Family houses – building an intergenerational space in post-apartheid Namibia

Abstract

This qualitative study presents how intergenerational relationships have spatially shaped the former apartheid township Kuisebmond in Walvis Bay, Namibia. The apartheid housing, which was designed for nuclear families, now accommodates multiple generations. People in different age cohorts are distributed differently in space. People in late later life lived in the former township housing units, whilst people in early later life lived in backyard shacks or other rentals. Certain patterns of cohabitation with younger relatives were discernible. It is highly likely that the extended family will be an important facet of Namibian urban life in the foreseeable future, since traditional family patterns have been interpreted in an urbanised form. It is of great importance that housing can accommodate various versions of the extended family, necessary for family existence and intergenerational obligations of resource pooling. RÉSUMÉCette étude qualitative présente la manière dont les relations intergénérationnelles ont spatialement façonné Kuisebmond, l'ancien township de l'apartheid à Walvis Bay, en Namibie. Les logements de l'apartheid, conçus pour des familles nucléaires, accueillent désormais plusieurs générations. Les personnes faisant partie de cohortes d'âge différent sont réparties différemment dans l'espace. Les personnes ayant atteint un âge tardif vivent dans les anciens logements du township, tandis que celles approchant cet âge sont logées dans des cabanes de jardin ou d'autres types de location. Certains modèles de cohabitation avec des parents plus jeunes ont été identifiés. Il est fort probable que la famille élargie soit amenée à devenir une caractéristique importante de la vie urbaine namibienne dans un avenir prévisible, puisque les modèles familiaux traditionnels ont été interprétés sous une forme urbanisée. Il est très important que le logement puisse accueillir diverses versions de la famille élargie, nécessaire à l'existence de la famille et aux obligations intergénérationnelles de mise en commun des ressources.

Institutional Traits in an African Residence for Older Adults: An Obstacle to Community Care?

“…In such a case, it would be necessary that children and visitors be allowed to stay overnight. Family reliance is still important for housing, care, and support in later life (Nord, 2021), but family care is also under great pressure and in need of support (Hoffman & Pype, 2016). Links between these caring resources could contribute to residential care homes being seamlessly interwoven in the community care services to the benefit of limited family care resources.…”

Vital infrastructures

“…Occupants gradually extend their homes over the years as resources allow. Obtaining a house in the city is an important objective as a part of intergenerational, translocal survival and advancement strategies among extended families in which people, money, food, goods, and information flow between rural and urban areas (author's field data; see also Frayne 2007;Greiner 2012;Nord 2022).…”