The
people of Namibia:
Information on ethnic groups
More
information on diversity of population groups of our country.
Inhabitants of the Republic of Namibia vary from hunter-gatherers, herders and
farmers to an urban population consisting of traders, civil servants, industrialists and
individuals in a wide diversity of professions, belonging to many different cultural
and ethnic groups.
This is
collective name for a group of tribes in northern Namibia and southern
part of Angola. In the middle of 16 century these tribes which belonged to Bantu group
moved southwards from the great lakes area in the East Africa and settled between Kunene
and Okavango rivers.There are eight tribes of this group in northern Namibia at present
with a total population of around 700 000 which represents almost half of the population
of the country (45%). As agriculturists producing mostly millet and
pastoralists, they supplemented their subsistence economy with hunting, fishing and
gathering wild foods.
Kwanyama and Ndongo are the largest tribes (approx. 36 and 27% respectively) while
Kwambi, Ngandjera, Mbalanhu, Kwaluudhi, Eunda and Nkolonkadhi are the smaller tribes. They
have own dialects. The Owambo social organization is matrilineal (children belong to the
mother's clan) although they are changing it towards patrilineal system. The chief's
position and a man's health are inherited by his younger brother or sister's son, and not
by his own children, since they belong to the mother's family. The tribe is traditionally
headed by a hereditary chief, although more and more councils of senior headmen make the
decisions.
An Owambo homestead (kraal or ''eumbo'') has a circular
arrangement of homes with the labyrinth-like passages which may confuse a stranger or an
evil spirit, but they all lead to the central meeting place, the ''olupale''. The sacred
fire is located here (''omulilo gwoshilongo'').
The Owambo's Supreme being is Kalunga. He is not actively worshipped since he is
seen as being largely uninvolved in everyday affairs. The ancestral spirits are most
significant, those from the east, where the sun and moon rise, being helpful, and those
from the west being dangerous and evil. These are appeased by observing tribal traditions
and by acknowledging the spirits through the intervention of the ''onganga'', or diviner.
The most qualified ''onganga'' are the ''ovapuliki'' who are experts in herbal medicines,
religious practices, divination and communicating with good and bad spirits. During the
last century, many Owambo were converted to Christianity.
The Owambo's Supreme being is Kalunga. He is not actively worshipped since he is
seen as being largely uninvolved in everyday affairs. The ancestral spirits are most
significant, those from the east, where the sun and moon rise, being helpful, and those
from the west being dangerous and evil. These are appeased by observing tribal traditions
and by acknowledging the spirits through the intervention of the ''onganga'', or diviner.
The most qualified ''onganga'' are the ''ovapuliki'' who are experts in herbal medicines,
religious practices, divination and communicating with good and bad spirits. During the
last century, many Owambo were converted to Christianity.
Migrated to Namibia
several centuries ago, the Herero are a pastoral cattle - breeding people. They moved to
the country at about the same period as Owambo from East Africa. Today the number of
Herero people in the country is around 100 000.
According to the legend the Herero came from ''a country
of mountains''. The two Herero leaders, Kathu, and his brother Nangombe decided to split.
Kathu trekked north, while Nangombe stayed in what is present Namibia to establish the
Herero nation. The word Herero may be derived from ''okuhera'', meaning ''to throw an
assegai''. They were a fearless and war loving nation. In 1904 they uprised against the
German empire with a disastrous consequences - around 75% of Herero's population were
destroyed.
The Herero uniquely recognise their descent from both the mother's and father's
families unlike other southern Africa's indigenous groups. Religion and authority are
taken from the father's line, the economy and inheritance of wealth is passed on via the
mother's clan.
The Herero believe in a Supreme being, called Omukuru, (''the Great One''), or
Njambi Karunga. Like the Himba they also have a holy, ritual fire which symbolises life,
fertility and prosperity.
The majority of Herero have been converted to Christianity.
The Herero church, the Oruuano, combines Christian dogma with ancestor worship and
magical practices. Traditionally Hereros are nomadic pastoralists.
There is no private ownership of cattle, since they belong to the lineage of the
mother's tribe. An heir has to share his inheritance with his brother's and the sons of
his mother's younger sisters. He must also take care of the wives and children of the
deceased. This system is also changing and today more children inherit cattle from their
dead father.
Herero chief Hosea Kutako became a national hero when he petitioned to UN
protesting illegal presence of South Africa in Namibia.
The Damara
The total population
of Damara people, one of the oldest cultural groups in the country,
is approximately 90 000. They cultivate corn and vegetables, with livestock
production playing important role as a source of income.
The area in the north - east of
the coast with an area of about 5 million hectares and an administrative centre in
Khorixas was proclaimed as Damaraland in 1973.
Today it is a part of Erongo Region.
The Kavango
The population of the
Kavango people, close relatives of Owambo, is approximately 140 000 people.
The Kavango consist of five tribes: Kwangali, Shambyu, Gciriku, Mbunza and
Mbukushu. Each tribe is lead by a chief, assisted by a headmen. Like most other
groups in northern Namibia, southern Angola and Zambia, the social organization of the
Kavango is based on the matrilineal system. The economy in the Kavango is based on
combination of horticulture and animal husbandry.
