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29-573: In Namibia, the Mbukushu hold traditional authority and are one of the five Kavango Kingdoms . They speak the Mbukushu language, known as Thimbukushu . The Hambukushu originate from Barotseland and primarily reside in Ngamiland , within the Okavango Delta . The Tswana people of Botswana refer to them as "Mbukushu," but they call themselves "Hambukushu." An individual from the tribe

58-561: A 250 km pipeline to divert water from the river into Namibia to help relieve the drought. Botswana, however, uses the Okavango Delta for both tourism income and a water source. The Department of Water Affairs in Botswana has submitted that 97% of the water in the river is lost through evaporation, so the country cannot afford to lose any extra water. Namibia, in turn, has argued that it will only divert half of one percent of

87-442: A big flood year, the seasonal swamp stretches to 150 km across from east to west; one of the factors that leads to the ever-changing nature of the delta is the flatness of the area. If one were to take a cross section of the delta at its widest point, one would find that the height variation from the mean over that 150 km is less than 2 m, which means that a minor sand deposition can cause major changes. In very wet years,

116-481: A central role in reinforcing the community's spiritual bonds. Artisanal crafts, including pottery and basket weaving, showcase the Hambukushu people's artistic skills and cultural identity. While the Hambukushu people strive to preserve their cultural heritage, modern influences and external factors pose challenges. Environmental changes, economic pressures, and globalization impact the traditional way of life for

145-553: A child , and up to six cows for theft, depending on severity. The traditional court of the Oorlam people at Vaalgras in Namibia's south, where there are few communal cattle farmers, fines three goats for theft. In the traditional Lozi system, the king and judges appointed by him heard cases of murder. A person found guilty of killing another without just cause was sentenced to death by the king and subsequently executed. However, if

174-465: A civil case has to be opened after the criminal verdict. Traditional fines are thus, in the words of justice minister Yvonne Dausab , meant "to wipe off tears", and not to replace criminal proceedings. Typical punishments are in money or in livestock. For instance, the traditional courts of the Ovambo people in Namibia's north fine ten cows or 15,000 N$ for murder, two cows or 3,000N$ for impregnating

203-900: A higher than usual flow into the Okavango, turning swathes of outlying desert into a huge wetland. Although the summer rains fall in Angola in January, they take a whole month to travel the first 1,000 km of the Okavango River, and then they take a further four months to filter through the plants and numerous channels of the final 250 km of the delta. As a result, the flood is at its biggest sometime between June and August, during Botswana's dry winter months. The delta then swells to three times its permanent size, attracting animals from kilometres around and creating one of Africa's greatest concentrations of wildlife . At its widest point in

232-455: A part of the Kalahari was a massive lake, known as Lake Makgadikgadi . In this time, the Okavango would have been one of its largest tributaries. Both Namibia and Botswana experience drought, and as a result, concerns have been expressed about possible conflict over use of the river's water. Namibia has built a water canal, measuring about 300 km long, and has proposed a project to build

261-600: A part of the river's flow may extend along the Magweggana River (actually a northeastern distributary of the Okavango Delta) and enter the Zambezi River , bypassing the Kalahari. The river carries annually 28,000 tonnes of suspended sediment and a similar amount of bedload to the terminal swamps. Most of the particulate sediment carried by the river is fine sand, with some silt and mud, thanks to

290-412: A pivotal role in preserving and transmitting cultural traditions, folklore, and historical narratives. Oral traditions are paramount in Hambukushu society, with storytelling and oral history passing down from generation to generation. The linguistic diversity within the Hambukushu community may exhibit regional variations, contributing to the uniqueness of their cultural identity. The social structure of

319-603: A rich cultural heritage deeply intertwined with the unique ecological environment of the vegetation along the Kavango River . The Hambukushu are one of the five (5) kingdoms of the Kavango people . The majority of Hambukushu people are concentrated along the Kavango River and surrounding lands, an ecologically diverse area that includes the Okavango Delta . This region, characterized by its lush vegetation, intricate waterways, and abundant wildlife, significantly influences

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348-513: A traditional authority to be recognised by government it must have a sole area of jurisdiction; although virtually all places in Namibia are inhabited by members of different clans and tribes, the area of the settlements are deemed to belong to only one traditional authority. For a traditional leader to be accepted by government, they must be appointed according to the customary law of their clan, without major disputes about their current reign. Leaders and their administrative staff are not paid by

377-508: A vibrant and resilient community. Their cultural practices, language, and social organization are integral components of the broader southern African cultural landscape. As the Hambukushu navigate the complexities of the modern world, their cultural heritage remains a testament to the endurance of traditions in the face of change. This Namibia -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Traditional leadership of Namibia Traditional leadership of Namibia

406-511: Is a governing structure in Namibia based on the ethnicity of the indigenous people of the territory. Acceptance of a traditional authority is vested in the Government of Namibia , executed by the minister of Urban and Rural Development . There are 51 recognised traditional authorities and a further 40 pending applications. Traditional authorities cover the entire Namibian territory. For

435-578: Is referred to as a Mbukushu. The Hambukushu are renowned for their rain-making abilities in the Okavango Delta, earning them the title "The Rain-makers of Okavango." They are also celebrated for their basket weaving artistry, and their women are known for using traps to catch fish. The Hambukushu people, also known as Hakokuhu, form an ethnic group indigenous to the lands along the Kavango River in Namibia , Botswana and Angola , as well as in they are found in Zambia . This Bantu -speaking community has

