During the 17th century the Herero , a pastoral , nomadic people keeping cattle , moved into Namibia . They came from the east African lakes and entered Namibia from the northwest . First they resided in Kaokoland , but in the middle of the 19th century some tribes moved farther south and into Damaraland . A number of tribes remained in Kaokoland : these were the Himba people , who are still there today . During German occupation of South West Africa about one third of the population was wiped out in a genocide that continues to provoke widespread indignation . An apology was sought in more recent times
wiped out in a genocide
Herero and Namaqua genocide
History of Namibia