Namibia & Angola: The Himba, Zemba, Tjimba & Twa of the Kunene Region

Himba, Zemba, Tjimba and Twa people:

The mountainous desert KUNENE region is home to the Himba, Zemba, Tjimba and Twa people. the region is divided by the Kunene River, with angola to the north and Namibia to the south.

Each group maintains a distinct culture, heritage, and traditions, yet they also share the challenges of adjusting to a modern market economy. Collectively, the population of these groups living in the Kunene region number approximately 18,000, and roughly 6,400 are school-aged children.

Many communities consist of semi-nomadic pastoralists. Some farm rain-fed crops such as maize, though this is heavily seasonal and dependent on water availability. Diets are primarily based on sour milk and maize meal porridge. the wealthier also have goats, cattle, and other livestock.

Schools have been introduced to the Twa/Himba who live South of the Kunene River in Namibia but not to those North of the river in Angola. Particularly relevant to studies of education, the schools available in Namibia include government secular schools, mobile “tent-schools” (which were co-developed with the Himba, Namibian government, and NAMAS, a Norwegian NGO), and some religious schools. Educational attainment and enrollment in school vary. Traditionally only boys went to school, but now more girls than boys are enrolled in many of the village schools.