**3.1. Entrepreneurship in the Nama cultural context**

Entrepreneurial activities among the Nama people were from the early days about trading goods (barter) rather than that which involved currency. The community would usually exchange tea for sugar or Holsum fat (see **Figure 3**).

In addition in the early days they also traded their land for guns. Other items which were traded included shoes, accessories, livestock. Namas' traded items with one another depending on what they don't have. It is important to mention that the principle of sharing did not warrant Nama people to be involved in entrepreneurial activities till their time of trading with goods ended sometime in the twentieth century as goods became expensive and acquiring them would mean they must have money. Indigenous enterprises among Nama people which requires money is relatively very new and there is a lot of untapped potential for sustainable growth. Key entrepreneurial activities which the Nama people are involved in are Clothing and Accessories, Traditional Medicine, Perfumes and make up, Dances and Food.


**Figure 3.** Holsum fat very useful for cooking porridge and Karakul Lamb: Photo by: JP Van der Westhuizen.

Empowering Namibian Indigenous People through Entrepreneurship: The Case from the Nama People http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.69886 113

**Figure 4.** Traditional Nama dresses and accessories: Photo by: JP Van der Westhuizen.

In addition in the early days they also traded their land for guns. Other items which were traded included shoes, accessories, livestock. Namas' traded items with one another depending on what they don't have. It is important to mention that the principle of sharing did not warrant Nama people to be involved in entrepreneurial activities till their time of trading with goods ended sometime in the twentieth century as goods became expensive and acquiring them would mean they must have money. Indigenous enterprises among Nama people which requires money is relatively very new and there is a lot of untapped potential for sustainable growth. Key entrepreneurial activities which the Nama people are involved in are Clothing and Accessories, Traditional Medicine, Perfumes and make up,

• *Clothing and Accessories:* The Germans would cut of one leg of the trousers of the laborers, so that they would easily know that it is a Nama person. The dresses are designed with

• *Traditional Medicine*: The Hoodia plant natural plant has now became a protected plant, which has been used by the Nama people since the olden days. Currently some Nama people hold licenses and sold this plant to create revenue. Other medicine and food products that has now become commercial from which the Nama people generate relative revenue is the !nara root and fruit that is used for medicine, oil and skin products as well as products

• *Perfumes and make up:* Although not sold in large quantity or to other tribes, the Nama people still use and sell their powder perfume made from trees and stones and are stored in small tortoise shells with small animal skin with fur is used as a brush, this perfume is

**Figure 3.** Holsum fat very useful for cooking porridge and Karakul Lamb: Photo by: JP Van der Westhuizen.

known as Sa and its storage of the shell is known as !uros.

printed fabric material and the cut is very unique and distinctive (see **Figure 4**).

Dances and Food.

112 Indigenous People

which are eatable.


Except for the monetary benefits these above entrepreneurial activities are meant to generate and also sustain cultural identities of the Nama people and livestock. Numerous studies have looked into the indigenous community based enterprises and these businesses usually have a more communal purpose and not focussed on profit for the individual. According to Ref. [15],

**Figure 5.** Traditional Nama Potjiekos: Photo by: JP Van der Westhuizen.

**Figure 6.** Famous Nama delicacy known as "Jom" made from bread flower and cooked in black pot: Photo by: JP Van der Westhuizen.

**Figure 7.** Traditional Nama lamp for light in evening and calabash to keep sour milk creamy: Photo by: JP Van der Westhuizen.

although these businesses embrace the basic business functions, they differ from most conventional businesses as they are not operating on the business doctrine models used by everyone else but have a much broader political, social, cultural, environmental and economic goal in which they resolve pressing social problems.

Empowering Namibian Indigenous People through Entrepreneurship: The Case from the Nama People http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.69886 115

**Figure 8.** Traditional Nama bread baked in a black pot: Photo by: JP Van der Westhuizen.

Although the indigenous entrepreneurial activities of the Nama people are evident when the researchers drove through Namibia, these indigenous entrepreneurial activities are under researched.
