Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Coloureds
After the transfer of German South West Africa (as Namibia used to be known) to South
African control after WWI, the South African administration began to introduce the racial
laws of apartheid. Thus, at the beginning of the 1950s, cohabitation of mixed-race couples
became illegal, although marriage was still allowed. On Afrikaans and German farms all
over the territory, farmers married Damara and Herero women; but a few years later mar-
riage, too, was forbidden.
This left the children of these unions in an unenviable position, shunned by black and
white communities alike. There are now around 52,000 coloureds in Namibia, living
mainly in Windhoek, Keetmanshoop and Lüderitz.
Basters
Although distinct from coloureds, Basters are also the result of mixed unions, specifically
between the Nama and Dutch farmers in the Cape Colony. In the late 1860s, after coming
under pressure from the Boer settlers in the Cape, they moved north of the Orange River
and established the settlement of Rehoboth in 1871. There they established their own sys-
tem of government with a
Kaptein (
headman) and
Volksraad (
legislative council). They
also benefited from supporting the Germans during the colonial period with increased
privileges and recognition of their land rights.
Most of Namibia's 35,000 Basters still live around Rehoboth, and either follow an urb-
an lifestyle or raise livestock.
Tswana
Namibia's 8000 Tswana make up the country's smallest ethnic group. They are related to
the Tswana of South Africa and Botswana, the Batswana, and live mainly in the eastern
areas of the country, around Aminuis and Epukiro.
LEARNING TO SURVIVE
IAN KETCHESON
Before my wife, daughter and I moved to the small northern Namibia community of Odibo, we thought we were
well aware of the impact of HIV/AIDS on Namibia.
What we weren't prepared for, though, were the funerals. We lived next door to a large Anglican church, a
massive white building that on any given Sunday will hold more than 1000 people for the marathon four-hour
