Seasons Change

I figure since I am exiled from the north that now is a good time to catch up on the blog. Since Namibia is in the southern hemisphere the seasons are opposite of the seasons in the states. You all are likely looking forward to warmer temps and some sunshine after a long gloomy winter. Me, I am looking forward to some cooler temps, shorter days, and drier weather. And believe it or not, Namibia does have distinct seasons. It is autumn now and the nights are cooler and of course the days are getting shorter. The leaves are starting to dry and drop off the branches, the grasses are beginning to get their yellow tinge, and the rains are becoming less frequent. I first arrived in the north back in October, spring time here. Things were still dry and crisp from the long, dry Namibian winter but over my first 5 months in the village the landscape underwent an amazing transformation. Summer in the north is the rainy season and this rain brings the much needed water that stimulates growth. The fields are planted with mahangu, maize, sorghum, and beans. The rain water fills into the low spots transforming an otherwise desert landscape into a wetland. There is more wildlife, especially birds, and the sounds of the insects can almost be deafening at times. Here is a series of photos showing you how the area has changed with the season.

During the winter the fields outside the homestead are nothing but dusty, sandy plots of land that seem like the least probable place to grow crops.

However, once the rain comes, with some cultivation and planting of the seeds, these fields quickly turn into a jungle of mahangu (millet). The mahangu grows upwards of 10 feet and is so dense that passing through is nearly impossible.

During the winter the homestead feels as if it has been dropped into an endless wasteland devoid of any life.

Spring comes and everything comes to life. Not only are the crops up but the various trees get their leaves back, the tall grasses blanketing the fields turn green, and the dust settles giving the area a freshness that wasn’t there before.

And of course there is new wildlife. The frogs come out in full force and at times can make walking difficult. My host sister Kalinga was pleased to find this monster in a muddy hole. In the village, many of the people eat the big frogs, but after some persuasion Kalinga spared this one’s life.

The skies have taken on a new brilliance this time of year. The addition of flood waters makes for stunning sunrises.

My walk to school used to take me 10 minutes and I was able to keep my pants rolled down and shoes on. The only difficulty is passing through the loose sand.

But during the rainy season I leave for school in the morning with my shoes in hand and pants rolled up to the knees. My walk takes a bit longer since I have to carefully wade through the massive puddles.

Mahangu, or pearl millet, is the staple crop for the Owambo people and many others all across the African continent. The rainy season is growing season and once the rains cease sometime in April, it is harvest time. Mahangu is a very stout plant that is drought resistant and has many uses. It is most often crushed into a coarse flour and used to make a thick porridge. It is also used to make a variety of fermented drinks and dense breads. Without this crop, the Owambo’s diet would suffer.

On the homestead there is a special building called the oshini. It is the place where the mahangu is pounded into a flour to be cooked into something else. The oshini is simply a couple of holes in the ground where the mahangu seeds are places and then pounded with a heavy wooden post. And believe me, it is difficult work.

Once the mahangus is pounded it is sifted to separate the fine flour and the coarser flour. There are different coarsenesses of flour depending on what is being made. I can never remember what flour is used to make what though…fine for oshithima…coarse for oshikundu…whatever.