Ovambo people

Ovambo
Ovambo men in the early 20th century
Total population
~2.2 million
Regions with significant populations
 Namibia1,523,239 (50.4% of Namibia population)[1]
 Angola650,000[2]
Languages
Ovambo, English, Portuguese
Religion
Lutheranism, Traditional religion[2]
Related ethnic groups
Ovimbundu, Herero and other Bantu peoples
Ovambo
PersonOmuwambo
PeopleOvambo
LanguageOshiwambo
CountryOvamboland

The Ovambo people (pronounced [ovambo] ⓘ), also called Aawambo, Ambo, Aawambo (Ndonga, Nghandjera, Kwambi, Kwaluudhi, Kolonghadhi, Mbalantu, mbadja), or Ovawambo (Kwanyama), are a Bantu ethnic group native to Southern Africa, primarily modern Namibia. They are the single largest ethnic group in Namibia, accounting for about half of the population.[3] Despite concerted efforts from Christian missionaries to wipe out what were believed to be 'pagan practices', they have retained many aspects of their cultural practices.[4] They are also found in the southern Angolan province of Cunene, where they are more commonly referred to as "Ambo".[5][6] The Ovambo consist of a number of kindred Bantu ethnic tribes who inhabit what was formerly called Ovamboland. In Angola, they are a minority, accounting for about two percent of the total Angolan population.[7]

There are about 2 million people of the Ovambo ethnic group, and they are predominantly Lutheran (97%) and traditional faith (3%).[8]

  1. ^ "Namibia 2023 Population and Housing Census Main Report" (PDF). Namibia Statistics Agency. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b "The Ambo, Ndonga people group are reported in 2 countries". Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  3. ^ Namibia: People and Society, CIA Factbook, United States; "about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe", total population: 2.4 million
  4. ^ Kaakunga, Rukee (15 October 2018). "A guide to the Aawambo people of Namibia". Culture trip. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  5. ^ Ambo people, Encyclopædia Britannica
  6. ^ John A. Shoup (2011). Ethnic Groups of Africa and the Middle East: An Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. pp. 235–236. ISBN 978-1-59884-362-0.
  7. ^ Adebayo Oyebade (2007). Culture and Customs of Angola. Greenwood. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-313-33147-3.
  8. ^ Victor L. Tonchi; William A. Lindeke; John J. Grotpeter (2012). Historical Dictionary of Namibia. Scarecrow. pp. 330–331. ISBN 978-0-8108-7990-4.