Also originating from central East Africa, the Kavango first settled at Mashi on
the Kwando river before moving further west at the end of nineteenth century. They are
divided into five tribal groupings at present speaking four different languages (
RuKwangari, ShiShambyu, RuGciriku and ThiMbukshu). Some clans take their names from nature
and wildlife.
Especially in rural areas, the Kavango are a river people subsisting off
agriculture, pastoralism, fishing and licensed hunting. They are famed for their uniquely expressive wood carvings. The Kavango have a rich and complex
belief system and mythology. Karunga or Nyambi (Mbukushu tribe) is the Supreme being (same
for Owambos). The sun and moon help him to guide and protect people. Stars,
''ntungwedhi'', are Nyambi's fireflies, the ''tutemwesi'', which gather in groups (Milky
Way) to give more light during moonless nights. Nyambi is never directly petitioned and he
is trusted to send enough rain. It is a society still largely believing in magic,
witchcraft, ancestor worship and the evil powers of Shadipinyi, the wicked servant of
Nyambi. No prayer or offering is made to the evil one since this will only expose a
person's weaknesses.
The ancient tribe of
semi-nomadic pastoralists occupied Kunene region of the country. The Himbas (who are
relatives of Herero) are an extraordinary people who have resisted change and preserved
their unique cultural heritage.
The Himbas were impoverished by Nama cattle raiders in the middle of 1800's and
then forced to be hunter-gatherers. Because of these events they were called the Tjimba,
derived form the word meaning aardvark, the animal that digs for it's food. Many Himbas
fled to Angola where they were called Ovahimba, meaning 'beggars'. They left with their
leader called Vita (''war''). After World War 1 he resettled his people in Kaokoland.
Since these events the Himbas were living their nomadic pastoralist lives. But now
more and more they have to reconcile traditional ways with European values.
One of most interesting rituals of these people is that of the ritual fire, the
''okoruwo''. The fire provides contact between the living and the dead, which is necessary
for harmonious living and keeping the ancestors happy. It is kept alive until the death of
the headman. When this happens, his hut and the fire is destroyed. His family dance in
mourning throughout the night. Before his burial everyone says to him: "Karepo
nawa" (''keep well''). Later a fresh mopane tree is lit from the embers of the old
fire. Himba children
The Nama have a lot in
common with the Bushmen and are the only true relatives of the Khoikhoi group in the
country. The population of Nama is approximately 90 000 people.
The Rehoboth Basters
The Basters regard
themselves as a separate community from the Coloureds. The population of the Basters is
approximately 60 000 people. While they are traditionally stock and crop farmers nowadays
many of them are involved in building trade.
The Topnaars
This is a group of
Nama people. Mainly they have lived on the banks of Kuiseb river, with some members of
community working in Walvis Bay.
The Coloureds
As a Rehoboth Basters,
originally this group came to Namibia from Cape Province of South Africa. Most of them
live in towns and found in a wide range of professions. They speak Afrikaans as a home
language.
The Caprivians
Approximately 66 000
people live in the Caprivi strip. The tribes inhabitate the Caprivi are: Masubia, Mafwe,
Mayeyi, Mbukushu and Matotela.
The total population of Bushmen in Namibia is about 27
000 people. This hunters - gatherers occupy remote areas in the east of the country and
Kalahari desert in Botswana.
YouTube video of Living Museum of the Ju/'Hoansi-San
Bushmen:
San (Bushmen) constitute about 3% of Namibians. They belong to the Naro,
Kxoe/Mbarakwengo, Heikom, /Auni and /Nu-ken tribes. Most live in Bushmanland and very few
still live as they once did.
The oldest San paintings testify that these hunter-gatherers roamed through
Southern Africa more than 25 000 years ago. All San paintings across Africa are similar in
style although languages and dialects differ. This common style existed between San people
in Namibia, in the Drakensberg in South Africa and in Botswana.
The San lived in complete harmony with nature. With no political or inherited power
hierarchy, every member of society shared resources and responsibilities equally. Sharing
was and still is in some areas the most basic principle of life. Ownership and wealth were
unnecessary and harmful concepts. The fact that nothing was ever wasted, ensured San
survival as nomads and hunters in an extremely harsh environment of Southern African
deserts such as Namib and Kalahari. Everything was used from a hunted animal: from skin to
bones, from meat to even stomach for making waterproof bags. They used the poison from the
diamphidia beetle which has a haemtoxic venom, slowly attacking the animals blood
corpuscles. In other regions poison was reaped from Euphorbia bushes and boehmianum trees,
snake venom and the polyclada beetle.
The Tswanas
With the population of
around 6 000 people this is the smallest cultural group in the country. Most Tswanas live
in the Gobabis district of Namibia.
The Whites
There are about 75 000
inhabitants of Namibia with European origin. Around 60% of them are Afrikaans-speaking,
25% are German and the rest are English and Portuguese.
be hunter-gatherers. Because of these events they were called the Tjimba,
derived form the word meaning aardvark, the animal that digs for it's food. Many Himbas
fled to Angola where they were called Ovahimba, meaning 'beggars'. They left with their
leader called Vita (''war''). After World War 1 he resettled his people in Kaokoland.
