NAMIBIA Land of Many Cultures

Living between Tradition and Modernity

by Charmaine ǁGamxamûs and Erika von Wietersheim

228 p. • colour photos & map • 2025 • ISBN 978-99945-76-57-9 • 170 x 240 mm • Namibia Scientific Society/Kuiseb Publishers

This book informs the reader about the multiple cultures and language groups of Namibia and celebrates this richness. The focus is not on ethnographic facts as presented by anthropologists and missionaries in the past, but on cultural factors, traditions, and values that still shape our society today – some very different and some surprisingly similar. The different chapters are authored by members from the different communities and thus provide insights and interpretations “from inside”. The aim is to encourage understanding of each other’s histories and differences, and to promote respect and cooperation, both for Namibians and visitors to our country. 

 

“By highlighting both the distinctiveness and shared values of Namibia’s communities, this book contributes toward building what is often called the ‘Namibian House’: a place where all have a voice and a rightful place.”
Anna Hoffmann-Kwanga, Resident Representative, Konrad-­Adenauer-Foundation, Namibia-Angola Office

“The book you hold in your hands has been deliberately ­designed to be reader-friendly, accessible, and relevant … By addressing the realities and aspirations of our people, it encourages deeper understanding among Namibia’s ­different language and ethnic groups, while also offering valuable perspectives to visitors and tourists seeking to experience our country beyond stereotypes or misconceptions.”
Mbumba Erastus Haitengela, Executive Director, Ministry of Education, ­Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture