March 21: Independence Day in Namibia
Prayer Idea
Pray for the people and government of Namibia.
History Note
The Ovambo are the largest ethnic group in Namibia, making up about half of the population. Other major ethnic groups are the Kavangos, Herero, and Damara.
The German Empire was established in 1871, and it began seeking colonial possessions like its European rivals. Germany established control of what became Namibia in 1884. It was known as German South West Africa.
After World War I, the region came under the control of South Africa. In the 1960s, an independence movement started a guerilla war against South Africa. The conflict lasted for 20 years.
A United Nations peace plan went into effect, and Namibia became an independent country on March 21, 1990.
Today Namibia is a presidential republic with a population of nearly three million. Though English is the official language, a majority of the people speak an indigenous language at home. Some people also speak Afrikaans, German, or Portuguese.
Felsenkirche is a Lutheran church built in the coastal town of Lüderitz in 1912. About 90% of Namibians identify as Christians. The largest groups are Lutherans, Roman Catholics, and Anglicans. Photo by Joli L / Shutterstock.com.
Learn More
This video features Namibian President Hage Geingob talking about his country and then shows a performance of the national anthem by a group called The Sirens.
Please note: The video includes clips from what appears to be a reenactment of a battle from Namibia's war for independence with people falling on the ground.
Find out more about Namibia at Homeschool History.
