Mbaja tribe

The Mbadja or Ovambadja is a group of an independent tribe that speaks Oshimbadja language. They originated from Ombadja (Município de Ombadja) in southern Angola, Cunene Province (Província do Cunene).

About 20% of the Mbadja people migrated from south Angola during the years of 1900 into the northern part of Namibia and occupied an area of land that they named Okalongo that translate in English as 'a small country'. Although they get confused by some people as Wambo or Ovawambo tribe, because of their similar way of speaking, the Mbadja people where never recognized as such among the traditional 7 Owambo tribes listed as; Kwanyama, Ndonga, Ngandjera, Kwaluudhi, Kolonkadhi, Mbalanhu and Kwambi. The Mbadja are also referred to as 'Ovambadja vaNaushona'.

Some of the Ovambadja stay in Okalongo in the Omusati region, Namibia. Like other African tribes, the Mbadja people raise cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and chicken. They cultivate the land to grow omahangu, maize, sorghum, beans, Peanuts and Watermelons during the rainy season.

Mbadja is part of Bantu people. The Mbadja ancestors told stories of their origins that tells that they have migrated from 'The Land of the Lakes' and moved south centuries ago. It is suspected that the place they refer to is around Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania.