Ovambo people

The Bantu society Ovambo is the most numerous population of Namibia and is also in the immediately adjacent extreme south of Angola 's largest ethnic group. The Ovambo live mainly in the Namibian- Angolan border region of North Central Namibia, which was called in the German colonial period and under the South African occupation Ovamboland. The region is located between southern Angola and the Etosha National Park in Namibia. About a quarter of the Ovambo lives in the province of Cunene südangolanischen.

The Ovambo are divided into twelve groups. The eight living in the Namibian part of Ovamboland groups are the Kwanyama, Ndonga, Kwambi, Ngandjera, Mbalanhu, Kwaluudhi, Eunda and Kolonkdhi that approximately 670,000 members accounted for 1994. In Angola, the Kwanyama (Portuguese Cuanhama ) are the most important group by a wide margin; have next to them there still numerically the Kwamato ( Cuamato ) and the Kwangar ( Cuangar ) Meaning, while the Evale representing Kafima ( Cafima ) and the rest Ndombondola groups.

The language of the Ovambo, the Oshivambo. This is, however, spoken in Angola only in the form of dialects that are different groups own.

Economy and Society

The lineage system of the Ovambo is matrilineal, meaning that the maternal line plays by far the most important.

In pre-colonial times, and even a long time under the influence of foreign powers, the Wambo practiced polygamy in which a man normally had two to four wives. The man lived there with his wives in a kind of court together, within which each wife had her own living area, where she lived with her ​​children. Polygamy is, albeit " unofficially ", practiced in some cases up to today. In addition to immediate family connections the Wambo are organized in family clans, which, because of the matrilineal descent system, the maternal clan is generally regarded as the most important.

Marriages traditionally based partly on clan exogamy and the other hand on Gruppenendogamie, which means that marriages are welcome between members of the same group, while marriages between members of the same clan are not appreciated.

Traditionally, the Ovambo live in round, provided with palisades, houses between the Oshanas, temporary lakes in the rainy season. They are mostly farmers and breed cattle, goats and sheep. Animal husbandry is a domain of men, while women finger millet ( Mahangu ) plant, from which porridge and beer is made. In addition, sorghum, corn, beans and pumpkins are grown. Both are traditionally operated as a subsistence economy. Many, especially men, are also working since the apartheid era, but also in present-day Namibia, as migrant workers in southern Namibian industries and on farms. In recent years, more and more abandoned because of the high population density of the Ovambo and the resulting land shortage, the subsistence economy and the Wambo be part of a national labor market. This also local centers such as Oshakati, Ongwediva and Ombalantu grew up.

The ethnic groups of the Ovambo historically have several small kingdoms formed which were abolished in Namibia during the South African occupation partially, but are now back as traditional leaders, part of the political system in Namibia. In the days of apartheid to 1980, the ancestral homeland of Ovambonamibier was administered by the so-called Homeland Ovamboland. The Ovambo make up more than 50 percent of the absolute majority of the population of Namibia. In Angola, the small kingdom of Kwanyama by the Portuguese was dissolved after strong opposition, however, the traditional leaders ( as in the whole territory ) received some recognition in the colonial system; this tradition has been resumed in the post-colonial Angola.

The current ruling party of Namibia, SWAPO, has its roots in the Ovambo (90 percent share of the vote ) and is the successor organization of the Ovamboland People's Organization founded in 1957 ( OPO). Both the first President of Namibia, Samuel Nujoma, as well as the reigning since 2005, new President, Hifikepunye Pohamba, are their ethnicity by Wambo.

Famous Ovambonamibier

Kings of the Ovambo in Namibia

  • Kings of the Ovambo

Politician

  • Herman Toivo ja Toivo
  • Samuel Nujoma Shafishuna
  • Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba
  • Nahas Angula
  • Hidipo Hamutenya
  • Pendukeni Ithana
  • Ben Amathila
  • Libertine Amathila
  • Helmut Angula Pau Kangulohi
  • Jeremiah ( Jerry ) Ekandjo
  • Peter Tanyengange Kalangula
  • Gertrud Kandanga Rikumbi - Hilukilwa
  • Martin Mwula Kapewasha
  • Simon " Mzee " Kaukungua
  • John Gwaniipupu Ya- Otto
  • Nangolo Mbumba
  • Maxton Joseph Mutongulume
  • Peter Hilinganye Mweshihange
  • Benjamin Crispus Ulenga

Athlete

Other

  • Barbara Kahatjipara
Etosha-Nationalpark Matrilineality Endogamy Outapi Bantustan Sam Nujoma Ben Ulenga Paulus Ali Nuumbembe
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