The significance and preservation of the “triple cup” among the Ovakwanyama of Omhedi village, Namibia

Abstract

This research paper discusses the results of the research done on the cultural significance and preservation practices surrounding the Eelongo a wooden cup that was returned from the Berlin Ethnography Museum. The mysterious cup called Eelongo it was recorded as a “Triple Cup” in the accession records of the Berlin Ethnographic Museum. However, this artifact among the Ovakwanyama people of Omhedi Village is known as Eelongo, which is a reference to triplet children. The data was collected from various members of the Omhedi Village and historical experts by means of a semi-structured interview. The gathered data was subjected to thematic qualitative analysis. The results of the study demonstrated that, on the one hand, some respondents had more knowledge about the significance of the triple cup; some viewed it as just an ordinary cup like the rest of the cups (omaholo) with the same significance.