Oshiwambo language

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Oshiwambo or Oshivambo is a cluster of several very closely related languages in Angola and northern Namibia, notably Kwanyama (or Oshikwanyama), Ndonga and Kwambi.

Over half of the people in Namibia speak Oshiwambo ^[1], particularly the Owambo.

Contents 1 History 2 Dialects 3 The Owambo People 4 External links 5 References

[edit] History

After Namibia’s independence in 1990, the area previously known as Owamboland was divided into the regions of Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana or Otshana and Oshikoto. The population, estimated at between 700,000 and 750,000, fluctuates remarkably. This is because of the indiscriminate border drawn up by the Portuguese and Germans during colonial rule, which cut through the Kwanyama tribal area, placing some in Owambo, Angola and others in Namibia. This results in regular cross-border movement.

There are approximately one million Oshiwambo speakers located in Namibia and Angola^[2]. Though Oshiwambo is mainly spoken in the Northern regions of Namibia, it is also spoken all over the country. Migrant workers comprise a large part of the population in many towns, particularly in the south, where there are jobs in the mining industry. For example in Lüderitz, an 18 hour drive from Owamboland, at least 50% of the population speaks Oshiwambo. So though the origins are localized in the north, Oshiwambo speakers have dispersed, particularly since independence.

[edit] Dialects

There are eight dialects in Oshiwambo. The main tribes are the Kwanyama (which means "those who love to eat meat"), the Ndonga, the Kwambi (belonging to the Atshipara TshaKwedhi clan, a Godfearer Gentile) , the Ngandjera, the Kwaluudhi, the Mbalantu, the Kolonkadhi and the Mbadja, who are within the tribal area of the Kolonkadhi. Each has its own dialect but there are only two written languages in schools, namely OshiNdonga and OshiKwanyama. The OshiKwambi language is written in the religious school namely in the Holy Roman Catholic Church and Teachings. These languages are also quite similar to the Herero language.

[edit] The Owambo People

The Owambo are farmers and cattle breeders. They plant mahangu, a type of millet, which is their staple diet. Mahangu is used for brewing beer. Other crops include maize, sorghum, beans, melons and onions. When the floodwaters from Angola fill the low-lying areas (oshanas), fishing becomes an important economic activity. When the waters subside, the cattle graze on the fresh grass. This supplies manure for the gardens cultivated on higher ground between the oshonas. Many people are employed in mines and farms and in factories and commercial enterprises. The business environment created by the Europeans triggered entrepreneurial activity amongst them and trading is common. Most families today are involved in some form of retailing activity. Many large wholesale and retail enterprises have developed over the years, and a number of businessmen have extended into other areas of Namibia and some have ventured into Angola. The social and cultural evolution which has taken place over the past thirty years has changed much of the traditional way of life and homesteads have given way to more modern suburbs and villages, the old huts being replaced with brick and corrugated iron structures and the agricultural and cattle herding activities moving away to the rural areas. Many traditional villages still exist. Family groups live in homesteads enclosed with wooden pole fences.

[edit] External links

• PanAfrican L10n page on Oshiwambo
• News in the Oshiwambo language in "The Namibian" newspaper

[edit] References