A safeguarding of the process of making the Herero dress, headgear and petticoat as an intangible cultural heritage: Otjiwarongo case study

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.