Namibia



Culture Name

Namibian

Orientation

Identification. Namibia was colonized by Germany and South Africa and was named Südwestafrika or South West Africa. Those who opposed colonial rule preferred Namibia, from a Nama/Damara word meaning "shield" used for the coastal desert, the Namib, which long protected the interior from access by sea. During the colonial period, many indigenous peoples were dispossessed of their lands and relegated to reserves established for each ethnic group. The emphasis on ethnicity was opposed by growing nationalist sentiment, and Namibia became a unitary nation-state when it gained independence in 1990.

Location and Geography. Covering 318,500 square miles (825,000 square kilometers) on the southwest coast of Africa, Namibia is bordered by Angola and Zambia (north), Botswana (east), South Africa (south), and the Atlantic Ocean (west). The coast, with its productive fishing grounds and the deep water harbor of Walvis Bay, is edged by the dunes and gravel plains of the Namib desert. Inland, the hills and plains of the central plateau are predominantly scrub savannah, gradually transforming into the Kalahari semi-desert to the east. The flat north-central and northeastern regions have extensive flood plains and areas of dense vegetation. The driest country in sub-Saharan Africa, Namibia only has permanent rivers on its northern and southern borders.

Demography. With large expanses of arid and semi-arid land, Namibia has a small population— about 1.7 million—for its size. The population is youthful, with 44 percent aged fourteen and under and only 4 percent older than 65. About 60 percent live in the far north, where rainfall is sufficient for grain farming. In 1996 Namibia's capital city, Windhoek, had a population of 183,000.

Linguistic Affiliation. Despite the small population, there is great linguistic variety. Most Namibians speak Bantu languages like Oshiwambo and Otjiherero as their first language. Others speak Khoisan languages (Nama/Damara and various Bushman languages), while a smaller percentage are native speakers of Indo-European languages like Afrikaans and English. Afrikaans was promoted as a language of wider communication before independence and is still widely spoken in southern and central Namibia. At independence, English was chosen as the primary language for government and education because it was not associated with any particular ethnicity and could facilitate interaction with the outside world. Urban dwellers, young people, and northerners are more likely to have learned it.

Symbolism. The colors on the national flag symbolize important natural and human characteristics of Namibia: sunlight and the desert (yellow), rain and the ocean (blue), crops and vegetation (green), the blood shed in war (red), and peace and reconciliation (white). Schoolchildren sing the national anthem daily; it is also heard on the radio and at national celebrations.

History and Ethnic Relations

Namibia was originally inhabited by nomadic hunters, gatherers, and pastoralists (livestock herders), the ancestors of today's Bushman and Khoispeaking people. Agriculturalists and pastoralists speaking Bantu languages, such as the Owambo and Herero, arrived in the fifteenth through seventeenth centuries and settled throughout northern and central Namibia. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Nama- and Afrikaans-speaking pastoralists, under pressure from white settlers in South Africa, moved into southern and central

Namibia
Namibia
Namibia. The different groups came into conflict over access to land and other resources, but they were linked by trade relationships.

European traders, missionaries, and settlers began arriving in significant numbers in the mid-1800s. Increasing expropriations of land and cattle by German settlers led Herero and Nama communities to rebel. In a series of genocidal wars from 1904 to 1907, the German military killed three-quarters of the Herero population and nearly one-half the Namas. The survivors were settled on barren reserves and forced to work in mines and on commercial farms. Since labor was short, large numbers of men from the far north, a densely-populated area not subject to white settlement, were brought south as contract laborers. This pattern of eviction from the land and migrant labor continued when South Africa assumed control after World War I. In the 1960s and 1970s, South Africa formally extended its apartheid system to Namibia, creating ethnic homelands with their own administrations for each ethnic group. Movement outside one's own homeland was strictly controlled.

