An Introduction to Namibia's Herero People

The Ovaherero people (or simply Herero) are one of Namibia’s proudest tribes, taking pride in their culture and fiercely safeguarding it from outside influence. The traditional dress, the customary practices on marriage, the leadership structure and language are all important aspects of this colourful tribe. Here we provide a brief overview of Namibia’s Herero people.
Background
The Herero are said to have migrated southwards to Namibia from East and Central Africa, settling in northeast Namibia in the 1500s. Over the years, they moved further south and today, they have homesteads in various parts of Namibia, mostly the eastern, central and northeastern areas of the country. Some Hereros can even be found in Southern Angola. Consisting of various sub-tribes such as the Himba, Tjimba (Cimba), Mbanderu, and Kwandu, the Herero speak Otjiherero, with the various sub-tribes having their own dialects.
Leadership is distributed over eight royal houses with Paramount Chief, Advocate Vekuii Rukoro, overseeing the entire Ovaherero Traditional Authority.

History
A brutal history saw about 80% of the Herero people (up to 100,000) exterminated in a genocide carried out by the German colonial government between 1904 and 1908. While modern-day German governments have refused to call the killings a genocide, the Herero, alongside the Nama people of Namibia, have since taken up a case for reparations to be paid to them by the German government, a case that’s ongoing and where Germany is facing increased pressure to officially apologise for the atrocities and re-evaluate their current stance on reparations.
After the uprisings, many Hereros were dislocated to neighbouring Botswana. One thing that the Herero people kept from the German colonialists is the dress code which they cherish to this day. The now iconic Herero dress which is worn with a head scarf is an adaptation of the Victorian-styled dress of the German settlers. The men wear military styled suits decorated with badges in colours that denote which sub-tribe they belong to.

Traditional practices
While many of the cultural practices of the Herero are similar to those of other Bantu tribes in Namibia, the Herero follow some rituals that many other tribes have long stopped practising – the practice of otjiramue, for instance. This is where cousins get married to each other. Herero boys are required to be circumcised, while girls are groomed from an early age to become good wives to the men who’ll marry them in the future. Men are traditionally the head of the house and are afforded a lot of respect within the household and in the community. The Herero celebrate their culture through many festivals such as the recent otjikaika festival.
Cattle culture
The Herero are traditionally cattle-herding pastoralists who place great importance on the number of cattle owned by one person or household. Cattle are so important in this community that traditional dress is worn with a head scarf that is tied to resemble the horns of a cow. Even in dance, the Herero honour their precious cows. The outjina traditional dance (‘dance of the cow head’) which is performed at weddings sees women, and nowadays men, sing about and make observational notes on the dowry that is delivered as a bride price.
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!


Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.


KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.