One Namibia One Nation has been the slogan the Ruling Party, South West People's Organization, SWAPO has been advocating, from the time of the country's liberation struggle - that's before Namibia's indepedence in 1990 to date.
The idea behind the slogan is mainly to encourage oneness and and unity among various enthic groups that were so deeply divided along tribal and language lines especially during the time of apartheid. For those who have been following Namibia's history those years will know that the various language or ethnic groups were divided in home lands, and were identified by their identification cards which labelled them with specific numbers which traced their language and homeland groups. For the oshiwambo speaking groups for example, who are the majority in Namibia were identified with an 11 amongst their numbers on their ID's, and whever they visited central towns, they did so through a pass document which only allowed them to stay for some month unless they were permitted to extend their stay. As if that was not enough, Namibians also endured living based on racial lines - some facilities and services including schools, train and toilets were meant for white people only while some were demarcated for non-whites or blacks although coloureds of those who were light of skin/complex enjoyed better treatment compared to blacks. No wonder many of our people then had to make use of skin lightening creams to look a bit fair skinned and enjoy a bit of priority. Others changed their names and surnames to make them sound acceptable and almost like those of whites in order to fit the system - such as easy admission in the "inboorling (those born in particular towns) schools, or get jobs and various offices and shops.
The discriminantion and segregation went further - to things like food -- white bread was meant for whites and blacks had to buy brown bread. There were specifically baked cakes such as in Swakopmund that were meant for a particular ethnic group - including what was called "Wamboe-koek", the mixed fruit jam - mainly read was meant for Wamboes too, to eat with the brown bread. My home town fellow resident and friend on facebook Daniel Wendjiuundja Muukwa today when I briefly shared information on this topic on face book reminded me of the "Wamboe-bessies/beries as in what is known as eembe fruit mainly accessible in the Northern part of Namibia where the Oshiwambo speaking originates. And there are some drinks which are referred to as Wamboe-liquor etc... we heard about Wamboe dresses, Wamboe-bikes, Wamboe dance etc... I know that other groups too had the names of various food and clothes etc, but that can still be expanded on when time permits.
Although independence has brought along a lot of decolonization of the mind and to free the nation of the ethnic hangover - it remains a challenge for some to completely get rid of the apartheid remnants of mainly how things were -- that today, you still find people referring to enthnic groups.
At his first address to the SWAPO Party leadership after his election as the ruling party's Presidential Candidate for the upcoming elections in November 2014 - Namibia's Prime Minister and SWAPO Party Vice-President, Dr Hage Godfrey Geingob encouraged Namibians to remain Namibians, first of most talk about being Namibians instead of being ethnic groups. Yes, he said all Namibians belonged to enthnic groups, but it was important to see themselves as one Namibia and one Nation. He reminded them that as soon as they put an ism on their ethnic groups, they are likely to cause tribalism, regionalism etc, which is not needed in Namibia.
Humarously, Dr Geingob asked why a programme that was aired on a local TV was titled "A Wamboe in New York, and not a Namibian in New York? The other example he made is the "Owambo Chicken" and asked why it is still referred to that way. Some communities refer to it as marathon chicken - the name is derived from the fact that the chicken usually runs at high speed before it is caught for slaughter especially in the villages where they are left to stay on their own and not necessarify restricted to chicken-runs.
Dr Geingob said while recognizing that majority rules, the minority must always be protected. He even said that all langauges in the country were important and probably needed to be declared official to avoid any group from being left out or offended when another group refers to its language. Currently, english is the official language. Dr Geingob was speaking on Saturday, 15th February 2014 at the Katutura Community Hall the launch of his consultations meetings with the various SWAPO leadership in the regions and districts - initiating dialogues instead of just speaking and political party rallies before the elections campaign kicks off.
Enthnic, tribal and regionalism related aspects if not properly managed can cause serious conflict which can lead to potential war and Namibia must avoid that by all means. That is why the best thing to do is to first and foremost be a Namibian in whatever you do -- and not allow yourself to be dragged to the level of triablism. Currently the ruling party's Presidential candidate is from a different language group other than that of the Fouding and current State Presidents which is a good inclusivity sign for Namibia.