Emergence of the Nation. The boundaries defining present-day Namibia were European creations, and there was no prior sense of common identity among the many different groups inhabiting the area. Their common experience of oppression under colonialism, however, led to shared nationalist sentiment, first expressed in the 1940s during a letter-writing campaign by traditional leaders to the United Nations protesting South African rule. Initiated by the Herero Chiefs Council, the campaign grew throughout the 1950s to include leaders from other ethnic groups. In 1959, thirteen protestors were killed in Windhoek by South African forces as they demonstrated against the planned relocation of their community. The Windhoek Massacre and ensuing government repression stimulated the rise of new nationalist organizations. The most successful of these, the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), was initially based among Owambo contract workers, but soon attracted broader support, took up armed struggle, and gained UN recognition as the "sole and authentic" representative of the Namibian people. The strongest and most enduring element of SWAPO ideology has been nationalism, seen as a necessary counter to the ethnic divisions perpetuated by apartheid. At independence on 21 March 1990, SWAPO became the first democratically elected ruling party of the new nation, a position it has held through two subsequent elections. The country was divided into thirteen new administrative regions, cross-cutting the boundaries of the former ethnic homelands.

National Identity. Despite significant cultural differences and considerable ethnic stereotyping, there is a widely shared orientation to the nation, particularly among young people, who are more likely to travel through the country for economic and educational reasons. Urban areas, large workplaces such as mines and fisheries, and secondary and tertiary schools are multi-ethnic sites where people are creating new ways of interacting across ethnic boundaries. Soccer is extremely popular among men of all ethnicities, and the national team is followed closely and is widely discussed.

Ethnic Relations. Despite the emphasis on nationalism, ethnicity is still a force in Namibian society. Some groups have restored kings to power and made land claims since independence, and the official opposition party, the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA), is an alliance of ethnically-based organizations. Some members of smaller groups fear domination by the Owambos, who comprise about half the population of the country and provide most of SWAPO's electoral support.

Urbanism, Architecture, and the Use of Space

Most of central and southern Namibia, an area formerly known as the Police Zone, was appropriated for white settlement. Today it consists of large commercial farms and widely scattered towns with Western-style buildings, some distinctly German. In the rural communal areas (former ethnic homelands), there are a variety of architectural styles in addition to Western buildings. Construction materials include sticks and logs, earth, and thatch. Houses may be round, square, or beehive-shaped; in some areas, clusters of huts are enclosed in wooden palisades. Some dwellings and shops are also made of metal sheets or concrete blocks with metal roofs, a style also seen in some urban neighborhoods.

In urban areas under apartheid, whites lived in the town centers, while blacks and mixed-race people were clustered in outlying "locations," sometimes divided into sections by ethnicity. Although legislation enforcing this racial segregation was abolished in the late 1970s and 1980s, attitudes and economic barriers have changed more slowly and this pattern has persisted. Urbanization increased greatly after independence, especially in Windhoek, as the last restrictions on population movement were removed and exiles returned from abroad. The rapidity of urban growth has led to problems in the provision of basic services as well as higher unemployment and increased crime.

Food and Economy

Food in Daily Life. For agriculturalists, the staple foods are millet and sorghum; for pastoralists, dairy products. Beans and greens are eaten with millet in the north, but otherwise few vegetables are grown or consumed. Hunting and gathering, more important in the past, still provides a dietary supplement for some. Meat is highly desired and eaten

Himba woman next to a mud hut at a Nomadic People Camp in the Skeleton Coast. Namibia was originally inhabited by nomadic hunters, gatherers, and pastoralists.
Himba woman next to a mud hut at a Nomadic People Camp in the Skeleton Coast. Namibia was originally inhabited by nomadic hunters, gatherers, and pastoralists.
as often as it is feasible—daily for some, on special occasions for others. Fish consumption is slowly increasing with government promotion of Namibian fish products.

Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions. Important occasions are marked by the slaughter of cattle or goats, and the consumption of meat, home-brewed beer, purchased beverages, and other foods. In some cultures, leftover meat is sent home with the guests.

Basic Economy. The Namibian economy is divided between capital-intensive industry, which accounts for most of the gross domestic product, and labor-intensive subsistence agriculture, which employs over half of the population. With little access to financial or technical assistance, most subsistence farmers rely on small-scale commercial activity and/or family members who earn wages or pensions to make ends meet.

Land Tenure and Property. Land tenure in central and southern Namibia is based on private property. In the rural communal areas, land is not bought or sold; families have heritable rights to use specific plots or pay fees to traditional leaders for use rights. In pastoral communities, all members generally have access to grazing and water in the community's area. Recent sources of controversy include the illegal fencing of communal land for private use by the wealthy and the extensive ownership of land by whites.

Commercial Activities. Alongside Namibian retail stores and South African chains, informal, small-scale commercial activity is widespread. Home-brewed alcohol, freshly butchered meat, prepared foods, and crafts are the major products sold. Others buy small quantities of soap, fruit, watches, and other goods to resell along the roadside or in small shops.

