NAMIBIA: Nicknamed "Soul of Africa" | 10 Things You May Not Know About it

A country with free education, festivals, multiple tribes and languages, Namibia is not a very well-known African country but full of breathtaking landscapes and which gives the possibility to discover large open places without roads, stones, trees or cities. Nicknamed Soul of Africa thanks to its culture as well as its geographical potential, Namibia has much more than that for you to discover. In this video, you are about to take a journey to the southern part of Africa and you will discover 10 things you may not know about Namibia. Now before we get into it, if you are new to the channel, please press the subscribe button and turn on the notification bell so you don't miss any of our new videos. Let's get into it. Free Education For 10 years, education in Namibia is compulsory for children from the age of 6 to 16. In Namibia, there are roughly 1,900 schools, a hundred of which are private, and these schools follow subject curricula based on the Cambridge International Education System. In Namibia, the constitution directs the government to provide free primary education but in return families must pay fees for uniforms, stationery, books, hostels and school improvements. Over 20% of the national budget is spent on education and these represent 6 to 7% of Namibia's total GDP and is one of the three countries with the highest percentage of GDP spent on education in the world. However, another branch of education benefits almost from the same program. These are seven vocational training centers which are controlled by the Namibian Training Authority. In these centers, where there are young students who have left school, a range of courses are offered to them including plumbing, welding, general electrical engineering, automotive electrical, masonry, cabinet making, technical drawing, sewing, hotel management, office management and automotive mechanics. In addition, the government gives these students a small amount of money which allows them to attend vocational training centers. Namibia is not well known as other African countries, South Africa and Nigeria for example and despite this fact, it has landscapes as diverse as they are magnificent. Vast deserts of sand and stones, mountains, beaches, expanses of savannah, lunar plains or rivers, it has everything to seduce those who do not know it and when winter approaches In Europe or elsewhere, Namibia's climate is a great escape. As for the security conditions during a trip to Namibia, be aware that they are excellent outside the big cities and remain good inside them where you must however remain vigilant against petty theft. Not to mention that Namibia has virtually no travel problems due to its very good road network. There is also no need to worry about accommodation in Namibia as it is not only good quality throughout the territory but also at an affordable price. Adventurers will find what they are looking for on a 4x4 quad or sand board in the dunes of the Namib desert or face to face with an elephant in Etosha Park. In short, there is so much to do and discover in Namibia to name a few. What's really sure about it is you will have fun. The Skeleton Coast The Skeleton Coast is the world's largest grave for sailors and ships and is located in Namibia. A large number of sailors have died on this Namibian coast given the dense fog and severe storms in the region. In the 1940s, a slate was discovered with human skeletons. A slate was written by a survivor and directed anyone who found it in north. Unfortunately, the shipwreck had occurred almost a century earlier. The most visited and accessible part of the Skeleton Coast is the National West Coast Tourist Recreation Area, which stretches 200 km north from the seaside resort of Sokomund. The best-known site here is the Cape Cross Seal Reserve, which is home to a breed colony of around 200,000 capable seals. Cape Cross owes its name to the stone cross that was erected there in 1486 by the Portuguese navigator Diego Cao, who was said to have been the first European to set foot on what is today the coast of Namibia. Two replicas of crosses erected in 1893 and 1990 are still there today. A Land of Great Tribes In Namibia, there's a multitude of culture, tradition, customs, festivals, but concerning the tribes, it is something else. There are many tribes in Namibia, but we will only name a few. The San people, who are direct descendants of the Stone Age main, the indigenous inhabitants of southern and eastern Africa, who continued to use the stone arrows. Much of the prehistoric art in Namibia is attributed to the San people. Unfortunately, the San culture seems to be on the way out in southern Africa. The Namas, who are pastors and fighters, look a lot like the San people, just a lighter skin color, and are generally a bit taller. Both tribes speak the same language, widely considered to be part of the same group of language families, full of cliqued consonants and vowels. The Damara people share the same language as the Nama people, but little more. They are taller, with black skin. Cultures and beliefs are also very different. The Ovambo people established a number of kingdoms on the plains north of Etosha, where the majority of them still live. The lands of the Ovambos in Namibia form an island in the middle of a semi-arid land with a few bushes. And finally, the Hereros are arguably the most easily recognizable of the culture in Namibia. Herero women are often seen in ankle-length dresses with high necks and long puffed sleeves. A country of good