Ovambo people
Aawambo men in the early 20th century | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| ~2.2 million | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Namibia | 1,523,239 (50.4% of Namibia population) |
| Angola | 650,000 |
| Languages | |
| Ovambo, English, Portuguese | |
| Religion | |
| Lutheranism, Traditional religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Ovimbundu, Herero and other Bantu peoples | |
| Ovambo | |
|---|---|
| Person | Omuwambo |
| People | Ovambo |
| Language | Oshiwambo |
| Country | Ovamboland |
The Ovambo people (pronounced [ovambo] ⓘ), also called Aawambo, Ambo, Aawambo (Ndonga, Nghandjera, Kwambi, Kwaluudhi, Kolonghadhi, Mbalantu, mbadja), or Ovawambo (Kwanyama), are a Bantu ethnic group native to Southern Africa, primarily modern Namibia. They are the single largest ethnic group in Namibia, accounting for about half of the population. Despite concerted efforts from Christian missionaries to wipe out what they believed to be 'pagan practices', the Ovambo have retained many aspects of their traditional cultural practices. They are also found in the southern Angolan province of Cunene, where they are more commonly referred to as "Ambo".
The Ovambo consist of a number of kindred Bantu ethnic tribes who inhabit what was formerly called Ovamboland. In Angola, they are a minority, accounting for about two percent of the total Angolan population.
In the early 21st century, the Ovambo ethnic group numbered about 2 million people. They are predominantly of the Lutheran (97%) and traditional faiths (3%), the former having followed conversion by German missionaries.