Major Industries. Mining (diamonds and other gemstones, uranium), fishing and fish processing, and commercial agriculture (cattle and sheep) have long been the economic mainstays in terms of value produced. Earnings fluctuate greatly depending on world market prices and weather conditions. The manufacturing sector is growing with government promotion and incentives, although the small size of the skilled labor force and domestic market are limiting factors. Tourism has grown substantially since independence.

Trade. Diamonds and other minerals are the most important exports, followed by processed and unprocessed fish, other food products, and live animals. The main export destinations include the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Spain. Most imports are purchased from South Africa, and include food and beverages as well as a wide variety of manufactured goods. Imports slightly exceed exports.

Social Stratification

Classes and Castes. Namibia is characterized by great economic inequality; the wealthiest 1 percent consume more than the poorest half of the population combined. Segregation has continued since the end of apartheid, although more non-whites have joined the upper classes. Whites, only 7 percent of the population, own and manage most large businesses and commercial farms; in the civil service, the races are on more equal terms. In the rural communal areas, teachers, health care workers, government employees, and successful business people form a local elite, though they are still closely integrated into their communities through kinship ties and obligations.

Symbols of Social Stratification. The wealthier classes of all races are distinguished by expensive cars, large homes in exclusive neighborhoods, a command of English, attendance at private schools, and extensive travel.

Political Life

Government. Namibia has a parliamentary government with two houses (National Assembly and National Council), a president, prime minister, and cabinet. There is a clear separation of judicial, legislative, and executive powers, and the constitution is internationally acclaimed for its guarantees of fundamental rights and freedoms. Elections since independence have been judged "free and fair" by outside observers.

Leadership and Political Officials. Voters elect parties, rather than candidates, and the parties select representatives to fill the seats they win.

Social Problems and Control. Although crime levels are relatively low, recent years have seen an increase in violent crime and theft, along with complaints that the police lack the manpower and equipment to combat crime properly.

Military Activity. The major post-independence military accomplishment was merging the previously opposed People's Liberation Army of Namibia and the South West Africa Territorial Force into a single national army. Namibia's recent involvement in a civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been controversial.

Nongovernmental Organizations and Other Associations

During a wave of grassroots organizing in the 1980s, dozens of community-based organizations (CBOs) were formed to deal with worsening social problems and to complement the political struggle for independence. Today numerous CBOs, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), cooperatives, and religious groups provide housing assistance, legal advice, education, community media outlets, and self-help projects. The government has created a favorable climate for these groups, seeing them as valuable partners in the task of developing Namibia.

Gender Roles and Statuses

Division of Labor by Gender. In the rural communal areas, men and boys generally care for livestock, build and maintain homesteads, plow fields, and contribute some agricultural labor, while women and girls do most of the agricultural labor, food preparation, childcare, and household work.

The Relative Status of Women and Men. Women married to migrant laborers have taken on some traditionally male responsibilities, and women who fled the country to participate in the liberation struggle took on new roles as combatants, students, and refugee camp workers. They pushed SWAPO to support gender equality and helped ensure that the Constitution guarantees equal rights for men and women, however the process of changing discriminatory legislation is slow and ongoing. Women still have fewer economic opportunities than men, and the incidence of rape and domestic violence is extremely high.

Marriage, Family, and Kinship

Marriage. Weddings are extremely important social events in Namibia, bringing family and friends together to sing, dance, and feast. Most weddings combine old and new elements. Many Owambo couples, for example, say their vows in a church ceremony accompanied by identically-dressed bridesmaids and groomsmen, then exit to a crowd of guests shouting praises, dancing, and waving horsetail whisks.

Domestic Unit. Most households are not nuclear families, but contain other kin as well. The head of the household manages domestic finances, makes important decisions, and organizes productive activities.

Kin Groups. Corporate kin groups are formed by ties traced through women (matrilineal), men (patrilineal), or both (bilateral), depending on ethnicity. These kin groups provide a support network for their members and control joint property, especially livestock; in the past, they also played significant roles in political and religious affairs. There has been a general shift from matrilinealism to patrilinealism. For example, wives and children in matrilineal communities can now assert rights to the property of deceased husbands and fathers, which has been traditionally inherited by the man's matrilineal relatives (his siblings and sisters' children).

