Bank of Namibia clarifies ‘outere’ N$1 coin meaning

The Bank of Namibia has clarified the meaning behind the newly launched N$1 coin, termed by the public as ‘outere’.

Outere in the Khoekhoegowab language is loosely translated as ‘give me’ and can also be seen as begging. The coin sparked debate on social media platforms.

In what might have been seen as a lighter step, the central bank took to social media saying: “So they’re calling it the Outere Dollar? We see you, Namibia! Yes, that new N$1 coin with the two hands might look like someone’s asking, but here’s the plot twist: the Outere isn’t just about asking, it’s about giving back, making moves, sealing deals.”

The update further says in retail, money flows both ways: one hand gives, one receives.

“This coin celebrates the everyday buy and sell that keeps our economy alive, from kapana stalls to corner shops. So if you hear ‘Outere Dollar’, smile and know it’s not begging, it’s business,” the bank says.

However, the explanation still created debate, with people calling for it to be immediately removed

from circulation because of the negative connotation behind outere and the tribal remarks associated with it.

There have also been jokes that the first word a Khoekhoegowab child learns when they learn to speak is outere.

Governance expert Matthew //Gowaseb, says the central bank should issue an apology to Khoekhoegowab-speaking Namibians who feel aggrieved and insulted by the offensive subtext embedded in the use of the word outere.

According to //Gowaseb, the term has been used over the years as a slur by tribalists to demean others.

“The careless deployment of this term which is laden with historic and tribalist connotations has not only stirred offence, but has also undermined the spirit of our national motto: One Namibia, One Nation,” says //Gowaseb.

He adds that the central bank should also take down any social media posts that promoted the terminology.

“Bank officials should undergo cultural and diversity sensitisation training to avoid future instances of exclusion, ignorance and disrespect in the public domain,” says //Gowaseb.

A statement issued by the central bank on its social media pages yesterday says the coin does not represent a person begging but rather trade.

“The motif of two hands exchanging coins symbolises the act of trade – a mutual, everyday interaction that connects people and communities,” reads the statement.

In the days after the central bank launched its new coin series, comments on social media said the coin resembles someone begging.

“We are aware that the coin has, in certain circles, come to be colloquially referred to as the ‘Outere Dollar’, a phrase rooted in Khoekhoegowab that loosely translates to ‘give me’, reads the statement.

According to the central bank, the N$1 coin was designed to honour Namibia’s retail sector which is a cornerstone of the national economy that empowers local businesses, sustains households and fosters entrepreneurship.

“Our aim was to shift the conversation towards what the coin truly represents: dignified exchange, vibrant commerce and shared economic progress. There was no intention to use it as a slur or cultural slight,” reads the statement.

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