Herero Characteristics

Namibia is a sparsely populated country located in Southwest Africa in which it shares the borders with Zambia, Botswana, Angola and South Africa. (“Namibia country profile,” 2015, para. 1). Namibia roughly has population of 2.2 million people, with thirteen different ethnic groups. (“Namibia people / tribes and their cultures,” para. 1). Among the thirteen ethnic groups, Ovambo, Himba and Herero are categorized as the main ethnic groups. These three different ethnic groups have different cultural traits that identify themselves, although they are part of the same country, Namibia. Varying cultural traits like language, beliefs, lifestyles, clothing, traditions, and architectures define Ovambo, Himba and Herero in their own unique ways. Primarily,

Herero is part of central and eastern region of Namibia, and has a population of 100,000 people. (“The Herero people,” para. 2). Similar to the two main ethnic groups of Namibia aforementioned, traditional clothing, religious beliefs and traditions are the traits that identify Herero as unique ethnic group. In Herero, their cultures are carried by Victorian Era. (“People & culture,” para. 4). Consequently, traditional clothing of women resembles the clothing of Victorians. Women wear long dresses topped over by petticoats, which are handmade by themselves of their own style. (Wither, 2012, para. 4). Additionally, women also wear horn shaped hats that are made up of rolled cloth. (“Namibia – cultural wealth: Herero people,” para. 3). Besides, men have simple clothing compared to those of women’s. Most commonly, they wear simple clothes, such as long trousers with buttoned-up shirts. (Watson, 2013, para. 6). However, different styles of hats that they wear make them unique. They wear cardboard hats, berets, or riding hats. (Watson, 2013, para. 7). Ironically, religion in Herero is inherited from paternal side. (“The people of Namibia: information on ethnic groups,” para. 6). Many people of Herero have converted their religion to Christianity, yet, they also believe in Omukuru, a supreme being of their own. (“The people of Namibia: information on ethnic groups,” para. 7). Although there are many different traditions in Herero, especially wedding traditions make Herero to stand out. In the wedding ritual of Herero, it is unique that brides should be hidden a week before the wedding, and be completely covered up. (Olive, para. 4). Indeed, in their wedding traditions, women wear their daily clothes, which are the traditional clothing of Herero. (Coppelman, 2013, para. 4). Otherwise, Herero has similar wedding rituals in which grooms and brides exchange valuable goods and come to a consensus