Namibian etiquette and customs
The Republic of Namibia is located in southwest Africa, bordered by Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east, and South Africa to the south. The altitude is 1,000 - 2,000 meters, is dry and has little rain, and belongs to a subtropical and semi-desert climate. The country is divided into 13 administrative regions and 50 local governments, with the capital Windhoek.
Namibia has a subtropical arid and semi-arid climate, with an average of 300 days per year and is one of the driest countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The average annual rainfall is 270mm, with large regional differences in annual rainfall, ranging from less than 50mm in the coastal area, 350mm in the central area to 700mm in the northeast. Except for the rainfall in the southernmost area in winter (June-September), 70% of the country's rainfall is concentrated from November to March of the following year.
is due to the high terrain, and the temperature is slightly lower than that of other regions at the same latitude in the world. It is mild all year round, and the temperature difference between day and night is large. The year is divided into four seasons: early spring in September, summer in December, autumn in March, and winter solstice in June. The average daytime temperature in the mainland in summer is 20-34°C, and temperatures in remote northern and southern areas are often higher than 40°C. The average daytime temperature in the mainland in winter is 18-25°C, and the nighttime temperature is often lower than 0°C, and there is often ground fog. Affected by the Benguela Cold Current, the temperature remains at 15-25°C all year round, and dense fog often occurs at night.
The official language is English, and Afrikaans, German and Quangya, Nama and Herero are commonly spoken. Although English is the official language of the country, Namibia is a multilingual country, with public signs written in English, German, Afrikaans and Owambo. Half of Namibians speak Oshiwambo as their first language. However, the most popular language is Afrikaans. Among the new generation, the most widely spoken language is English. Both Mandarin and English are exchanged and used in public. Although the official language is English, most white people speak Afrikaans or German. Christianity is the main religion, with the largest number of people adhering to the Lutheran Church.
The vast majority of Namibian residents belong to African indigenous black people of the Bantu language family. Their customs and habits have both the outstanding characteristics of African indigenous people and the distinctive colors of Europeans.
Most Namibian names consist of two sections, with the first name and the last name. For example, Agiar Mazula, Agiar is the first name and Mazula is the last name. There are also names consisting of three sections, the first being the original name, the middle being the father's name, and the last being the surname. For example, Pascoyal Manuel Mocumbi, Pascoyal is the real name, Manuel is the father's name, and Mocumbi is the surname. There are also some people who like to take a European name, Francisco Marcelino, Francisco is a European name, and Marcelino is a surname. Women have their own names before marriage, and after marriage they like to add their husband's surname before their own names.
In social interaction activities in Namibia, the principle of "women first" is emphasized. Almost at any time and anywhere, men take the initiative to respect women, take care of women, help women, and protect women in all aspects. For example, when meeting on the street, men always take the initiative to give way to women; when entering and leaving hotels and shops, men always let women go first; when participating in banquets, concerts, etc., men always help women take off and put on their coats and let women sit first, leave their seats first, etc. In the local people's concept,"women give priority to local areas" can cultivate a man's elegant demeanor and noble spiritual realm.
In public places in Namibia, there is also a habit of respecting the elderly and loving the young. When talking to the elderly, young people are required to be respectful and respectful. When entering the foyer, they are invited to walk in front of them, and parks, galleries, museums, etc. are open to the elderly for free. It is regarded as a matter of course, and the elderly are naturally subject to higher etiquette standards than young people. Namibians 'love for children focuses on respecting children and cultivating their independence, cultivating children's spirit of hard work and the ability to be independent and self-reliant, not favoring children's weaknesses and shortcomings, cultivating children's self-esteem and self-confidence, and not interfering in children's private affairs. Parents and children are friends and partnerships, but emphasize that parents should set an example for their children with their own educated behaviors and words.
invited to be a guest at a friend's home in Namibia, you should make the appointment at the appointed time. This is a kind of respect for the host. Namibia attaches great importance to dress for social interactions and believes that decent and dignified dress is a reflection of cultivation and civilization. If you are going to visit a Namibian friend's home according to the previous arrangement, or visit a friend of status, you need to dress up carefully and carefully before going. Men need to shave, comb their hair, put on a suit, tie a tie, polish leather shoes, and dress themselves to suit their higher-educated identity. Women can wear high-heeled leather shoes, put on lipstick, wear a suit top on the upper body, and wear a colorful skirt on the lower body. It is best to wear gold necklaces, gold earrings, gold rings, etc. to dress themselves up as an upper-class woman.
