Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
were historically an aggressive culture, which made them the obvious candidates to fight
the war of independence. They also make up Namibia's largest ethnic group (about 50%
of the population) and, not surprisingly, most of the ruling South West Africa People's Or-
ganisation (Swapo) party.
The Owambo traditionally inhabited the north of the country, and are subdivided into
12 distinct groups. Four of these occupy the Kunene region of southern Angola, while the
other eight comprise the Owambo groups in Namibia. The most numerous group is the
Kwanyama, which makes up 35% of Namibia's Owambo population and dominates the
government.
Recently large numbers of Owambo have migrated southwards to Windhoek, or to the
larger towns in the north, to work as professionals, craftspeople and labourers. They have
enjoyed considerable favour from the government over the years, and with the exception
of white Namibians of European descent, are among the most successful of the tribal
groups.
Kavango
The Kavango originated from the Wambo tribe of East Africa, who first settled on the
Kwando River in Angola before moving south in the late 18th century to the northern
edges of the Okavango. Since the outbreak of civil war in Angola in the 1970s, however,
many Kavango have emigrated further south, swelling the local Namibian population, and
making them Namibia's second-largest ethnic group. They are divided into five distinct
subgroups: the Mbukushu, the Sambiyu, the Kwangari, the Mbunza and the Geiriku.
The Kavango are famous for their highly skilled woodcarvers. However, as with other
groups in northern Namibia, large numbers of Kavango are now migrating southwards in
search of employment on farms, in mines and around urban areas.
Herero/Himba
Namibia's 120,000 Herero occupy several regions of the country, and are divided into sev-
eral subgroups. The largest groups include the Tjimba and Ndamuranda groups in
Kaokoveld, the Maherero around Okahandja, and the Zeraua, who are centred on
Omaruru. The Himba of the Kaokoveld are also a Herero subgroup, as are the Mbandero,
who occupy the colonially demarcated territory formerly known as Hereroland, around
Gobabis in eastern Namibia.
The Herero were originally part of the early Bantu migrations south from central
Africa. They arrived in present-day Namibia in the mid-16th century, and after a 200-year
sojourn in the Kaokoveld, they moved southwards to occupy the Swakop Valley and the