Socialization

Infant Care. Babies are breast-fed and carried on the mother's back until about the age of two. Most sleep with their mothers, and children usually share a bed or room with siblings.

Downtown Windhoek, Namibia's capital city, is a rapidly growing urban center.
Downtown Windhoek, Namibia's capital city, is a rapidly growing urban center.

Child Rearing and Education. Parents receive substantial help with child rearing from other family members. It is not unusual for children to live with other relatives if the parents have work obligations, the child needs to be closer to school, or a relative needs a child's help. Most boys and girls attend primary school, although sometimes they stay at home to help with the livestock or crops.

Higher Education. Education is highly valued, but the limited availability of places in secondary and tertiary schools, as well as the expense involved, hinders many students from continuing beyond primary school.

Etiquette

Extended greetings and handshakes are very important in most Namibian cultures. When food and drink is offered, it is polite to accept. There is a general emphasis on emotional restraint in public, and public displays of affection between spouses or lovers are frowned upon, especially in rural areas.

Religion

Although a small percentage of the population practices traditional religions, the vast majority are Christian. The Lutheran Church is the largest; other major denominations include the Catholic, Dutch Reformed, and Anglican churches. Easter and Christmas are public holidays and especially popular times for travel so families can gather together.

Medicine and Health Care

The health care system ranges from state-of-the-art private hospitals in Windhoek to small state- or church-run clinics in the rural areas. Traditional healers are sometimes consulted instead of or in addition to the biomedical system, particularly when biomedicine has been unsuccessful.

Although malaria is fairly common in the north and 10 percent of the population suffers from chronic malnutrition, the most serious health problem is HIV-AIDS—20 to 25 percent of the adult population is estimated to be infected, and the number is still rising. Life expectancy has dropped significantly, and analysts predict a major loss of economic productivity as most of those infected are young people. The number of AIDS orphans is already testing the ability of kinship networks to cope.

A Himba village in Kaokoland. In pastoral communities, all members generally have access to grazing and water in the community's area.
A Himba village in Kaokoland. In pastoral communities, all members generally have access to grazing and water in the community's area.

Secular Celebrations

Celebrations with national or political significance include Cassinga Day (4 May) which commemorates the deaths of hundreds of Namibian refugees in a 1978 attack, Independence Day (21 May), and Heroes Day (26 August). These occasions are marked by singing, dancing, and speeches by public officials. Other secular holidays include New Year's Day (1 January), Workers' Day (1 May), and Africa Day (25 May).

The Arts and Humanities

Support for the Arts. Before independence, European-influenced arts were relatively well-funded by private and governmental sources. Since independence, research on and promotion of indigenous music, dance oral literature, and other artistic forms has increased greatly with government support.

Literature. The literary community in Namibia is relatively small. Most literature in the indigenous languages consists of traditional tales, short stories, and novels written for schoolchildren. Published fiction, poetry, and autobiographical writings appear in both the English and Afrikaans languages.

Graphic Arts. Many craftspeople produce objects for local use and the tourist trade; wood carvings (containers, furniture, animals) from the Kavango and basketry from Owambo are the best known examples. Some craftspeople have formed organizations to assist each other with production and marketing.

Performance Arts. The National Theatre of Namibia serves as a venue for both Namibian and foreign musicians and stage actors, in addition to assisting community-based drama groups. School and church groups create and stage less formal productions. Traditional dance troupes representing the various ethnic groups of Namibia perform at local and national festivals and holiday celebrations, and also participate in competitions.

The State of the Physical and Social Sciences

The only university, the University of Namibia (UNAM), was founded in 1992. The largely foreign faculty is slowly being replaced as qualified Namibian candidates become available. Applied sciences are emphasized over theoretical sciences in an effort to meet Namibia's human resource needs. Agricultural, environmental, and health sciences are prominent, and numerous socioeconomic research reports have been produced by UNAM's Social Sciences Division and several independent social science research organizations.

Bibliography

Bauer, Gretchen. Labor and Democracy in Namibia, 1971–1996, 1998.

Becker, Heike. Namibian Women's Movement, 1980 to 1992: From Anti-Colonial Resistance to Reconstruction, 1995.

Emmett, Tony. Popular Resistance and the Roots of Nationalism in Namibia, 1915–1966, 1999.