When arriving at the host's house, if the host does not welcome him outside the door, you should knock gently, wait for the host to come out to welcome him, and enter the room accompanied by the host. After entering the living room, you should sit in the position designated by the owner, and you should not sit in the position in front of you at will. You should sit in a dignified position, be focused when talking to your host, and don't look around, let alone walk around the house at will. When the host delivers drinks, fruits, and snacks, you should warmly express your gratitude to the host. During conversation, you should not casually inquire about the owner's age, salary, several wives, whether you have daughters, etc., especially when you first meet, it is extremely disrespectful and impolite behavior. Sometimes if you don't do it well, the owner is unhappy. If you encounter questions such as asking the owner's age, you can first ask the owner's opinion, such as "Mr. Master, if you don't mind, can I ask your age?" If the host seems very happy, he will answer immediately. If the host diverges the topic very tactfully, it means that the host is not willing to talk about his age and other issues. When guests see this situation, they should immediately stop questioning and must not continue to ask in depth.
If you visit a local black family in Namibia, the enthusiastic host may serve dishes made by insects to entertain the guests. There is a kind of dwarf tree growing in the jungles of Namibia. The African emperor moth lays eggs and reproduces on the branches. After incubation, the larvae become fat and big after 6 weeks of growth, which can be several centimeters long. This ugly caterpillar with colorful spots on its back is a delicacy for local people. It can be fried, braised or braised in red, or eaten raw or made into jerky meat. This insect dish is delicious and has great nutritional value.
When conducting commercial business interactions with Namibians, they often arrange for guests to eat Western food in restaurants or hotels. This is a relationship between personal friends. Families with affluent financial conditions often invite guests to eat Western food in restaurants, hotels or clubs. Ordinary families often use traditional African cuisine. Therefore, Namibians often treat guests to meals due to differences in economic conditions. The traditional meals used by Namibians to entertain guests include corn, sorghum, wheat flour, bean cakes, etc. After the staple food is cooked, some thick soup made of tomatoes, peppers, beef or fish pieces is poured on it to have a unique flavor.
In Namibia, religious culture and secular culture influence each other. When conducting business exchanges with Namibians, we must pay attention to understanding more about some related knowledge of Christianity and fetishism and their status and influence in the country and nation. Whenever local believers conduct a series of normal religious activities such as chanting, worship, prayer, preaching, morality, mass, baptism, and ordination, they should stay behind and observe without interference. At the invitation of Christians, when visiting churches, you should dress properly, not wear a cap, not smoke, and have a serious expression.
When visiting a local friend's home, you can only view the items decorated in the room, especially the sacred objects and sacred objects used for religious rituals, you can only use your eyes to touch them with your hands, let alone move them at will. This is a taboo in the local area. When interacting with local believers, it is best not to discuss religious beliefs, let alone criticize certain religious beliefs. If you don't understand a certain religion, don't pretend to understand it. You can choose the right occasion and the right topic to ask local friends for advice. You must not imitate the beliefs and customs of a certain local religion simply to cater to the preferences of local friends. Avoid self-defeating and kindness brings trouble.
Various ethnic groups and regions in Namibia generally have their own special customs and habits due to their different cultural traditions and ethnic habits. In dealing with Namibians, we must understand and respect certain special customs and habits, and must not make a fuss or make wild comments. While living in Namibia, you should pay attention to learning more about local customs and habits to avoid misunderstandings or unpleasant things happening to local people due to not understanding their unique fastidious and taboos during your interactions.