About 2.2 million people share the vast spaces of Namibia, the country has one of the lowest population densities in the world with 1.5 people per square kilometre. It is thought that only about a quarter of Namibians live in urban areas, although this figure is certainly increasing as growing numbers of unemployed people leave their villages and farms.
The population of Namibia is not evenly distributed with about 60% of people living in the northern regions, while the southern and coastal areas are almost unpopulated. Namibia's population can be divided into (at least) 11 ethnic groups, the biggest group of which is the Owambo people. As a country Namibia is still trying to find a national identity, but each of the countries cultural groups has its own a rich heritage and traditions.
Due to the unfortunate apartheid history of Namibia the division of people into cultural or tribal groups is an extremely sensitive issue, and most people prefer to think of themselves as Namibians.
The population of Namibia can be divided into the following groups.
- Owambo
- Kavango
- Herero
- Himba
- Damara
- Nama
- Topnaars
- Rehoboth Basters
- Coloureds
- Caprivians
- Bushmen (San)
- Tswanas
- Whites
The Owambo is by far the largest population group in Namibia, comprising about one third of the countries total population. Owabo is a collective name for twelve tribal groups that live in northern Namibia and southern Angola. The largest of these tribes is the Kwanyama which make up about 35% of the 700 000 Owambo who live in Namibia. The next largest groups are the Ndonga and Kwambi which respectively comprise 30% and 12% of Namibia's Owambo population. While the Ngandyela, Mbalanhu, Nkolonkadhi and Unda complete the 8 Owambo tribal groups found in Namibia.
The home of the Owambo people was once called Owamboland but is today divided into the Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshana and Oshikoto regions. These regions are now often referred to as the 4 'O' regions.
Traditionally each of the tribal groups was headed by a hereditary chief, who is assisted by several headman. Land is allocated by the chief or headman, land is never owned and upon the death of a tenant the appropriate chief will allocate the land to a new tenant. The new tenant will not necessarily be related to the deceased.
In rural areas each Owambo family lives in its own kraal or eumbo, which is enclosed by a wooden fence. The houses are situated inside this fence and can be either round or square thatched huts, outside of the fence are the families lands. In the centre of the kraal is the family sacred fire (omulilo gwoshilongo) which is kept burning at all times. The Nakambale Museum and Traditional village present an excellent way to experience an Owambo kraal.
The Owambo practice both agriculture (mahango or millet) and cattle farming and this is supplemented by fish from the shallow pools (oshanas) which characterise the region. Another source of income for may Owambo's is the cuca shops (small bars) and large food markets.
Traditionally the Owambo has practised a matrilineal system especially in matters of inheritance and succesion, however in recent years the system has shifted towards a patrilieal society.
The Kavango River in north eastern Namibia forms part of the border between Namibia and Angola and also serves as the focal point of the Kavango people. The major center in this region is the town of Rundu. There are about 140 000 Kavango people in Namibia, and they can be broken into five groups, Mbukushu, Sambiyu, Kwangari, Mbunza and Geiriku.
The traditional home of the Kavango people is the Kavango Region in north eastern Namibia. Traditionally Kavangos make their living from fishing, cattle, and the farming of sorghum, millet and maize. The Kavangos are closely related to the Owambo people and both are thought to have originated in east Africa.
Each tribe is headed by a traditional chief, who is assisted by headmen. The chief has power over his entire tribe and is responsible for the allocation of land. Although the Kavango chiefs are always male, the system is mostly matrilineal.
The Kavango region is well known for its wood carvers, and the Kavango are responsible for the majority of wood carvings you will find in Namibia.
The Herero people of Namibia are a pastoral cattle breeding nation. it is believed they migrated from the east African lakes arriving in Namibia about 350 years ago. Their initial home was in Kaokoland near the Kunene River, but some 150 years ago a large portion of the Herero population moved southwards leaving the Himba and Tjimba tribes behind.
There are about 100 000 Herero people in Namibia, and today they are mostly found in the central and eastern parts of the country. The Herero can be divided into several sub-groups the biggest of which includes the Tjimba and Ndamuranda groups who live Kaokoland, the Mahereo who are found around Okahandja and the Zeraua who are found in the area around Omaruru. A group called the Mbandero occupy an area in eastern Namibia, around the town of Gobabis, which was formerly known as Hereroland.
Until the colonial period the Herero prospered in the central grassland areas, where there was ample grazing for their cattle, but a succession of battles with the northward migrating Nama, and more severely the German colonial troops led to about 75% of the Herero population been exterminated. Estimates are that of the 80 000 Herero in Namibia in 1900 only about 16 000 remained by 1905. During this period large numbers of Herero fled to the safety of Botswana, but since independence some of these people have begun to return to Namibia.
The Herero are proud cattle farmers who measure their wealth in cattle, the importance of cattle to these people is even evident in the Herero womens' dresses. The traditional dress is derived from a Victorian woman's dress, and consists of an enormous crinoline worn over a several petticoats, a horn shaped hat (said to represent the horns of a cow) made from rolled cloth is also worn.