Gordon, Robert J. The Bushman Myth: The Making of a Namibian Underclass, 1992.

Hayes, Patricia, Jeremy Silvester, Marion Wallace, and Wolfram Hartmann, eds. Namibia Under South African Rule: Mobility and Containment, 1915–1946, 1998.

Katjavivi, Peter H. A History of Resistance in Namibia, 1988.

Leys, Colin, and John S. Saul. Namibia's Liberation Struggle: The Two-Edged Sword, 1995.

The Namibian. the.namibian.com.na.

Pendleton, Wade C. Katutura, A Place Where We Stay: Life in a Post-Apartheid Township in Namibia, 1996.

Sparks, Donald L., and December Green. Namibia: The Nation After Independence, 1992.

Tapscott, Chris. "National Reconciliation, Social Equity and Class Formation in Independent Namibia." Journal of Southern African Studies 19 (1): 29–39, 1993.

Ya–Otto, John. Battlefront Namibia: An Autobiography, 1981.

—W ENDI A. H AUGH



Also read article about Namibia from Wikipedia

User Contributions:

1
Selestina Amandus
This article is really emazing and its teaching our new generation how Namibia is and how important it is. THank you for article.
2
Nana
This is a very comprehensive article of Namibia. I'm originally from Ghana but live in the US. I'm doing a research on Namibia as part of an African Civilization class I'm taking and I must confess that this article has come in handy. Thanks a lot.
3
mansueta
I should say this is helpful to people who wants to learn about Namibia, although it doesn't really say a lot, but I guess one cannot really gather everything at once especially when there is much to write about.
keep updating this I'm sure there are new developments.
4
Joseph Yotamu
Please try to include the most games played in this country
5
lucy
This article really gives great information but i think you should add more. its still great though. add pictures too.:)
6
claudia M
great article. helped me for my research in sociology(unam).very brief and simple english
7
vicky
ITS A WONDERFULL ARTICLE,,HELPED WITH MY RESEARCH(UNAM)...ITS VERY BRIEF AND UNDERSTABLE
8
MARIELYS
I LIKE THIS ARTICLE IT GIVES A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT NAMIBIA.IT HELPS ME WITH MY SOCIAL STUDY CLASS!
9
Brittany
I have to do a Project on Namibia, so thanks!! It is really helpful so hopefully it is right. So hi everyone and thank you for posting this page. BYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
10
lolitha
this web page was extremely helpful in the sense that i had all the info i needed all at the same time..i will regard this for future usage..so from moi,thats all for now..ciao
11
AINA
this is a very good article that will realy be helping out our youth/nation,thanks for the hand cos im busy doing my tour guiding assignment wich is about the ethnic groups in namibia. by namibian proud namibian..............!
12
pandu
well thats a great........thing to say its very intersting to say i love it...keep it up guys.pandu
13
Mathias Ateng Awonnatey
This piece of information is indeed good for every body. I am an Mphil Student from Ghana Studying Peace and Development. After reading this article i was amazed with the way the people despite the variety of ethnic composition have not experienced any ethnic conflict. Am currently making a comprehensive study about ethnic conflicts and Namibia is my case study. I would be very grateful if more light is thrown on the ethnic relations; has there being any conflict, cause, resolved and what has kept the people together for this while.
14
Meredith
Let's add this one to the list. May I rely on you to continue to keep the list up for now? I have a book that I want us to use, but will need some other items.
15
balitta christopher
I love Namibia and its culture especially that of the owambo people from the North and I would like to become Namibian Citizen too.I am Ugandan with Bsc Econ/statistics and Masters of Arts degree in Economics, am currently lecturing in of the universities and soon enrolling for Phd programme.

