26/12/2025
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The Mbukushu, also known as Hambukushu, are a Bantu-speaking ethnic group living in Botswana, primarily in the Okavango Delta region. They originated from Barotseland and migrated to Ngamiland, settling along the Okavango River. The Mbukushu are known for their rich cultural heritage, deeply intertwined with the unique ecological environment of the Okavango Delta.
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The Mbukushu arrived in eastern Okavango (Guvamokoni - where Vumbura camps are located) in the 18th century, fleeing conflicts and slave trade in their original homeland. In the 1960s, many Mbukushu refugees from Angola settled in the Etsha area, specifically Etsha 1-13, after fleeing the Angolan civil war. The Botswana government resettled them in a 260 square kilometer area between Gumare and Sepopa along the Thaoge River.
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The Mbukushu are skilled agriculturalists, practicing dryland farming and molapo (floodplain) crop farming along the Okavango River. They're also known for their expertise in basket weaving, fishing, and rain-making rituals, earning them the title "The Rain-makers of Okavango". Their language, Simbukushu, is a Bantoid language of the Niger-Congo phylum.
The Mbukushu people's food is all about making the most of the Okavango Delta's bounty! ๐ฟ Some staples include:
- Sorghum porridge (Thick or thin): A daily essential, often served with veggies or meat.
- Fish dishes*: Fresh from the Okavango River, often smoked or dried.
- Wild greens (like morogo): Nutritious and tasty, gathered from the bush.
- Melons and wild fruits*: Seasonal treats that add flavor to their diet.
- Hakavura (sorghum beer): A social drink, brewed for gatherings.
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Mbukushu communities can be found in Gumare, Etsha, Shakawe, Mohembo, Maun, Beetsha, Eretsha, Gonotsoga, Seronga, Mogotho, Mokgacha, Ngarange, Sekondomboro, Xakao, Kauxhi, Mohembo East and West, Gani, Chokomochu, Tsodilo, Samuchima, Xhaoga, Nxamasere, Kajaja, Sepupa, Ikoga, Xanxana, Etsha 1 - 13,Nxaunxau, Qangwa, Gumare, Nokaneng, Maun and other villages along the Okavango River. They live alongside other ethnic groups, including the Wayeyi, Baherero, Bakgalagadi and Basarwa, in a culturally diverse region.