The traditional Herero festival is held in Okahandja on Maherero day, which falls on the last weekend in August. The various paramilitary groups parade before their chiefs, and Herero women line the streets in their beautiful dresses.
The Himba are a tribe of nomadic pastoralists who inhabit the Kaokoland area of Namibia. The Himba are actually descendants of a group of Herero herders who fled into the remote north-west after been displaced by the Nama. The Himba have clung to their traditions and the beautiful Himba women are noted for their intricate hairstyles which and traditional jewellery.
As Himba men and woman wear few clothes apart from a loin cloth or goat skinned mini-skirt, they rub their bodies with red ochre and fat to protect themselves from the sun and also gives their appearance a rich red colour.
The Himba jewellery is made from iron or shell, and due to their intricate designs have become very popular amongst western tourists. Himba homesteads are cone shaped structures made from palm leaves, mud and cattle dung. During the course of a year the family will move from one home to another in search of grazing for the animals. For this reason it is important not to take anything from a Himba hut even if it appears abandoned. The traditional village at Puros or the luxury Epupa Lodge are both good places to visit if you want to learn more about the Himba way of life.
Several safari operators organise tours to Kaokoland, if you plan to self drive in Kaokoland you will do best to rent a four wheel drive vehicle, it is our opinion that this is the one area where it is best to join an organised safari through Kaokoland, or organise a local Himba guide, firstly because of the remoteness of the area but more importantly due to the sensitive nature of the Himba culture, with a local guide you will be able to talk to the Himba and learn about their culture, without a guide the experience is more voyeuristic and their will be no communication.
About 100 000 Damara people live in Namibia, they share a common language with the Nama but have no kinship. The Damara have mystified anthropologists as they are a group of Bantu origin who speak a Khoisan dialect. Due to their resemblance to some bantu groups of West Africa it is speculated that the Damara were the first people to migrate to Namibia from the north.
There is evidence that the Damara have kept small herds of stock for centuries, they also grow tobacco and pumpkins, and in more recent time they have begun cultivating vegetables and corn.
Prior to 1870 the Damara occupied most of central Namibia, but large numbers were displaced or killed when the Nama and Herero began to occupy this area in search of better grazing. When the first Europeans visited Namibia the Damara were a group of semi-nomadic gardeners, pastoralists and hunter-gatherers. They also had skills in mining and metal work. However in 1960 the South African government settled the Damara in Damaraland, an area of poor soil and irregular rain fall. Due to this many Damara now work in the urban areas and only about one quarter of their numbers still occupy Damaraland.
The Nama originally lived around the Orange River in southern Namibia and northern South Africa in the mid nineteenth century their leader Jan Jonker Afrikaner led them to the are of present day Windhoek. Even before this the Nama lived in Namaqualand and were called Hottentots but were pushed northwards by the European farmers. There are about 60 000 Nama people who live in Namibia and they are thought to be the true descendants of the Khoikhoi.
Unfortunately they came into conflict with the Herero, who were already in this area, and the groups fought many wars. Eventually the German government relocated the warring groups to several reserves.
The Nama have much in common with the San (Bushmen) sharing the same linguistic roots and features, as with the San people the Nama have light skin, and a small delicate frame. The Nama language share a common language with the Damara people. The Nama consist of thirteen groups (listed with Nama name and European name in parenthesis) the !Kharkoen (Simon Cooper), /Hoaaran//Aixallaes (Afrikaner), =Aonin (Topnaar), Kai//Khaun, Khauben (Rooi Nasie), /Hai/Khau-an (Berseba tribe), Orlams, //Habobe/Kharloan (Veldskoendraers), //Khau/goan (Swartbooi), !Gami=nun (Bondelswarts), /Koenesen (Witbooi), //Okain (Groot Doders) and Kai/Khau-an (Lamberts). The imaginative spelling of the Nama names is due to the fact they have five clicks in the language, and these are their denotations.
The Nama practice a policy of communal land ownership except for the Topnaars of the Kuiseb. Music, poetry and story telling are very important in Nama culture and many stories have been passed down orally through the generations.
One of the greatest Namibian leaders Hendrik Witbooi was a Nama leader who heroically harassed the German occupiers from his base in the Naukluft mountains and played a large part in the history of Namibia's first liberation struggle. Today he is fondly remembered by all sections of the Namibian Population and was chosen as the head which appears on all Namibian banknotes.
The Topnaar are technically a branch of the Nama people. They live in the the western central Namib along the Kuiseb River in the area around the Walvis Bay. Their history and welfare is closely linked to the !nara melon, which is a thorny desert plant. The !nara was the only source of income and the primary element of the Topnaar diet (which was supplemented by hunting). The Topnaar hunting grounds are now part of the Namib-Naukluft park and they are no longer allowed to hunt and the !nara melon is under threat due to the falling water table.
