OvaHerero va Kaoko mo Namibia na Angola

The OvaHerero va Kaoko of Namibia and Angola have developed this community protocol to safeguard their ancestral territories, traditional knowledge, and cultural heritage. The document details their kinship systems, historical migrations, and the spiritual significance of their land and the Kunene/Cunene River. It outlines the community's traditional governance, the role of women, and their sustainable practices for managing livestock, water, and plants. The protocol asserts the community's biocultural rights under national and international law, calling for the recognition of their ancestral land rights and the protection of their traditional knowledge from misappropriation.

• The OvaHerero va Kaoko maintain a dual descent kinship system consisting of the father's line (OtjoRuzo) and the mother's line (OtjoEyanda), which defines their clans and social identity.
• The community's identity is deeply tied to the Kaokoveld region and the Kunene/Cunene River, which they view as a spiritual and physical lifeline providing water and sustenance.
• Traditional governance is centered around the 'Ombara' (traditional leader) and a council of elders, who are responsible for maintaining cultural laws and resolving disputes.
• Women play a critical role in the community as keepers of tradition, educators of children, and managers of the household and local trade.
• The community utilizes a vast array of traditional ecological knowledge, including the use of specific plants for medicine and construction, and the reading of weather patterns to manage livestock.
• The OvaHerero va Kaoko face significant threats from climate change, including drought and water scarcity, which disrupt their traditional pastoralist lifestyle.
• The document asserts that the community's rights to their ancestral lands and traditional knowledge are supported by the constitutions of Namibia and Angola, as well as international frameworks like UNDRIP and the African Charter.

APA

Alphons, K. K., Jariujani, V., Kohrs, B., & Whines, S. (2024). OvaHerero va Kaoko mo Namibia na Angola. Natural Justice. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/OvaHerero-BCP-in-OvaHerero-Online_Translated.pdf

Chicago

Alphons, Koruhama Kahuhu, Virere Jariujani, Bertchen Kohrs, and Sally Whines. OvaHerero va Kaoko mo Namibia na Angola. Natural Justice, 2024. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/OvaHerero-BCP-in-OvaHerero-Online_Translated.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Alphons |first1=Koruhama Kahuhu |last2=Jariujani |first2=Virere |last3=Kohrs |first3=Bertchen |last4=Whines |first4=Sally |title=OvaHerero va Kaoko mo Namibia na Angola |publisher=Natural Justice |date=2024 |url=https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/OvaHerero-BCP-in-OvaHerero-Online_Translated.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{alphons2024ovaherero, author = {Alphons, Koruhama Kahuhu and Jariujani, Virere and Kohrs, Bertchen and Whines, Sally}, title = {{OvaHerero va Kaoko mo Namibia na Angola}}, institution = {Natural Justice}, year = {2024}, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/OvaHerero-BCP-in-OvaHerero-Online_Translated.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }