Kavango
Encyclopedia
The Kavango people, also known as the vaKavango, reside on the Namibia
n side of the Namibian–Angola
n border along the Kavango River
. They are mainly riverine living people, but about 20% reside in the dry inland. Their livelihood is based on fishery
, livestock
-keeping and cropping (mainly pearl millet
). The Kavango Region of Namibia is named after the people.
In traditional politics
they are divided into five kingdoms (Kwangali
, Mbunza
, Shambyu
, Gciriku
and Mbukushu
), each headed by a hompa or fumu. Traditional law is still in use and legitimized by the Namibian constitution. The Kavango-people are matrilinear. The most common language spoken is Kwangali
(in Kwangali
and Mbunza
territory); also spoken are Shambyu, Gciriku
, and Mbukushu
in the corresponding territories. Their religion is mainly Christian
although traditional elements still have a place.
Following the Angolan Civil War
, many Angolans (often referred to as Nyemba
, which is in fact only one of many Angolan peoples) immigrated to traditional Kavango territory. Kimbundus and Chimbundus are also some of the Angolan tribes that migrated to the Kavango region during the Angolan civil war
. Also, many San people or Bushmen
live in the Kavango Region. They are the earliest inhabitants of the country.
systems of Kavango. It may be roughly referred to as an extended family
, but it is more than that. It is a social relation dominantly rooted in clan
and it is not necessarily determined by blood connections. The clans are ranked according to seniority, and whoever belongs to a junior clan (irrespective of age) is deemed young by those in the senior clan. There is a command of respect and high level of obedience towards the senior clan. Other people can also become clan members by seeking allegiance
due to various unifying circumstances such as floods or war.
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
n side of the Namibian–Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
n border along the Kavango River
Okavango River
The Okavango River is a river in southwest Africa. It is the fourth-longest river system in southern Africa, running southeastward for . It begins in Angola, where it is known as the Cubango River...
. They are mainly riverine living people, but about 20% reside in the dry inland. Their livelihood is based on fishery
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
-keeping and cropping (mainly pearl millet
Pearl millet
Pearl millet is the most widely grown type of millet. Grown in Africa and the Indian subcontinent since prehistoric times, it is generally accepted that pearl millet originated in Africa and was subsequently introduced into India. The center of diversity, and suggested area of domestication, for...
). The Kavango Region of Namibia is named after the people.
In traditional politics
Tribal chief
A tribal chief is the leader of a tribal society or chiefdom. Tribal societies with social stratification under a single leader emerged in the Neolithic period out of earlier tribal structures with little stratification, and they remained prevalent throughout the Iron Age.In the case of ...
they are divided into five kingdoms (Kwangali
Kwangali
Kwangali is a traditional Kavango kingdom in what is today Namibia. Its people speak the Kwangali language.- References :*...
, Mbunza
Mbunza
Mbunza is a traditional Kavango kingdom in what is today Namibia. Its people speak the Kwangali language.- References :*...
, Shambyu
Shambyu
Shambyu is a traditional Kavango kingdom in what is today Namibia. Its people speak the Shambyu language.- References :*...
, Gciriku
Gciriku
Gciriku is a traditional Kavango kingdom in what is today Namibia. Its people speak the Gciriku language.The Gciriku are one of the many ethnic groups in Namibia with an estimated population of 20 000. The Gciriku mainly live in the Kavango region, Ndiyona Constituency. A small number of Gciriku...
and Mbukushu
Mbukushu
Mbukushu is a traditional Kavango kingdom in what is today Namibia. Its people speak the Mbukushu language.- References :* *...
), each headed by a hompa or fumu. Traditional law is still in use and legitimized by the Namibian constitution. The Kavango-people are matrilinear. The most common language spoken is Kwangali
Kwangali language
Kwangali, also known as RuKwangali and SiKwangali, is a Bantu language spoken by 85,000 people along the Okavango River in Namibia, where it is a national language, and in Angola...
(in Kwangali
Kwangali
Kwangali is a traditional Kavango kingdom in what is today Namibia. Its people speak the Kwangali language.- References :*...
and Mbunza
Mbunza
Mbunza is a traditional Kavango kingdom in what is today Namibia. Its people speak the Kwangali language.- References :*...
territory); also spoken are Shambyu, Gciriku
Gciriku language
Gciriku or Dciriku , officially Rumanyo, is a Bantu language spoken by 305,000 people along the Okavango River in Namibia, where it is a national language, in Botswana, and in Angola. It was first known in the west via the Vagciriku, who had migrated from the main Vamanyo area and spoke Rugciriku,...
, and Mbukushu
Mbukushu language
Mbukushu or Thimbukushu is a Bantu language spoken by 45,000 people along the Okavango River in Namibia, where it is a national language; in Botswana; in Angola; and in Zambia, where it is an official regional language. It appears to be an divergent lineage of Bantu.Mbukushu is one of several...
in the corresponding territories. Their religion is mainly Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
although traditional elements still have a place.
Following the Angolan Civil War
Angolan Civil War
The Angolan Civil War was a major civil conflict in the Southern African state of Angola, beginning in 1975 and continuing, with some interludes, until 2002. The war began immediately after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. Prior to this, a decolonisation conflict had taken...
, many Angolans (often referred to as Nyemba
Nyemba
Nyemba/ Nyembas or Vanyemba is a label applied by the Kavango people of northern Namibia to the immigrants from Angola fleeing the Angolan Civil War....
, which is in fact only one of many Angolan peoples) immigrated to traditional Kavango territory. Kimbundus and Chimbundus are also some of the Angolan tribes that migrated to the Kavango region during the Angolan civil war
Angolan Civil War
The Angolan Civil War was a major civil conflict in the Southern African state of Angola, beginning in 1975 and continuing, with some interludes, until 2002. The war began immediately after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. Prior to this, a decolonisation conflict had taken...
. Also, many San people or Bushmen
Bushmen
The indigenous people of Southern Africa, whose territory spans most areas of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola, are variously referred to as Bushmen, San, Sho, Barwa, Kung, or Khwe...
live in the Kavango Region. They are the earliest inhabitants of the country.
The extended family concept
Ekoro is a very important social relation in kinshipKinship
Kinship is a relationship between any entities that share a genealogical origin, through either biological, cultural, or historical descent. And descent groups, lineages, etc. are treated in their own subsections....
systems of Kavango. It may be roughly referred to as an extended family
Extended family
The term extended family has several distinct meanings. In modern Western cultures dominated by nuclear family constructs, it has come to be used generically to refer to grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins, whether they live together within the same household or not. However, it may also refer...
, but it is more than that. It is a social relation dominantly rooted in clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
and it is not necessarily determined by blood connections. The clans are ranked according to seniority, and whoever belongs to a junior clan (irrespective of age) is deemed young by those in the senior clan. There is a command of respect and high level of obedience towards the senior clan. Other people can also become clan members by seeking allegiance
Allegiance
An allegiance is a duty of fidelity said to be owed by a subject or a citizen to his/her state or sovereign.-Etymology:From Middle English ligeaunce . The al- prefix was probably added through confusion with another legal term, allegeance, an "allegation"...
due to various unifying circumstances such as floods or war.
External links
- Namibia at EthnologueEthnologueEthnologue: Languages of the World is a web and print publication of SIL International , a Christian linguistic service organization, which studies lesser-known languages, to provide the speakers with Bibles in their native language and support their efforts in language development.The Ethnologue...