It’s been two months since I landed at Hosea Kutako International, just in time to catch a beautiful sunset. I didn’t realize then that I’d get to see that same beautiful sunset every single night. Above all, I had no idea how quickly I’d feel at home. I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on how this could be, because honestly, it doesn’t make sense to me. I am so far from home. I have never been to Namibia, or anywhere in Africa. I did not personally know anyone here when I arrived.
As I continue to reflect on how I could become so comfortable, so quickly, in a place so far from home, I’ll share some working theories.
Social Geography
Part of it is the social geography. Namibia is sparsely populated, like Canada. It is generally very rural, like the Maritimes. It’s biggest city, Windhoek, has the exact same size and population as my hometown, Halifax. Some families in Windhoek will leave town on the weekend to head to family farms, just like some Canadians might for a cottage (farmcore, anyone?). Movement between cities feels similar to home, and movement within cities does too. It’s welcoming to begin to recognize and bump into the same people around town, even in a city as large as Windhoek.
Forward-looking Collaboration
Part of it is the forward-looking international collaboration. A Namibian I once met said, when they learned where I was from, “Canada! Canada is a friend to all.” It’s a nice sentiment, but in some respects, I think Namibia might fit that description even better. Namibia is a peaceful, young republic that fosters its relationships widely. It’s working to make a name for itself internationally and wants to help make the world a better place. A great example of this is the upcoming United Nations Summit of the Future; co-hosted and co-founded by Namibia and Germany. The spirit of collaboration is alive and filled with energy. Who wouldn’t feel welcome in a country that is so welcoming, so globally-oriented, and so determined to play a positive role?
Language
Part of it is language. It certainly helps that the lingua franca is English, and that Namibian English is so similar to Canadian English (albeit with some really cool substitute words… I still get a little giddy every time I get to call a set of traffic lights “the robot”). The lack of any substantial language barrier has helped me learn so much from the get-go. This has undoubtedly led to me striking up many more conversations with strangers than I otherwise would have. That said, English is rarely spoken at home so languages like Oshiwambo, Damara, Otjiherero, RuKwangali, siLozi and San continue to flourish.
The People
Above all, it’s the people. Namibians are so, so kind. I can’t understate this. From Windhoek to Keetmanshoop to Hoachanas; from the office, to my neighbourhood, to every town I’ve visited, it’s as friendly as can be. It is also a real privilege to be here relatively early into Namibia’s new chapter as an independent country, during a time of peace and growth. It’s an environment conducive to kindness.
The Flip Side
My experience has been extraordinary. It is also fundamentally shaped by the bubble I reside in. I am an intern from the Global North, living in a backpacker’s hostel and – despite some extraordinary and eye-opening trips around the country – have spent a lot of time in the office. While I’ve seen and learned so much, it’s been through a specific lens.
The truth is, despite Namibia’s classification as a high-income country, it is one of the most unequal countries on earth.3 This is a reality that pre-dates the country’s independence. It is a legacy from Apartheid and 75 years of violent South African colonial occupation. It is also a legacy from the 30 years of violent German colonial occupation before that, during which the Herero and Nama genocide took place – a genocide Germany would not formally acknowledge until 2021.4 Namibia fought for and emerged into independence from some of the most terrible and violent circumstances conceivable.
The progress Namibians have made since then is extraordinary. Namibia is filled with peace and hope. But the inequality from Apartheid persists. I know this, and on a daily basis, I am largely shielded from it. With this in mind, I continue to reflect on this feeling of being “at home”, cognisant of how this feeling is shaped by the bubble I live in. In the weeks that remain, I am determined to step outside of this bubble, as much as is appropriate and possible, to learn more about the Namibia I haven’t been living in. There is a lot to learn about the work that has been done, and the work still left to do, to tackle the inequality that persists.
In the meantime, I remain ever grateful to every Namibian who has made me feel so at home, so far from home.
In less than a month, I leave Namibia. There is still so much left to see, do and learn. Yet, I feel a remarkable absence of pressure to maximize every free moment that remains. Part of it might be an appreciation for everything I’ve experienced so far. Above all however, I think it’s because I already know: I’ll be back.
- “Sea Disalination – Page 6 | NamWater Ltd”, online: <https://www.namwater.com.na/index.php/services/56-hydrological-services?start=5>. ↩︎
- “Namibia becomes first Southern African country to join UN Water Convention”, (12 June 2023), online: Africa Renewal <https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/june-2023/namibia-becomes-first-southern-african-country-join-un-water-convention>. ↩︎
- World Bank Group, “Africa Eastern & Southern – Namibia” (2021) Poverty & Equity Brief. ↩︎
- “Germany officially recognises colonial-era Namibia genocide”, (28 May 2021), online: <https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57279008>. ↩︎
