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The Republic of Namibia is a country in southern Africa, a multi-ethnic country with its own culture and customs. Coloreds and Basters, like most white and black Namibians, maintain distinct collective identities while sharing similar ancestry and cultural characteristics. Although Namibia is thought to have 11 different ethnic groups, these are only small ethnic groups with similar languages and traditions.
Namibia is a country where different clothes cover cultures, eras and regions. Anything you wear has meaning, whether talking about the current or Victorian eras. Namibian clothing speaks volumes about their culture through what they wear.
Damara
Demeras wore clothes made of animal skins. The animal skins mainly used for clothing and blankets were springbok, goat and jackal skins. As well as distinguishing between boys, single and married men and men of a certain age, Damara cultural clothing distinguishes between a girl, a single or married woman and an elderly woman. Unlike normal clothes, some clothes are reserved for certain rituals.
In Damara cultural clothing, animal skins are usually replaced with cloth during traditional festivals and special events. Damaran created damarokos as a suitable substitute for animal skins (damara robes). In the middle of the 19th century, the Damarokos were taken from the missionary brides. The dress was used to cover the “naked” Damara women, and with its ankle length, long sleeves and shawl, it made sure to provide as much coverage as possible.
Nama
The nama of the ancients was entirely clothed in animal skins. To keep warm, wear leather-covered clothes in winter and underwear in summer. The Nama people, however, lost much of their culture due to colonization and one of the first changes was their clothing. Most of the people of Nama dress in the Victorian style, which was heavily influenced by the settlers. Long formal dresses resembling dresses from the Victorian era are the traditional dress of Nama women. Long, flowing dresses originated from missionary fashion in the 1800s and are still prominent in Nama culture today.
San people
San people wear basic clothes. Because they are mostly hunters and gatherers, they wear animal hides and skins. The women wore animal skin skirts and trousers, leather jackets and a double leather skirt covering the front and back of the hair, arm and leg ornaments with rings and necklaces. The men wear turtlenecks, leather coats and shoulder bags that hold everything they want.
Kavango
Animal skin is used in the traditional clothing of the Kavango people. The women wear long braids made of plant fibers, curved bracelets and bangles made of copper, and necklaces made of several rounds of ostrich shell beads. A hairstyle can be worn for a year or several months before it needs to be replaced. The men remove their hair regularly.
The dress of the Kavango people was very traditional. The only clothing the men wore was a belt and a short front skirt that covered their genitals, but the women had access to more clothing, and their woolen garments resembled skirts. Men’s buttocks and women’s breasts can be seen.
Himba
Although modern textile works are increasing over time, Himba men’s traditional dress consists of a straight calf-length skirt paired with non-traditional clothing such as a shirt or coat. Their shoes often contain discarded car tires as sole material. As per their old traditions, the Himba today still adorn themselves with traditional jewelry. Many bracelets and necklaces made of ostrich eggshell beads, grass, cloth and copper are worn by both men and women. Himba women wear huge white shells on their breasts known as ohumba, and adult women wear beaded anklets to protect their feet from dangerous animal bites.
Herero
The Herero women’s choice of clothing serves as a reminder of the tribe’s troubled past and recent history, during which the Germans came perilously close to exterminating the entire population. The once prosperous nation of Namibia has ended in genocide. Their traditional costumes copy the style of their previous masters as a continued protest against the Germans who massacred them. The Herero traditional dress known as “Ohorokova” is an A-line dress with bright, colorful and multiple petticoats. The result is a structured wide skirt. A cow horn shaped hat completes the outfit. The Herero people, as cattle breeders, are celebrating their identity by wearing this cultural dress.
The main ones
Odela is the name of the fabric used to make the traditional clothes of the Ovambo people. Ovambo men wear Odelela-made shirts, while Ovambo women wear long skirts, skirts and tights. Ovambo women also decorate it with waist beads, shells, hides and skins. Different ornaments are worn according to the age, class or marital status of the women. The Ovambo can be recognized by their clothing, and the traditional dress of tribes such as the Ovaherero and Namas, frequently includes Ovambo fabric. Odelella’s dress is decorated with waist beads, shells, and animal hide belts, all of which vary depending on the woman’s age and marital status. These clothes are for weddings and traditional ceremonies like Olufuko.
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