464-420: The Kavango River and surrounding lands influence the Hambukushu calendar, shaping their agricultural and fishing practices. The Hambukushu people have a rich cultural fabric, expressed through music, dance, art, and spiritual practices. Traditional songs, often accompanied by vibrant dances, are integral to their cultural expressions. Rituals and ceremonies, such as those dedicated to ancestors and spirits, play

493-463: The Okavango Delta , and affect its health. In Angola, the upper reaches of the Cuito suffers clogging due to controlled burns of the vegetation, reducing water flow downstream as the accumulated water instead flows into the sand . Before it enters Botswana, the river drops 4 m (13 ft) in a series of rapids known as Popa Falls, visible when the river is low, as during the dry season. In

522-430: The Hambukushu is organized around extended families and clans. Family ties are crucial, and communal values underscore the importance of mutual support within the community. Elders hold significant roles, serving as repositories of wisdom and custodians of cultural practices. Community life is marked by collective celebrations, rituals, and ceremonies. Initiation rites, marriage ceremonies, and communal events contribute to

551-411: The Hambukushu. The introduction of modern technology, changes in land use, and external economic influences may contribute to shifts in their cultural practices. Efforts to address these challenges often involve a delicate balance between preserving cultural identity and adapting to the evolving socio-economic landscape. The Hambukushu people, with their deep connection to the Kavango River , represent

580-524: The Kavango Region of Namibia and in Botswana . In January 2021 ReconAfrica announced the start of drilling operations on the first exploration well. Environmental activists have expressed concern that ReconAfrica’s plans for its test wells have not been properly vetted through Namibia’s environmental review process, however ReconAfrica and both the governments of Namibia and Botswana have stated that

609-416: The allocation of communal land and the formulation of the traditional group's customary laws. They also take over judicial work through traditional courts , offering a way to access compensation through civil law that does not require fees or lawyers. Crime in Namibia is treated by the classical courts solely as a criminal procedure , and ends in punishment of the offender; To seek material compensation

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638-518: The cohesion and identity of the Hambukushu people. Traditional Hambukushu livelihoods are intricately connected to the natural resources of the Kavango River and surrounding lands. Fishing, a historically vital activity, provides sustenance and economic opportunities. Agriculture and livestock keeping complement their subsistence economy, with crops cultivated in fertile areas and livestock grazed in available grasslands. The seasonal patterns of

667-512: The convict sought refuge in the house of Katamoyo (Mother of Life), a challenging feat, the sentence was not carried out. Kavango River The Okavango River (formerly spelt Okovango or Okovanggo), is a river in southwest Africa. It is known by this name in Botswana, and as Cubango in Angola, and Kavango in Namibia. It is the fourth-longest river system in southern Africa, running southeastward for 1,600 km (1,000 mi). It begins at an elevation of 1,300 metres (4,300 ft) in

696-482: The geological makeup of the Okavango River catchment which is largely underlain by Kalahari sand. There is low concentration of dissolved solids in the river water - around 40 mg/L, made up mostly of silica, calcium and magnesium bicarbonates - but these dissolved solids form the largest component of sediment carried into the delta because the annual water volume is so large. During colder periods in Earth's history,

725-579: The rainy season, an outflow to the Boteti River in turn seasonally discharges to the Makgadikgadi Pans , which features an expansive area of rainy-season wetland where tens of thousands of flamingos congregate each summer. Part of the river's flow fills Lake Ngami . Noted for its wildlife , the Okavango area contains Botswana's Moremi Game Reserve . Every wet season, Angola receives three times more rainfall than Botswana, discharging

754-721: The river's flow, and that it is entitled to any water that flows through its territory. To deal with such issues, in September 1994, Angola, Namibia, and Botswana signed an agreement to form the Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission , to provide advice to the three countries about the best ways to share the Okavango River's resources. ReconAfrica , a petroleum exploration company headquartered in Canada , has obtained exploration licenses for more than 13,600 square miles of land in

783-479: The sandy highlands of Angola . Farther south, it forms part of the border between Angola and Namibia , and then flows into Botswana . The Okavango does not have an outlet to the sea. Instead, it discharges into the Okavango Delta or Okavango Alluvial Fan, in an endorheic basin in the Kalahari Desert . The Cuito River is a major tributary. The Cubango and Cuito Rivers are the principal tributaries of

812-661: The state. Instead the traditional group's members are expected to sustain their leadership. Government did, however, give one car each to the recognised authorities, and awards allowances for fuel and administrative work. The parallel existence of traditional authorities and the Namibian government in Namibia is controversial. The traditional rulers and leaders are represented through the Council of Traditional Leaders , established by Act 13 of 1997 (GG 1706) and amended by Act 31 of 2000 (GG 2462). Traditional leaders are entrusted with

841-457: The traditional livelihoods and cultural practices of the Hambukushu. The Hambukushu settlements often align with the natural resources of the Kavango River and surrounding lands. Villages are strategically located near water sources, reflecting the community's reliance on fishing, farming, and livestock keeping. The Hambukushu people speak a Bantu language known as Mbukushu language . This language, characterized by its linguistic nuances, plays

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