About 55 000 Rehoboth basters live in Namibia, they are the offspring of Nama and Dutch Settlers. these children were called coloured or basters. In the late 1860's with mounting pressure from the Boers a group of about 90 families trekked to Namibia. They initially settled near Warmbad in southern Namibia, but in 1880 the settled in the area of Rehoboth. At that time this are was home to the Bondelswart, a group of Namas.
The home language of the basters is Afrikaans, a language they share with many white Namibians. The Basters are proud of their name and history, even though the word baster is means bastard. They feel they are different from other coloureds due to their unique history and the fact they have been settled in their own area for more than 100 years.
The majority of basters still live in the Rehoboth Gebied (area) but many work in Windhoek were they often work in the building trade. Shortly after independence the Basters had a small uprising as they decided it was time for their own independence. Fortunately this was not taken extremely seriously, as it amounted to a few men barricading themselves in a house. And after a few weeks the situation was settled without any violence.
Namibia's Coloured community has its roots in the Cape Province of South Africa. They are a people of mixed race, who during the apartheid years were often not accepted by any other group. Genetically they are very similar to the Rehoboth Basters and both speak Afrikaans, although the accent and dialect does differ.
Most Coloureds live in towns and villages (with Windhoek and Swakopmund having large coloured populations) and are well educated, they work in a wide range of profesions such as education and the civil service, many also work as fishermen in Walvis Bay.
About 100 000 Caprivians live in north eastern Namibia along the Kwando and Zambezi rivers in the Caprivi Strip. The capital of this area is the town of Katima Mulilo but most Caprivian gain their living from fishing and cattle farming.
Caprivians are derived from five groups; the Lozi, Subia, Yei and Mbukushu. Until late in the 19th century the Caprivi was under control of the Lozi Kings. The Lozi are the descendants of the Kololo Kingdom which was initially from the Free State area of South Africa. In about 1838 they crossed the Zambezi River and crushed the Loyi people who were living there.
In the wet season almost half the Eastern Caprivi is under flood water and the Caprivians traverse the region using their mokoros.
There are approximately 27 000 San in Namibia. The San have inhabited Southern Africa for at least 30 000 years, proof of this habitation can be found in the wealth of rock art that can be found in numerous locations throughout the country. The Bushmen are one of the most fascinating people on earth, unfortunately their hunter gatherer lifestyle has constantly come under threat from all the other residents of the regions.
Traditionally the San had no leaders or chiefs, personal decisions were made individually and group decisions were left to the group. When times were good groups could swell to over one hundred people but during drought times groups might dwindle to family units of less than 10 people.
The Bushmen followed water, game and edible plants, and were always mobile. They did not farm or keep animals and carried everything they possessed with them as they moved. Traditionally San women gathered edible plants, for food and sources of water, while the men hunted.
It is thought that when the first bantu tribes arrived the San coexisted peacefully with them, but as the bantu numbers swelled pressure was placed on the placid San. Many San ended up as slaves while others abandoned their traditional hunting areas and move into the drier areas (Kalahari Desert) of Namibia, Botswana and South Africa.
The early Boer settlers in the Cape launched an extermination campaign and killed about 200 000 people in around 200 years, to these people the San were seen as sub-human and no better than animals. Of the 55 000 San people who remain about 60% live in the Kalahari in Botswana, 35% in Namibia with the rest scattered all over southern Africa.
Twyfelfontein and the Brandberg in Namibia are two areas rich in Bushmen art, the oldest of these is thought to date back 28 000 years.
The outlook for the San is not hopeful although some organisations are working to preserve the culture, the last remaining areas were they could maintain the hunter gatherer lifestyle are slowly been converted to commercial farmland or mining concessions.
There are only about 6000 Tswana people in Namibia, making them the smallest cultural group. They are related to the Tswana people from whom Botswana derives its name.
The Namibian Tswana consist of three groups, the largest of which is the Tlharo, the second is the Tlhaping and the third the Kgalagadi who have to some extent mixed with the Kalahari Bushmen. Most Tswana people live in the east of Namibia around the town of Gobabis.
There are about 75 000 Namibians of European descent, approximately two thirds of these speak Afrikaans, one quarter German and most of the rest English and a few speak Portuguese. Before independence Afrikaans and English were the official languages, while German had an unofficial position. Since independence English has become the sole official language of Namibia.
Most of Namibia's Afrikaans community arrived from South Africa in a series of treks. The German community are mostly descendants of the early German settlers although there is still a constant trickle of Germans migrating to Namibia. The English community has mostly moved from South Africa, while the Portuguese speakers are refugees from the early days of the Angolan civil war.
German Namibians have had an influence on Namibia that is inversely proportional to their numbers, although Germany only held Namibia as a colony for a short time, the influence of the German community that remained is tangible in nearly all aspect of urban life in Namibia. Many of the industries and retailers are German owned, while food in most Namibian restaurant has a distinctly German flavour.
The white population is largely based in the larger towns and cities of Windhoek, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Tsumeb.
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