SEASON 2, EPISODE 10

Namibia, an African country located in Southern Africa has a culture characterized by its diverse ethnic groups, each with its own traditions and languages. Traditional music, dance, arts, cuisine, clothing and crafts play a significant role, reflecting cultural motifs and symbols.

Namibians have a strong connection to their natural environment, and urban centers blend traditional customs with modern lifestyles, contributing to the country’s dynamic cultural landscape.

On today’s episode of Learn Africa, we’d be looking at the traditional clothing of some Namibian tribes. You can put these styles into use by giving them a try with native material wears.

Ovambo

The traditional attire of the Ovambo people of Namibia is made from a fabric known as Odelela. Ovambo women wear long dresses, skirts and puffy short sleeves while the men wear shirts made from the Odelela fabric.

Ovambo women also put on adornments such as waist beads, shells, animal skins and hides. The type, quality and quantity of adornments worn by women can also be dependent on the age, class of the woman or the marital status.

You might also be interested in Traditional Attires of Cameroon

Herero

The traditional attire of the Herero tribe of Namibia is called Ohorokova. It is a traditional dress that is made in the form of a Victorian style dress.

The Ohorokova is worn with a hat that mimics the horn of a cow while the dress is a colorful attire creating a wide skirt filled with lots of layers.

The Herero men wear western styled clothes consisting of shirts and trousers and sometimes with a coat or suit and hat.

You might also be interested in Traditional Clothing of Botswana

San

The traditional clothing of the San tribe (Bushmen), one of the oldest tribes and inhabitants in the Southern Africa region is a simple one. Their clothing is made of animal skin and hides.

The men wear antelope skirts, leather coat with a shoulder bag which contains everything needed while the women wear skirts and pants made from animal skin, leather coats and a double leather apron that covers the front and back with decorations. Their hairs, arms and legs are also decorated with rings and necklaces made from animal parts.

Written and edited by Ebby