Book tip: Namibia's cultures introduce themselves

How many ethnic groups live in Namibia? What cultural specifics and commonalities do they have? And how do their traditions prevail in a world of change, in the shifting of generations, in the process of growing together into one nation with shared education, contacts in everyday working life, and group-transcending (social) media?

The book 'Namibia – Land of Many Cultures' provides answers to these and many other questions. At the end of November, Kuiseb Publishers of the Namibia Scientific Society (NSS), presented the book at a celebratory event in Windhoek. They also took the opportunity to celebrate their 40th anniversary. The publishing house's first book was released in 1985. Today, their catalog comprises 81 titles.

'Namibia – Land of Many Cultures' more than lives up to the celebratory occasion. The book presents 15 ethnic groups in a clear and concise format (see also the 'People' section on Namibian.org).

These include the Aawambo, Kavango, OvaHerero, Damara, the peoples of the Zambezi region (Caprivi), Nama, San (Bushmen), and BaTswana. Also included are the Coloured People and Rehoboth Baster, as well as the groups of European descent: Afrikaner (Boers), and German-, Portuguese-, and English-speaking Namibians.

A chapter is also dedicated to the Chinese community, although its members likely fall largely under the category of foreign residents with permanent residency, who are addressed separately.

Contributions from members of cultural groups

Editors Charmaine ǁGamxamûs (3rd from right) and Erika von Wietersheim (5th from right) with authors at the book launch of 'Namibia – Land of Many Cultures' at the Namibia Scientific Society. Photo: Sven-Eric Stender

There are already several publications about Namibia's ethnic groups and their cultures. Nevertheless, this book fills a gap. Firstly, the contributions do not look at these cultural groups from an external, ethnographic perspective.

On the contrary, they are written (with two exceptions) by a member of the respective group. Two interviews, one with a younger and one with an older representative of the group, add personal perspectives and allow glimpses into the changes from generation to generation.

The questions are flexible, allowing for a specific focus on each ethnic group. At the same time, they always touch on common themes, so that you can filter out similarities and differences between the cultural groups from the answers.

With Charmaine ǁGamxamûs and Erika von Wietersheim conceptualisation, coordination and text editing were, in effect, in the hands of two cultural groups, Damara and German Namibians, and two generations.

The two editors also differ from and complement each other in their relationship to language and texts: The former is more of a poet and storyteller, the other a journalist and author.

Copies for schools throughout Namibia

This multi-year book project was supported by the German Konrad Adenauer Foundation. The Namibian Ministry of Education not only endorsed the book in its foreword but has also ordered 2,000 copies for school libraries across the country.

A German version is not currently planned. However, tourists from German-speaking Europe would certainly be interested. 'Namibia – Land of Many Cultures' is available in Namibian bookstores and directly from Kuiseb Publishers of the NSS in Windhoek.

 Charmaine ǁGamxamûs & Erika von Wietersheim
(eds.): Namibia – Land of Many Cultures.
Living between Tradition and Modernity,
Kuiseb Publishers Windhoek 2025,
ISBN 978-99945-76-57-9.
Cover: Kuiseb Publishers

Sven-Eric Stender