Ovambo

The Ovambo culture is a unique and interesting society. They collectively make up eight kindred tribes, which inhabit Ovamboland in northern Namibia in Africa. They consist of Ondonga, Ukuanyama, Ukuambi, Ongaqndjera, Ukualuthi, Ombalantu, Onkolonkathi and Eunda. The tribe stretches all the way to the border of Angola. The Ovambo people make up the greatest population in Namibia. They migrated south from the upper regions of Zambezi. The reason that they settled in the area where they now live was for the rich soil that is scattered around the Ovomboland. The Ovambos population is roughly 150,000 people.

The Ovambo come from the great Bantu family. They speak the language of Oshivambo.

Flat sandy plains make up the Ovamboland, with water courses that bisect the area. These are known as oshanas. In the northern regions of the Ovamboland there are thick belts of sub-tropical vegetation. The average rainfall in this area is around 17 inches during the rainy season. The oshanas can become flooded and sometimes submerge three-fifths of the country. This poses a unique problem for the Ovambo people. They have had to adapt to the changing weather patterns. In the dry season they are able to use their huge grassy plains for stock to graze.

The Ovambo people have been able to adapt to their land and their environment. They raise cattle, fish in the oshanas, and farming. The Ovambo people are skilled craftsmen. They make and sell basketry, pottery, jewelry, wooden combs, wood iron spears, arrows, richly decorated daggers, musical instruments, and also ivory buttons.

Culture and beliefs

The Ovambo people live a life that is highly influenced by their magico-religious influences. They not only believe in good and evil spirits but also they are influenced by great superstitions. Most members of the Ovambo tribe believe in a supreme spirit, known as Kalunga. This spirit is known to take the form of a man and move invisibly among the people. This spirit is very important to the tribe. When the tribe is visited with a famine or pestilence it is the responsibility of the Kalunga to help the people along.

Beliefs among the Ovambo people deal center around their belief in Kalunga. For example, when a tribe member wants to enter the Chiefs kraal, they must first remove their sandals. It is said that if this person does not remove their sandals it will bring death to one of the royal inmates and throw the kraal into mourning. Another belief deals with burning fire in the chiefs kraal. If the fire burns out, the chief and the tribe will disappear. One important ceremony that takes place is when the harvest is done. The whole community has a feast and celebrates their possessions.

Each tribe has a chief that is responsible for the tribe, although many have converted to running tribal affairs with a council of headmen. Members of the royal family of the Ovamboland are known as akwanekamba and only those who belong to this family by birth have a claim to chieftainship. Because descent is matrilineal, these relations must fall on the mothers side. The Chiefs own sons have no claim in the royal family. They grow up as regular members of the tribe.