Newspapers in Namibia
Namibia has a relatively open media climate. Freedom of the press is
guaranteed in the Constitution and there are a number of private radio stations
as well as privately owned newspapers. Of the country's 2.3 million residents,
350,000 have access to the internet in 2014.
In Namibia there are five daily newspapers. Largest are the leftist The
Namibian, published in English, and Die Republikein, published in Afrikaans,
German and English and closely related to the DTA party, which also applies to
the German-speaking Allgemeine Zeitung. The state-owned New Era is published in
English and four native languages and the tabloid The Namibian Sun is
published in English.
The state-owned company Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), founded in
1979, broadcasts radio in ten languages and television (since 1990) in English
in one channel. The first commercial radio channel was established in 1994.
Culture
The culture varies between different groups
of people. Traditional visual art lives on. In the
music, new and old are mixed more and more.
The traditional depiction of people and animals
through paintings on rock walls and cliffs was long
lived by the san people (see Population and languages),
and similar images still exist on earthen vessels and
other objects.
Other crafts are ovambos basket work and kavango wood
carving.
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Countryaah:
Latest population statistics of Namibia, including religious profiles and major languages spoken as well as population growth rates in next three decades.
The various folk groups have their own music and
dance traditions, and performances occur at all kinds of
festive occasions. Festivals and competitions where the
different styles are measured against each other are
common.
Modern music influences include hip hop, and its
South African variant kwaito.
The literary supply is limited. Some traditional
stories and stories for school children are published in
different native languages. Otherwise the publication is
mainly in English and Afrikaans.
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Songaah: List and lyrics of songs related to the country name of Namibia. Artists and albums are also included.
Mass Media
Freedom of the press and expression is
guaranteed in the Constitution and works quite well in
reality. Namibia ranks highest among all African states
in the organization Reporters Without Borders ranking
the freedom of the press in the world. The country was
ranked 17th out of 180 countries in 2015.
However, prosecution charges against media
representatives occur, which gives rise to some
self-censorship. The government is also accused of
attempts to counter media that is perceived as abusive.
The criticism has not least applied to an advertising
boycott, which for ten years has prevailed for
authorities and public bodies, against the leading daily
newspaper Namibian. In connection with
the 2009 election, the newspaper was denied information
from the Election Commission. The boycott was lifted in
2011.
Besides Namibia, which is published in English and
Oshivambo, there are three independent newspapers:
Afrikaans-language Die Republikein,
German-language Allgemeine Zeitung and
the predominantly English-speaking Namibian Sun.
The New Era newspaper is a government
agency.
In addition, there are several weekly magazines.
There is a long tradition of privately owned
publications in the country.
State NBC (Namibian
Broadcasting Corporation) has radio channels
with broadcasts in several of the country's languages
and a mainly English-language TV channel. There are
several private local radio stations and a commercial
broadcaster. Many Namibians can also watch South African
pay-TV.
FACTS - MASS MEDIA
Percentage of the population using the
internet
51 percent (2017)
Number of mobile subscriptions per 100
residents
113 (2018)
2017
December
Namibia on the EU blacklist
December 5
When the EU publishes its first "black list" of tax havens, Namibia is one of
17 designated countries and territories.
November
Geingob re-elected as Swapol leader
November 27th
President Hage Geingob is re-elected chairman of the Swapo government party
with around 75 percent of the vote at the party's congress. Geingob is being
challenged, among others, by the Minister of Youth, Jerry Ekandjo, who receives
almost 20 percent of the vote.
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