**2.1. How do we identify a Nama person and tradition?**

**1. Introduction**

106 Indigenous People

apartheid regime.

• *Khai*ǁ*khaun (Red Nation)* • ǃ*Gami*ǂ*nun (Bondelswarts)* • *Aonin (Southern Topnaars)* • ǃ*Gomen (Northern Topnaars)* • ǃ*Kharakhoen (Fransman Nama)* • ǁ*Hawoben (Veldschoendragers)*

• *!Aman*

• ǁ*Ogain (Groot Doden)*

**Table 1.** The Nama clans.

• ǁ*Khau*ǀ*goan (Swartbooi Nama)*

• *The Kharo*ǃ*oan (Keetmanshoop Nama)*

**1.1. Introduction to the Republic of Namibia and Nama people**

based is subdivided into the following clans namely (see **Table 1** below):

Namibia, formerly known as Sűd West Africa, is situated in the South Western corner of Africa, in sub-Saharan Africa. This young vibrant nation gained independence on 21st March 1990, following decades of colonial rule under the Germans and subsequently South African

According to ILO [1], the Nama language is the only surviving Khoe language in Northern South Africa and Southern Namibia. The word "Khoe" means a person. In their own language the Nama people refer to themselves as Khoenkhoen (people's person). It is interesting to note that up until 1994, the Government of South Africa was not aware of the presence of people who were Nama speaking. From a historical perspective the Nama communities managed to maintain communal land for grazing, which extended into Richtersveld National Park with limited hunting and planting. Nama's were in constant conflict with the white settlers, and Basters. The Basters maintained their identity and moved from Cape Town to Namibia. The primary purpose was to find safer land. Namibian Nama people spoke Nama and Afrikaans and practiced pastoralism. The Nama people in Southern Namibia on which this chapter is

During the colonial period, the Nama people were thought and seen as a threat and barbaric in nature. The colonizers were constantly seeking new ways and efforts to ensure that they are completely wiped out. This attempt was also done to ensure that they convert to Christianity or die. Under the apartheid law, Nama people that were not already assimilated into other native groups were forced to be registered as colored. Failure to comply with this rule was unavoidable and illegal. Nama elders were forced to hide their identities or misinterpret them

> Malan [4] described Nama people as people of medium height, has high cheekbones, a flat face, dark almond eyes and the Nama tribes and clans are defined by territory. Looking back into the nineteenth century establishment of centers where the chief resided and tribal government was establishment, each tribe had independent governments consisting of chief and elected council. Family life includes the practice of children living at home until they get marriage. Social gatherings are very frequent and usually happen at night around fire. Man and women usually start playing music which usually results into a dance.

> As in many cultures, Nama traditions are passed down through generations and are critical in order to fully understand the ethnic group and Nama elders today narrates that, they know what they know, because of what has been carried on to them by the ancestors and that is the knowledge that enables them to distinguish between right and wrong as Nama's. Not just the term Nama, but the cultural practices they follow.
