Namibian Culture

Carrie asked me about the Namibian culture. This question has a very complicated answer. Namibia obtained independence of government in 1990 and awarded itself the nickname “The Land of the Brave.” Namibia is a very new country with a hurtful past. It is a “developing country.” (Remember that the Peace Corps only operates in “developing countries.”) One thing that Namibia is working to develop is a “national identity.” But this doesn’t mean there is no culture here! Namibia has many groups of people who consider themselves unique – at least 12! There are at least 13 languages spoken here and each has different traditions. There are many who still believe only in the traditional African religions/beliefs of their ancestors – specifically the Himba and the San people (sometimes called "Bushmen of the Kalahari). While most of the other Namibians (especially those in larger towns)dress just like those in the US, the Himba and San dress in traditional African clothing – usually made of animal skins.

The facts, though, are that Namibia was “colonized” by European countries in the past. The Europeans brought much of their culture, as well as Christianity as a religion, to Namibia. More than 80% of Namibians consider themselves Christian. So many of the rituals that most Namibians will go through are baptism, confirmation, and marriage. After Christian funerals, mourners are expected to return to the house of the deceased to wash their hands, symbolically washing off the death so it will not follow them to their own houses. The bereaved family then serves everyone food and drinks. The Owambo people (the most numerous group) will slaughter a cow for food to serve guests at funerals and weddings).

The Christian religions here are very similar to their counterparts in the United States – the most popular denominations are Lutheran, Roman Catholic, and Dutch Reformed, but they are slightly different, and for that reason, they are considered “Africanized.”

Although so many people are Christians, there are many among them who still believe some of the traditional religions. Some will consult with traditional “healers” when they are sick. This leads to a multitude of different types of people, with many different identities. Because there are so many groups here, it is difficult to create one unified idea of what a national “Namibian” culture should be considered to be. It is quite an interesting country with much to learn about.