GO YE FORTH

– the Finnish Mission Society in Owambo

The year 2020 not only marks the 30 th anniversary of Namibia’s independence on 21 March 1990, but also the 150 th anniversary of the establishment of the first mission station in Owambo.

Omandongo as the first Finnish mission station and Olukonda as the only remaining one, will feature prominently in various events to celebrate the pioneering work of the Finnish Mission Society in Owambo this year. The early missionaries faced numerous challenges in addition to hostile kings: poor health, the death of children and spouses, floods and shortages of supplies. After 20 years in the field they had baptised a mere 280 converts, but they persevered and Finnish Protestantism grew into the largest form of Christianity in Owambo. The Finnish Mission Society later became the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN).

On 9 July 1870, nine weeks after setting off from the Rhenish mission station at Otjimbingwe, the pioneering group of seven missionaries and two craftsmen arrived at the palace of Ondonga King Shikongo shaKalulu at Omandongo. They received a warm welcome and were given permission to conduct a service the following day. The king also allocated a site for a mission station. That date not only marks the introduction of Christianity to Owambo, but it was also the day when the first mission station was established by the Finnish Mission Society (founded in 1859).

The society soon expanded its mission work in the Ondonga kingdom, establishing mission stations at Olukonda (1871), Oniipa and Ondjumba (1872) and Omulonga (1874). They also attempted to expand their missionary endeavours to the Uukwambi and Ongandjera kingdoms, but had to abandon the mission stations there after just a few years because of the hostility of the kings towards the missionaries.

The society’s work experienced a major setback when Nehale lyaMpingana, the brother of King Shikongo shaKalulu, became the ruler of eastern Ondonga. He openly objected to the Finnish missionaries and the society was forced to abandon its mission stations in eastern Ondonga, including Omandongo, in late 1888. That left the society with only one active mission station in western Ondonga – Olukonda.

Situated at the crossroads of the oxwagon routes in Owambo, Olukonda was soon regarded as the ‘Capital of the North’ and is, therefore, best remembered for the society’s missionary endeavours. The historic mission station, consisting of the mission house, the church (the oldest in Owambo) and cemetery, was declared a national monument in 1992.

Maps and photographs of early Owambo and the development of the Finnish Mission Society are displayed in the mission house which serves as a museum. There are also several noteworthy displays of traditional household implements, weapons and adornments of the Aawambo.

Visitors can gain a glimpse of the Aandonga people’s culture and way of life by joining a guided tour through the adjacent replica of a traditional homestead. A variety of accommodation options are available at Olukonda, ranging from luxury tents with en-suite facilities to rooms and camping sites.

Omandongo fell into obscurity until Namibia’s National Heritage Council declared the site of the mission station a heritage site in 2014. A larger than life monument of the society’s most famous missionary, Martti Rautanen, was erected at the site of the mission station last year.

Willie Olivier

FlyWestair’s Embraer flies north from Windhoek to Ondangwa every weekday and Sundays. Willie Olivier gathered some interesting fast facts about the central northern region of Namibia. If you want to add to the list, send us your ideas to fly@venture.com.na or tag FlyWestair on social media and it will be included in the next issues.