Advise me on how to gain citizenship in Namibia and play part in the development of this beautiful country.Am also involved in rural development activities as a facilitator.
I am doing a reasearch strudy on various cultures and the traditional stories. And here I use one tale told to me by an actor in the Omukwetu project. It is about a grandmother saving her family from the evil wizard. I am trying to find a connection between story and behaviour of the people. Is it possible to learn about the namibian people from that story?
This article really helped me for the preparation of my exams(Unam). I highly appreciate of what you are doing for us as information seekers, and i hope you will update us again with another information regarding our beautiful nation.
18
KAitlyn
I truely loved this article. But I wish that you wrote more of the tribes that are within the country and their different ways of living as opposed to the rural and major cities in the country. That'd be interesting.
i like the article as it gave me alot of infor about the background of Namibia, my Question is, Is there any history on how the namibians communicated lets say between the bronze age and iron age and whkat reflecytion we got from there.
The information is useful to tourists. I am hopeful to join University of Namibia for my postgraduate studies, if successful then am sure this information will be more than useful to me. Thanks to ICT-Namibia
Its helps to know information that you doubted to ask.thank u :)
22
jhon walton
this is an article comprising of all information which i needed for my exams
23
Uutoni
wow! this is a really good article, it has quite a nice and brief history of land of the brave. its indeed useful for the students and learners and anyone else who is interested in knowing about Namibia
THANKS ALOT FOR TEACHING ME SOME OF THIS STUFF IT'S REALLY AWESOME
wow! this page is filled with alot of imformation!
i'm doing a progect about Rugby World Cup 2011 and my adopted country is Namibia
too bad my team got sent back home!
THIS IS JUST GREAT FOR US NAMIBIAN IT FEELS PROUD TO BE A NAMIBIAN READING THIS ARTICLE REALLY KEPT MY SMILE PROGRESSING. KEEP IT UP, BESIDES MORE WILL BE THE RIGHT WORD
I am the author of this piece, and I just discovered all of your comments! I am an anthropology professor from the United States who has spent several years volunteering, traveling, and doing research in Namibia. This piece titled “Namibia” is an entry in an academic encyclopedia called Countries and Their Cultures, and I’ll post the citation below for those who want to cite the entry in research projects. The encyclopedia editors gave each author a list of topics that must be covered (so that the same topics are covered for every country) and a strict word count (so that the encyclopedia volumes would not be too long). The encyclopedia staff also chose the photos; I would have loved a more diverse set of images to represent the great diversity of people and lifestyles in Namibia. Although Namibia has a relatively small population, there is so much diversity in culture, society, language, and environment that it was extremely difficult for me to convey widespread patterns (characteristics shared by many people) while letting readers know that Namibians aren’t all the same. Therefore, I’m especially happy to read the positive comments from Namibians who liked this entry! Unfortunately, I can’t make any changes (expansions, updates, photos) to the article, which came out ten years ago now, because it is part of a formal publication.
The citation information for this article is “Namibia” in Countries and Their Cultures, volume 3. Editors Melvin Ember and Carol R. Ember. Published in 2001 in New York by Thomson Gale. Pages 1537-1544.
29
adam l
I AM VERY HAPPY FOR THE IFORMATION COLLECTED, MY QUESTION IS , IS IT TRUE THAT DISCREMINATION IS STILL THERE IN ACESSING SOCAL SERVICES . SINCE AM PLANING TO VISIT NAMIBIA IN NEXT YEAR .
THANKS
30
odalys
This is amazing i didnt even know about the Namib Desert till now i want to study this when i get older.
31
PETER
TODAY I WAS WATCHING A PROGRAM IN OUR TLC TV CHANEL ABOUT NAMIBIA, FROM THAT TIME I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT NAMIBIA AND REALLY This article is emazing and EDUCATIVE THANKS for the Artical .
32
Scholastika Negongo
I found the origin of the name Namibia, awesome. This is good research work.
One question though, where did the Bantu (Herero and Oshiwambo) speaking people originate from?
33
anna
this is awosame , i realy like this , its fabulous
34
Bonnie
My son recently joined the Peace Corps and was sent to Namibia. I am very curious about the country and wanted to learn more about it. I found your article very informative and would like to learn more. I am very interested in the culture and the people. Thanks for the article.
35
Aruna
I have a friend who lives in Namibia, where I was to know about the culture and everything else. Thanks
36
frikkie
Great piece of work...comes very handy,am a nursing student,helped alot in Socioloy..
This Article really reveals alots of History about My country that i got no doubt to recommend to my fellow namibians especially History subject teachers to make use of it as a reference. I merely got hold of such information and i also think that those business people in tourism also need this especially tour guider on historical sites.
38
secilia
I am a full Namibian and I'm happy to read this story. However i find it interesting because this is a good background of Namibia and i really like it so much. please keep it up for young ones know where they are coming from and where they are heading to. Than you for that!
39
David Asino
WOW, I LOVE MY COUNTRY, EVERYTIME WHEN I THINK/MISS NAMIBIA, THEN I RE-READ THIS ARTICLE OVER AND OVER, IM CURRENTLY BASE IN SOUTH AFRICA AND I HAVE DONE ALOT OF RESEARCH BETWEEN MY COUNTRY AND S.A, AND I SEE THE BIG DIFFERENT.
40
Navy Kong
Thank You to who made this website it helped me a lot with my homeworks.
41
Abee
I want to know about the life expense at Namibia for a month. Since I plan to do internship at Namibia, I would like to know about the information
Thank you
42
Bernadette
I just love this. I need to do some writing about Namibian cultures and this is excellent.
WELL THIS IS A VERY GOOD WEBSITE AND YES IT HELPED ME DO MY PROJECT. I GUESS THATS ALL.
44
chris
Thanks a lot heartily for the wonderful information, this site display. Keep up the good work, it is worthwhile!
Chris
45
max
Yeah,thanks for your phrase anyway but i do have a big question for you. how did those languages get started in Namibia? Languages like, Khoisan and Afrikaans?
46
Maujakakana Rutjani
I am a Namibian and I think the article in very good, Namibia is a beautiful country with vast spaces and alot of natural resources. It is a wonderful country with untaped potential. Windhoek is the capital city, Swakopmund city is the most beautiful city in Namibia, Oshakati, Ongwediva, Walvis Bay are the commercial cities in Namibia. We have the Namib Desert, coastal areas, National parks with wildlife, the fish, the waterfalls, world class infrastructures, canyons, meat, uranium, diamonds, copper, beers and many more.

