Culture of Namibia

Namibia is an exotic African country that attracts tourists with its unusual culture. It closely intertwines the European influence with local identity. The picturesque nature and diverse fauna make the state one of the most tempting on the planet.

Features of culture in Namibia

This state is considered sparsely populated (1.95 million). Here on 1 square. km there are only 2 people. Approximately 60% of inhabitants live in wild and hard-to-reach regions of the country. They are divided into 9 ethnic groups that are divided into families:

Here joyfully receive travelers. They are introduced to everyday life and culture, treated with traditional dishes and celebrated with them holidays. In Namibia, there are more than 75,000 people who came here from Europe: Russians, Portugueses, Italians, Britons, Germans, Afrikaners and other nationalities.

Modern culture in Namibia is a mixture of traditions that were formed under the influence of historical events. It combines a variety of ethnic customs. The official language is English, but most residents speak Afrikaans, and German and local dialects are also widely spoken. Indispensable quality of aborigines is the pride of their country.

Religious Beliefs

In Namibia, 90% of the population professes Christianity, of which 75% belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCIN), and the remaining 25% are divided into Catholics, Baptists, Mormons, Pentecostals, Adventists and Anglicans. To the Jewish community there are only about 100 people in the country. Also there are Muslims (3%), Buddhists and Hindus.

Music and sport in the culture of Namibia

This direction was subjected to the strongest influence of Malagasy and Comorian, European and Creole musical forms. There are such varieties as jazz, reggae, pop, hip-hop and rock.

The most popular sport in Namibia is football. Local residents also play cricket and hockey. In the country, the most complex races on our planet are practiced, which are called ultra marathons.

Science in the country

In Namibia there is only one Free University, which was opened in 1992, and the Polytechnic Institute. Distance learning is widespread in the state. Science here is mainly of an applied nature. In the country, practical knowledge is given a greater preference than theoretical knowledge. All of them are designed to meet human needs. The main areas are:

Education in schools is in English according to the Cambridge methodology. (Previously, it was conducted under the South Africa Afrikaans program, when a 1 white child was allocated 10 times more funds than an African). Now many educational institutions are run by the church. The quality of knowledge among students has increased, and their number has increased by 20%. Today, adult literacy reaches 66%.

The Art of Namibia

The literature of the state is represented by traditional stories and fairy tales. Craftsmanship consists of weaving with beads (aprons, belts, necklaces) and mohair yarn (karossa), as well as carving. On local festivals and national festivals there are various dance groups representing ethnic groups. Noticeable development took place in the direction of artistic photography.

Rock art is considered one of the most popular forms of art in the country. Mostly artists depict animals and life. Such works can be seen throughout Namibia. Still here the theater is widespread. Actors play plays not only in big cities, but also in small villages.

Holidays in Namibia

On the main public holidays and on the Christmas holidays (they begin in mid-January and last a month), official institutions work on a reduced schedule, and private companies are closed. These dates include:

Health in Namibia

This system is very badly developed. In African reservations, one doctor accounts for about 9,000 people, while in the European regions there are 480 residents for the same specialist. This situation led to the spread of various diseases. The most dangerous of them are AIDS, trachoma, malaria, tuberculosis and intestinal infections.

By the way, in South Africa there is a belief that is still in use among the Aborigines. It says that if an African man gets into sexual contact with a white woman, he can be cured of AIDS. For this reason, European travelers need to be extremely cautious.

Cuisine of Namibia

The most common dishes in the country consist of meat of zebra, antelope, lion, crocodile, lamb, beef and ostrich. Prepare them mainly for a barbecue with the addition of local spices (llandyager and druevors). Served to the table and the seafood: squid, lobster, oysters, mussels and a variety of fish.

Gourmets can taste:

On the street to buy food is not desirable, and water is best used from bottles. Alcohol is sold only in specialized stores. On weekdays, you can buy it before 17:00, and on Saturday - until 13:00. In restaurants, it is customary to leave a tip in local currency in amounts of 10% of the order amount.

What else should you know about the culture of Namibia?

The country has a Department for Protection and Women's Affairs, which is directly subordinate to the president and fully supported by him. Weak sex occupies a large number of government posts. They are given 40% of seats in elections to government bodies.

Local elite wears clothes in African style, but at the same time aborigines are loyal to shorts, trousers and short skirts. There are no special requirements for the appearance of travelers here.