The Herero Tribe, Namibia
The Herero are a Bantu tribe who migrated since the 17th century into Southern Africa. Today most of the 250.000 Hereros live in Namibia and some in Angola and Botswana. The Herero were traditionally pastoralists depending on the freely available land for their cattle herds to roam around. This nurtured a great sense of independence and freedom, leading them to revolt against the colonial occupation during the Herero wars.
While cherishing their independence, the Herero were at the same time open to absorb elements from other cultures. Still today, Herero women wear a very unique floor-length gown which became an expression of their identity: they took the gown of 19th century German missionaries and combined it with their own tribal patterns and colours and added the otjikaiva, horizontal horned headdress to pay homage to the cows that have historically sustained the Herero.
Traditionally the Herero believed in the Okuruo (holy fire), which allowed them to get in contact with their ancestors and God. Today many are Christians, both traditional Catholics and Lutheran and increasingly born-again Pentecostals of all kind of variations. However, visit one of their services, and you will feel the Herero spirit in their songs and prayers.
