We have a diversity of population groups in our country.  Inhabitants of the Republic of Namibia vary from hunter-gathers, herders and farmers to an urban population consisting of traders, civil servant, industrialists and individuals in a wide diversity of the professions, belonging to many different cultural and ethnic groups.

The oshiwambo people

This is collective name for a group of tribes in northern Namibia and southern part of Angola. In the middle of 16 century these tribes which belonged to Bantu group moved southwards from the great lakes area in the East Africa and settled between Kunene and Okavango rivers. There are eight tribes of this group in northern Namibia at present with a total population of around 700 000 which represents almost half of the population of the country (45%). As agriculturists producing mostly millet and pastoralists, they supplemented their subsistence economy with hunting, fishing and gathering wild foods

The Herero people

Migrated to Namibia several centuries ago, the Herero are a pastoral cattle - breeding people. They moved to the country at about the same period as Owambo from East Africa. Today the number of Herero people in the country is around 100 000.
According to the legend the Herero came from ''a country of mountains''. The two Herero leaders, Kathu, and his brother Nangombe decided to split. Kathu trekked north, while Nangombe stayed in what is present Namibia to establish the Herero nation. The word Herero may be derived from ''okuhera'', meaning ''to throw an assegai''. They were a fearless and war loving nation. In 1904 they uprised against the German empire with a disastrous consequences - around 75% of Herero's population were destroyed.
The Herero uniquely recognise their descent from both the mother's and father's families unlike other southern Africa's indigenous groups. Religion and authority are taken from the father's line, the economy and inheritance of wealth is passed on via the mother's clan.

The Damara People 

The total population of Damara people, one of the oldest cultural groups in the country, is approximately
90 000. They cultivate corn and vegetables, with livestock production playing important role as a source of income. The area in the north - east of the coast with an area of about 5 million hectares and  an administrative centre in Khorixas was proclaimed as Damaraland in 1973. Today it is a part of Erongo region.

The Kavango

The population of the Kavango people, close relatives of Owambo, is approximately 140 000 people. The Cavango consist of five tribes. Like most other groups in northern Namibia, southern Angola and Zambia, the social organization of the Kavango is based on the matrilineal system. Some clans take their names from nature and wildlife.  Especially in rural areas, the Kavango are a river people subsisting off agriculture, pastoralism, fishing and licensed hunting. They are famed for their uniquely  expressive wood carvings. The Kavango have a rich and complex belief system and mythology.

The Himba (Ovahimba)

The ancient tribe of semi-nomadic pastoralists occupied Kunene region of the country. The Himbas (who are relatives of Herero) are an extraordinary people who have resisted change and preserved their unique cultural heritage.
The Himbas were impoverished by Nama cattle raiders in the middle of 1800's and then forced to  be hunter-gatherers. Because of these events they were called the Tjimba, derived form the word meaning aardvark, the animal that digs for it's food. Many Himbas fled to Angola where they were called Ovahimba, meaning    'beggars'. They left with their leader called Vita (''war''). After World War 1 he resettled his people in Kaokoland.  Since these events the Himbas were living their nomadic pastoralist lives. But now more and more they have to reconcile traditional ways with European values.

The Nama 

The Nama have a lot in common with the Bushmen and are the only true relatives of the Khoikhoi group in the country. The population of Nama is approximately 90 000 people.

The Rehoboth Basters

The Basters regard themselves as a separate community from the Coloureds. The population of the Basters is approximately 60 000 people. While they are traditionally stock and crop farmers nowadays many of them are involved in building trade.

The Topnaars

This is a group of Nama people. Mainly they have lived on the banks of Kuiseb River, with some members of community working in Walvis Bay.

The Coloureds

As a Rehoboth Basters, originally this group came to Namibia from the Cape Province of South Africa. Most of them live in towns and found in a wide range of professions. They speak Afrikaans as a home language.

The Caprivians

Approximately 66 000 people live in the Caprivi strip. The tribes inhabitate the Caprivi are: Masubia, Mafwe, Mayeyi, Mbukushu and Matotela.

The Bushmen (San)

The total population of Bushmen in Namibia is about 27 000 people. This hunters - gatherers occupy remote areas in the east of the country and Kalahari desert in Botswana.  San (Bushmen) constitute about 3% of Namibians.
The oldest San paintings testify that these hunter-gatherers roamed through Southern Africa more than 25 000 years ago. All San paintings across Africa are similar in style although languages and dialects differ. This common style existed between San people in Namibia, in the Drakensberg in South Africa and in Botswana. The San lived in complete harmony with nature. With no political or inherited power hierarchy, every member of society shared resources and responsibilities equally.

The Tswanas

With the population of around 6 000 people this is the smallest cultural group in the country. Most Tswanas live in the Gobabis district of Namibia.

The Whites

There are about 75 000 inhabitants of Namibia with European origin. Around 60% of them are Afrikaans-speaking, 25% are German and the rest are English and Portuguese.
 

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