Namibian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Namibia lies on the south-west coast of Africa and is home to the Namib, one of the oldest deserts in the world, with towering red sand dunes. English is the official language, and many others are spoken. Namibians in Britain include students and professionals.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 10,239 people living in the city had been born in Southern and Eastern African countries other than Kenya, Somalia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, a group that includes Namibia.

Working for Birmingham

Namibian students and professionals study and work in fields such as engineering, mining, conservation, healthcare and business. Namibia is known for its community-run conservancies that protect wildlife, and Namibians often bring a strong interest in conservation to their work.

Birmingham is one of the youngest and most diverse cities in Europe, and its progress has always depended on people who chose to make it home. Its hospitals, schools and universities, its building sites, workshops, warehouses and kitchens all rely on skills brought from around the world. The Namibian community adds its own share to that effort, and takes pride in giving back to the city that welcomed it.

Culture and community life

Namibia's many cultures include the Herero, whose women wear striking dresses and headdresses, and the Himba of the north. Braai and kapana, grilled street meat, are much-loved foods, and Independence Day on 21 March celebrates freedom won in 1990.

Like so many of the communities that make up modern Birmingham, the Namibian community shows how a city can be home to many cultures at once. Its members are proud of where they come from, and just as proud to be Brummies.