Therefore, next time you refer to yourself - at home or among other nations, you must to say you are the Namibian, One Namibia, One Nation. Unity in Diversity.
The idea behind the slogan is mainly to encourage oneness and and unity among various enthic groups that were so deeply divided along tribal and language lines especially during the time of apartheid. For those who have been following Namibia's history those years will know that the various language or ethnic groups were divided in home lands, and were identified by their identification cards which labelled them with specific numbers which traced their language and homeland groups. For the oshiwambo speaking groups for example, who are the majority in Namibia were identified with an 11 amongst their numbers on their ID's, and whever they visited central towns, they did so through a pass document which only allowed them to stay for some month unless they were permitted to extend their stay. As if that was not enough, Namibians also endured living based on racial lines - some facilities and services including schools, train and toilets were meant for white people only while some were demarcated for non-whites or blacks although coloureds of those who were light of skin/complex enjoyed better treatment compared to blacks. No wonder many of our people then had to make use of skin lightening creams to look a bit fair skinned and enjoy a bit of priority. Others changed their names and surnames to make them sound acceptable and almost like those of whites in order to fit the system - such as easy admission in the "inboorling (those born in particular towns) schools, or get jobs and various offices and shops.
The discriminantion and segregation went further - to things like food -- white bread was meant for whites and blacks had to buy brown bread. There were specifically baked cakes such as in Swakopmund that were meant for a particular ethnic group - including what was called "Wamboe-koek", the mixed fruit jam - mainly read was meant for Wamboes too, to eat with the brown bread. My home town fellow resident and friend on facebook Daniel Wendjiuundja Muukwa today when I briefly shared information on this topic on face book reminded me of the "Wamboe-bessies/beries as in what is known as eembe fruit mainly accessible in the Northern part of Namibia where the Oshiwambo speaking originates. And there are some drinks which are referred to as Wamboe-liquor etc... we heard about Wamboe dresses, Wamboe-bikes, Wamboe dance etc... I know that other groups too had the names of various food and clothes etc, but that can still be expanded on when time permits.
Although independence has brought along a lot of decolonization of the mind and to free the nation of the ethnic hangover - it remains a challenge for some to completely get rid of the apartheid remnants of mainly how things were -- that today, you still find people referring to enthnic groups.
At his first address to the SWAPO Party leadership after his election as the ruling party's Presidential Candidate for the upcoming elections in November 2014 - Namibia's Prime Minister and SWAPO Party Vice-President, Dr Hage Godfrey Geingob encouraged Namibians to remain Namibians, first of most talk about being Namibians instead of being ethnic groups. Yes, he said all Namibians belonged to enthnic groups, but it was important to see themselves as one Namibia and one Nation. He reminded them that as soon as they put an ism on their ethnic groups, they are likely to cause tribalism, regionalism etc, which is not needed in Namibia.
Humarously, Dr Geingob asked why a programme that was aired on a local TV was titled "A Wamboe in New York, and not a Namibian in New York? The other example he made is the "Owambo Chicken" and asked why it is still referred to that way. Some communities refer to it as marathon chicken - the name is derived from the fact that the chicken usually runs at high speed before it is caught for slaughter especially in the villages where they are left to stay on their own and not necessarify restricted to chicken-runs.
Dr Geingob said while recognizing that majority rules, the minority must always be protected. He even said that all langauges in the country were important and probably needed to be declared official to avoid any group from being left out or offended when another group refers to its language. Currently, english is the official language. Dr Geingob was speaking on Saturday, 15th February 2014 at the Katutura Community Hall the launch of his consultations meetings with the various SWAPO leadership in the regions and districts - initiating dialogues instead of just speaking and political party rallies before the elections campaign kicks off.
Enthnic, tribal and regionalism related aspects if not properly managed can cause serious conflict which can lead to potential war and Namibia must avoid that by all means. That is why the best thing to do is to first and foremost be a Namibian in whatever you do -- and not allow yourself to be dragged to the level of triablism. Currently the ruling party's Presidential candidate is from a different language group other than that of the Fouding and current State Presidents which is a good inclusivity sign for Namibia.
Therefore, next time you refer to yourself - at home or among other nations, you must to say you are the Namibian, One Namibia, One Nation. Unity in Diversity.
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