We have the following tribes in Namibia:
OvaHerero/Himba (they speak Otjiherero and Otjihimba)
Ovambo (they speak Oshiwambo)
Nama/Damara (they speak Nama/Damara, with alot of clicks)
Kavango(they speak lukwangari)
Lozi(they speak Silozi)
Afrikaner (they speak Afrikaans)
Germans (they speak German)

The currency is Namibian Dollars which is equivalent to South African Rand. The population is 2 million people, most people are Christians. The main traditional food is meat(onjama), porridge(oruhere), fish(ohi), Omahangu, sour milk(omaere), milk(omaihi), cheese(omaze).

Here are some useful words in Otjiherero/Himba language (herero and himba are the same language, but the cultural practices are a bit different):

Morning: Moro
How are you(greeting): wapenduka?
Give me water please: ndjipao omeva arikana
Goodbye: karee nawa
come: indjo
money: ovimariva
where is the bank?: ombaanga iripi?
mother: mama
father: tate

Thanks for giving information about our country.
47
Tracey
Thanks alot for the infor but much information is needed on the origin of every language, their role in education and preservation of culture
48
Nally
Analyse the current development,role in education and preservation of culture of the Germanic (afrikaans) languages in Namibia?
49
Abby
I am working on a project about the country of Namibia, and this article was very helpful and provided me with some useful information for my project.
50
DULIKENI
This article is so educating that now i know what i never knew before about my Namibian culture.
51
phoenix
I love this article got a 110% for doing extra on my paper
52
liina-lineekela
what are the values of the ovambo people in Namibia and explain them?
53
Erica
Am Namibian..maried to German and find this aticle very educating and interesting to read! how the Ovambus and Hereros spread in the country..and that the Buschman and Khoe people where the first to settle.there..how Namibiams celebrate their ceremonies and stand together as one nation:-) love my coumtry so much..will see you all next year... kkeep up the good work..
54
masieto tarie'a
I THINK ITS ONE SIDED BUT STIL A GOOD ARTICAL ...KEEP THE GOOD WORK
55
Reagan Nyungis
I really really enjoyed this amazing article about our beautiful, peaceful, one of the richest countries in Africa at large. it gives more information about every aspect of the entire state
56
Frieda Uunona
Thank you very much for an amazing,educative article.it answers some of the questions i have been asking myself about Namibia.
57
israel
thank u for the awareness of our fading cultural origin
58
sara
thanks so much this really helped :)
i needed this for a speech in school so thanks again
59
ROSE
I love this article, it gives more information about my cultural origin.
i really like this article. thank u. i would like to ask. how some Namibian cultures changed and negatively affected the children?
61
Sandra
Thank you for the wonderful article. very educating and well thought of. its vital and worth it.
62
Selma :)
This article has definitely assisted me greatly in doing my assignment on the class structure and its influence in Namibia. Blessings!
63
Daphne
Waaw, thnkx for a wonderful article i really learnt a lot.
64
florence
A very promising article ,as a teacher i found this very helpful , just one correction independence day is on the 21st of march not may as written in the article.
65
Abbigale :)
I think that it is interesting how other people live. U.S.A. is great. I love love love it. Thank you so much for who ever creates this website.
66
Janine
Wonderful article, I am trying to find my grandfather's family in Namibia. he came to S.A over 40 years ago (I live in South Africa) he was from the Ovambo Tribe and their surname was Kangobe( I think that's the right spelling), so far my search has been unsuccessful.If anyone has any tips on where to start it would be highly appreciated.
67
Manfred R Anderson
A must read for everyone seeking informed insight about Namibia and its diverse cultures and historic detail. More of this will shape those lost in search of their true identity. I will recommend this to others.
