Culture and crafts of Namibia

Some projects that reflect the culture and crafts of Namibia

North - the ‘Four Os’ Region (Owamboland)

One can visit the Uukwaluuhi Traditional Homestead at Tsandi, which is west of Oshakati. The Uukwaluduhi Kingdom is one of few that still exist and the king lives in the homestead. Visitors are taken through the homestead by trained guides, who point out the customs and history of the family home. On arrival you will be greeted with traditional dances by the Okakano Cultural Group. After you have passed through the fence made from mopane poles, the guide takes you back in time, telling you how the warriors prepared for battle, how food was prepared, stored and cooked in clay pots, how butter was made in calabashes, how mahangu and millet were stored, how the grain was pounded with long pestles in mortars in the ground, and how the oil of the marula is made into soap and sold in craft shops is made. At the end of the tour, you are taken to a store where locally produced products are on sale.

The Ndilimani Pottery Group operates in Onenongo village in the Ukwambi area which is about 20 km north-west of Oshakati. Here, local women use the clay collected from the oshanas, close to their underground pottery studio. The pottery is built into the ground to keep the clay cool and slow down the drying process and the women all work there, making water containers and traditional meat bowls. The firing pit is a hole dug into the ground and filled with dry cow dung. After the firing, the pots are smoothed regularly for about 4 days as they continue to dry before they are sold for local use at the markets at Oshakati, or used in their homes. The visitor can buy these pots at the Tulongeni Craft Market, which is on the northern side of Omuthiya town, about 90 kms south of Ondangwa. If you wish to visit this project the women will be very happy to show you around.

Some San people from Ekoko in the north central region get employment and income from the Onankali Omahangu Paper Project, which is about 55km from Ondangwa on the southern boundary of Onankali. It produces a wide range of handmade paper products, using designs made by the San, and cut into lino blocks which are then stamped on to the paper. The paper itself is made from leaves and stalks of mahangu. The products of this project can be seen at the Mud Hut Trading stall in the Namibia Craft Centre in Windhoek.

Other crafts can be seen at the Tulongeni Craft Market in Omuthiy, at the Nyekla ye Puma basket project in Ondangwa, and at the Ombalantu Baobab project. The Tulongeni Craft Market is in the village of Omuthiya 25 km from the King Nehale lya Mpingana gate which is the northern entry to the Etosha National Park.

At Olukonda, which is short distance west of Ondangwa, the Nakambale Museum is a community-based institution started by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in a building which is a national monument. The Nakambale Church on the property was built in 1870 by the first Finnish missionaries to Owambo. There is a rest camp with traditional Owambo accommodation, while dinner is served in an Ndonga homestead. One attraction of the museum is that one can walk though a traditional homestead. Visitors are also treated to traditional Owambo food, music and dancing. The centre also offers tours to Oponono Lake, Omandongo mission station, Onoolongo cattle post and the Ombagu grass plains. One can also arrange an historical tour to Omuguluwombase, where the first encounter took place in guerrilla war that was waged for Namibia’s independence.

West - Naukluft area

Because the small community at Mabasib, which is 15 km south of Bullsport, is very poor, the local guest farms and the community have formed the Naukluft Foundation to provide assistance. Trained and qualified guides are available to take people out and tell them about the fauna and flora of the Naukluft and also about the Nama culture. To book this tour contact one of the guest farms in the area. The Foundation also helps with materials for local crafts, which are made from silver wire, beads and paper mache. These souvenirs are sold at the guest farms.

North-western (Kaokoland) area

The adornments of the Himba people are popular with tourists. These include their necklaces, bracelets and anklets and belts, which are made from iron and shell beads, as well as their headrests, which are very popular.

Eastern area

The G!humku Crafts situated next to the Nyae Nyae Conservancy office in Tsumkwe is an outlet for the crafts of the San who live in the area. It is en route to Botswana or the Khaudum Game Park. The centre offers a large variety of jewellery, and traditional items made by the Ju!’hoansi. Displays in the centre and cultural exhibits give information on the history and culture of the San who live in the area and the income from the sale of these handcrafts is very important for this marginalised community. In fact, at times it is the only source of income.. There are tour operators who offer guided tours to traditional villages in the area.. The itineraries include going on a bush walk with a San tracker, who will show you how to hunt, snare and collect bush food.

North-eastern area

At the Mashi Craft Market in the Caprivi there is a festival that takes place once a year. Women come from all over the Caprivi wearing their brightest chetenges and showing off their artistry. They compete for prizes, and present their traditional dances and plays for guests.

The Chobe Savanna Lodge, which is situated on the Chobe Rive in Eastern Caprivi, offers trips to the Ljambwe fishing village, where visitors can see how local people live their lives, tending cattle, planting crops and fishing. This village is on the floodplains of East Caprivi. Visitors are requested to donate money to the community for the development of projects.