Ondjiva, formerly Vila Pereira d'Eça, is a town, with a population of 121,537 (2014), and a
commune in the municipality of
Cuanhama, province of
Cunene,
Angola
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. It is also the administrative capital of
Cunene Province and is located at the extreme south of the country. The city is located from the border with Namibia. It was traditionally the seat of the
Ovambo king of the
Oukwanyama Oukwanyama (''Uukwanyama'' in the neighbouring Oshindonga dialect) is a traditional kingdom of the Ovambo people in what is today northern Namibia and southern Angola
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tribe. Ondjiva was greatly affected by the
Angolan Civil War
The Angolan Civil War ( pt, Guerra Civil Angolana) was a civil war in Angola, beginning in 1975 and continuing, with interludes, until 2002. The war immediately began after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. The war wa ...
(1975-2002).
History
Mission station
The Ondjiva
mission station
A Christian mission is an organized effort for the propagation of the Christian faith. Missions involve sending individuals and groups across boundaries, most commonly geographical boundaries, to carry on evangelism or other activities, such as ...
was established first in 1891 by
Friedrich Meisenholl and
August Wulfhorst of the
Rhenish Mission Society, and with the help of
Friedrich Bernsmann and with the permission of King
Weyulu Hedimbi. They thought that Ondjiva would have been in the territory of
German South West Africa, which later turned out not to be the case. The following year they established the mission station of
Omupanda.
Meisenholl stayed in Ondjiva for some four years, before he had to leave due to a serious illness. Wilhelm Stahlhut came to replace him in the mid-1890s. Stahlhut’s three children died in Africa, and finally he himself fell ill with
blackwater fever
Blackwater fever is a complication of malaria infection in which red blood cells burst in the bloodstream ( hemolysis), releasing hemoglobin directly into the blood vessels and into the urine, frequently leading to kidney failure. The disease ...
and died in
Outjo on 1 May 1900. His widow stayed for many years, first in Oukwanyama and then in
Hereroland.
In August 1915, King Mandume had the mission station burned, and the Germans had to flee to
Ondonga
Ondonga is a traditional kingdom of the Ovambo people in what is today northern Namibia. Its capital is Ondangwa, and the kingdom's palace is at Onambango. Its people call themselves ''Aandonga''. They speak the Ndonga dialect
Ndonga, also ...
in
South West Africa
South West Africa ( af, Suidwes-Afrika; german: Südwestafrika; nl, Zuidwest-Afrika) was a territory under South African administration from 1915 to 1990, after which it became modern-day Namibia. It bordered Angola ( Portuguese colony before ...
.
Ondjiva later became a Catholic mission and the see of the
bishop
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or offic ...
of the
Ondjiva Diocese.
Fernando Guimaraes Kevanu was the bishop until 2011, and he was to be succeeded by Rev.
Pio Hipunyati.
Angolan Civil War
Ondjiva was largely destroyed during the
Angolan Civil War
The Angolan Civil War ( pt, Guerra Civil Angolana) was a civil war in Angola, beginning in 1975 and continuing, with interludes, until 2002. The war immediately began after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. The war wa ...
. The administration of the city operated from
Huíla Province
Huíla is a province of Angola. It has an area of and a population of 2,497,422 (2014 census). Lubango is the capital of the province. Basket-making is a significant industry in the province; many make baskets out of reeds.
History
From the Port ...
, and in theory ruled Cunene Province in exile. Most of the population left the city by 1989, and by 1999 was home to fewer than 5,000 residents. Reconstruction efforts began after the advent of peace in 2002. Ondjiva initially experienced slow population growth but saw a significant return of its residents and new migration from other regions of Angola, notably from Huíla Province from 1998 and 2000.
Demographics
Ondjiva has traditionally been a center of the
Kwanyama, Oshikwanyama being a standardized
dialect
The term dialect (from Latin , , from the Ancient Greek word , 'discourse', from , 'through' and , 'I speak') can refer to either of two distinctly different types of linguistic phenomena:
One usage refers to a variety of a language that is ...
of the
Oshiwambo language. The resettlement of the city after the Angolan Civil War saw an influx of people from other areas of the country, notably
Huíla Province
Huíla is a province of Angola. It has an area of and a population of 2,497,422 (2014 census). Lubango is the capital of the province. Basket-making is a significant industry in the province; many make baskets out of reeds.
History
From the Port ...
. 30.4 per cent of the residents of the city speak
Portuguese, significantly lower than that in the capital of Luanda. 28.2 per cent of the population speak Kwanhama.
Geography
Neighborhoods
Ondjiva consists of 12 neighborhoods, or ''bairros''.
*Pioneiro Zeca I
*Pioneiro Zeca II
*Bangula I
*Bangula II
*Kafito I
*Kafito II
*Kachila I
*Kachila II
*Naipalala I
*Naipalala II
*Castilhos
*Kakuluvale
Transport
Ondjiva is served by
Ondjiva Pereira Airport, also known as Aeroporto 11 de Novembro. The airport is located to the northwest of the city center. It is served by
TAAG Angola Airlines with connections to Luanda,
Catumbela, and
Kuito.
A planned rail connection to Namibia on the
Moçâmedes Railway remains unbuilt.
Annual Trade Fair
Ondjiva holds annual 15-day trade fair in July. During this time exhibition are organized so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products, service.
Notable people
*
Marcelina Vahekeni,
Miss Angola 2012, delegate to the
Miss Universe 2012
Miss Universe 2012 was the 61st Miss Universe pageant, held at the PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States on December 19, 2012.
At the end of the event, Leila Lopes of Angola crowned Olivia Culpo of ...
pageant
See also
*
Railway stations in Angola
Railway stations in Angola include:
Towns served by rail
North line (Luanda Railway) (CFL)
(Also known as '' Luanda Railway'') (originally 1000 mm gauge, now 1067 mm gauge)
* Luanda – port – national capital; junction
** Bung ...
*
Railway stations in Namibia
References
{{Cunene Province
Populated places in Cunene Province
Communes in Cunene Province
Provincial capitals in Angola
Rhenish mission stations in Oukwanyama
Catholic mission stations in Oukwanyama