68
ryleigh
i have to do a project on Namibia so thanks for the info. I think Namibia is very interesting.
69
Shikolalie Ndino
I'm proud to be a Namibian Vambo the tribe that has highest population in Namibia . 2030 is our vision for our country to be a developed country . Thank you! The article is clear !
70
Angel
;-) good job, i can pass this on to my friends!! Thank you so much for uploading this. I am Namibian and have a lot of friends outside the country and this is a great article to present to friends.
71
Anna K Aluvilu
wow! this article really helps me with my assignments. straight point and short one.
72
hausiku
Good article but some tribes were not included like the Kavangos, want to know how they came in Namibia and these might help me give relevant information on my assignment, did a great job, please explore more ...
73
Gifty Kakonda
It,s real helpful in Namibia education system. Thank u Wendi Haugh & Maujakakana for your contribution.
74
Gifty Kakonda
It,s real helpful in Namibia education system. Thank u Wendi Haugh & Maujakakana for your contribution.
75
Gifty Kakonda
It,s real helpful in Namibia education system. Thank u Wendi Haugh & Maujakakana for your contribution.
Great article. Now I can travel with enough info on my Tabb
77
J.Kamati
This is a wonderful article, learns a lot to do my assignments an a academic someone. Helped me to understand my own country in more details and now I feel being not left-out.
Salute!
78
Gideon Shikongo
This article is not bad,it's actually great,it came in handy : )
79
Dj Alex
How partners are selected in different cultures.?
How partners are selected in different cultures.?
How partners are selected in different cultures.?

Anyone to help answer please.
80
Sumeet
It's much useful information. Highly appreciated. Thank you very much!
81
beatha namupolo
Wow! a very brief information, it helped me to complete my assignment. THANK you.
82
Cavi Ngeama
Useful information, especially for history students. Cant thank you enough.
83
Selma Iipinge
This article is very nice but add the culture and indigenous knowledge in climate change adaptation
84
jiis
this article is so helpful . it helped me WITH MY ASSESSMENT OF HISTORY
85
bella
very informative and easy to understand thank you so much
86
Clipzboi
Thanks to ICT now i really do understand my country very we'll..!
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Lorna M R
Hi Janine, There was someone with that surname who worshipped at our church. She told my mum that her mum passed away when she was 6yrs old. Her dad married again when she was 8yrs old. I don't live in South Africa anymore. However, you can go to a website called STAMOUERS. Maybe you will find some information there about your families. I am planning to visit Namibia again sometime this year. What an informative article. Well written with a lot of information! I couldn't believe how well the Namibians spoke Afrikaans, when I was there a number of years ago. I also helped some of my cousin's workers there with their assignments. The natives are so friendly and the food in the supermarkets is delicious! I love Namibia!
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Claudious Taban
This is great. I love this great African nation. But i really want their unique traditional beliefs.
Thank you for this beautiful work on the Namibian nation. Your insights are very educative and informative. I am a Nigerian national who has adopted Namibia as a second home. I hail from Calabar, Cross River State in Southern Nigeria. I love Namibia, a country I lived for nearly three years while on a national assignment for my country.
Namibia is a peaceful country, relatively low crime, no religious crisis, no political instability since independence. Corruption is almost at zero level. I enjoyed steady power supply during my stay. The beautiful landscapes rekindle my memory infinitely. But, there is something I dislike about Namibia, guess what; left hand drive. It's horrifying. Nevertheless, she remains my paradise!
I love you, Namibia!

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