Abstract:
The Herero dress does not only beautify the Herero women but it is also a symbol of the Herero
women’s identity, cultural practices and rich Herero heritage. The embodiment of cattle in the
design and the rules adhered too by the wearer signifies the sacredness of cattle to the
Ovaherero people and the value that the Ovaherero people have bestowed upon the dress. The
Herero dress is made up of two parts, namely the dress and the headgear which are of similar
colour and fabric, worn as one and inseparable, a petticoat is also worn in order to give the
voluminous, rounded shape. Further, though after tailoring, the Herero dress is a beautiful
masterpiece, its completion should embody the customs, cultural beliefs and norms bestowed
upon it, in order for it to serve its role in traditional rituals, representations, expressions and
practices. Its completion should also be appreciated and be valued amongst the Ovaherero
people as a transmitted identity of the Herero women. This research paper is aimed at
safeguarding and documenting the process of making the Herero dress as an Intangible Cultural
Heritage (ICH). In order to fulfil the objectives and aims of this research project, data was
collected from a sample of 2 Herero elderly women, 3 Herero young women and 4 Herero dress
tailors and one Headgear maker through a closed and open ended in-depth interview. A
Concurrent nested approach was employed incorporating both qualitative and quantitative
research methods. The research project found that the process of making the Herero dress does
incorporate tradition, customs, rituals, values and practices and is transmitted through
indigenous knowledge and skills. The research project also found that the skill of making a
Herero dress is found in many Herero women but not limited to Herero speaking people only.
The study further found that the making of the headgear requires attention to detail and accurate
measurements of the horns and only a selected few can master this art. Culturally a Herero
woman’s legs, back, cleavage and arms are not to be seen when wearing the dress but today,
altering of the Herero dress by tailors is being done mainly in response to modernization and
also to satisfy customer demand especially from the younger generation irrespective of the
cultural norms, tradition, practices and values. This study recommends that the Herero dress is
a sacred identity of the Ovaherero women and hence for continuity of the dress, tailors should
adhere to the rules associated with making the dress despite the threats of commercialisation
and globalization. This is because altering the Herero dress has been seen as not only leading
to the loss of the respect bestowed upon the Herero dress but also hinders the sustainability of
the Ovaherero people’s identity, traditions and culture.