infrastructure with pride. When other African countries brag about their mineral resources, Namibia brags about the modernization of its road infrastructure, which is one of the pillars of national development policy. The country has invested heavily in this area since then, which it proudly boasts of trading or even overtaking major economic powers like China. Namibia on the continental scale is above South Africa and Rwanda, with a score of five each. In the world rankings, Namibia also stood out, ranking 23rd while economic giants such as China, India, and Italy are ranked 42nd, 46th, and 56th, respectively. However, Namibia owes its success to two important factors, including an effective maintenance strategy for the existing road infrastructure, which plays a central role in extending its lifespan, and the modernization and construction of new roads which contribute significantly to the quality of national roads. Thanks to a good road network, the Namibian economy will experience gradual growth and this will reduce poverty in the country. A Very Festive Namibia For those who wish to know and understand better the local cultures and traditions of Namibia, the best and only way is to attend the festivities which are held periodically every year in Namibia. Some of Namibia's famous festivals include the Weka, which is an important cultural event organized periodically in the capital. It is thus called the Winduk Festival by some. There's also the Independence Day, which gives the opportunity to discover a parade, sporting events, as well as festivities in different cities of the country. During a trip to Namibia, visitors can surely fall in the middle of the street festival Kabira, which is the cultural meeting place for lovers of the atmosphere. This festival is the meeting of musicians and dancers in traditional costumes, and during this festival, people parade with enthusiasm in the capital Winduk. In addition, there's also the Kuska Carnival of Swakopmund, which is an opportunity to enjoy a festive Namibian atmosphere, and this carnival takes place between late August and early September. Namibians Prioritize Meat Any traveler who has visited Namibia knows that Namibian cuisine is good and appreciated. Very delicious and diversified due to the ethnic multiplicity of the population, Namibian dishes are made essentially from beef and vegetables. Thanks to its variety of barbecues, meat lovers will be invited to taste zebra, wildebeest or oryx meat and enjoy Namibian cuisine. As for the Namibian barbecue, you have to buy good quality fresh meat in supermarkets and grill it in the evening at the camp around the fire. Diversity of Languages Languages are part of Namibia's locality and culture. English is now the official language of Namibia, but it is still spoken by very few people, less than 1% of the population as a mother tongue. The white population uses it around 7%. The most widely spoken language remains Oshiwambo, which is used by half of the population. This diversity of languages is due to the rich history of the country. Today, blacks and mestizos prefer to use mainly the African or German language because they are proud of their origins. Afrikaans is also widely spoken by the white population. Although English has been Namibia's official language for almost 30 years now, it still is a challenge. If you are planning a trip to Namibia, English will be more than enough for you. Everyone who works in tourism speaks and masters English. However, you can choose a French-speaking guide if you do not feel comfortable with English. People and Religion are inseparable In Namibia, you cannot separate people from religion. They are inseparable. Religion is part of the life of the people. However, Christians form the largest religious community in Namibia. They represent approximately 90.9% of the population, distributed among the ethnic groups of the country. In Namibia, Lutherans make up roughly 60% of all Christians throughout the country. Here, the supremacy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church over other religious entities is reflected in many ways. The importance of this religion is partly inherited from German colonization. It also comes from the evangelization initiated by the Rhine Mission Society. Religion in Namibia is not limited to Christianity, as other religious beliefs are also well entrenched among the population. There is animism, which is a belief in a spirit or a life force that animates living things. It is the second religion in Namibia behind Christianity. Namibians are very attached to art and good manners. In everyday life of Namibians, Namibian culture is present. It is thanks to that that the different communities live in harmony. Here, art is one of the tools used as cultural expression and is very famous. It is strongly associated with daily life and the realities experienced by the 12 ethnic groups of Namibia. One of the oldest traces of rock art in Southern Africa can be found in Namibia. These traces first represent an exceptional archaeological heritage and secondly, they constitute a rare source of tourist attraction. In this country, just like anywhere in Africa, good manners are very important. Namibian etiquette shows respect to each other. Greeting people politely is highly recommended. In addition, it's advisable, if possible, to leave a 10% tip for a taxi driver. All of this in order to show your gratitude to the people who have served you. Here we are at the end of our video, I hope you enjoyed it and if you did, please like it and share it with others. Bless.