A warrior for justice (1933 to 2007) New Era, 12 February 2010
6. Shiremo, Shampapi (4 November 2011). "Michael Hishikushitja: An effective and eloquent Parliamentarian of the National Council (1953–2001)". New Era. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012.
7. Sasman, Catherine (2 October 2009). "Peter Mweshihange: Man of all seasons (1931 to 1998)". New Era. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012.
8. "Laaste eer by Kalangula se graf" [Last Honour at Kalangula's Grave]. Die Republikein. 3 March 2008.
9. Hopwood, Graham. "Who's Who, entry for Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah". Namibia Institute for Democracy. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
10. Hovey, Gail (1982). Namibia's stolen wealth (PDF). The Africa Fund. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 November 2011.
11. "Ohangwena Schools". Association of Regional Councils in the Republic of Namibia. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
12. Clewing, Ulrich. "Uneasy memories". culturebase.net. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
13. "John Ndevasia Muafangejo (1943–1987)". lifewithart.com. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
14. Hopwood, Graham. "Who's Who, entry for Hamutenya, Hidipo – Swapo". Guide to Namibian Politics. Namibia Institute of Democracy (NID). Archived from the original on 20 December 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
15. Hopwood, Graham. Guide to Namibian Politics, 2007 edition. Namibia Institute for Democracy, Windhoek, 2007 Archived 22 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine