Diana Mwanyangapo

“A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people”: Mahatma Gandhi. We should value and have respect for our cultural costumes. They represent the culture or identity of a specific ethnic group. As a Namibian citizen, I feel like and have observed disrespect towards our Namibian cultural costumes.

The Namibian population can be split into roughly 11 ethnic groups, which are Ovambo, Herero, Damara, Nama, Caprivian, San, Baster and Tswana, just to mention a few.

But most of us have turned our cultural costumes into fashion wear and stealing bags. Cultural costumes were supposed to be worn only on ceremonial occasions to show respect, and reflect value for the culture, but we made it our basic clothing. Cultural attire means a lot more than we think; it is not just you having to put on something to cover your body. It is not something to be made fun of, as traditional clothing represents national identity and love for them.

We do feel happy in our traditional attire during Independence Day because it symbolises our love for our country, and the value that we put in by wearing our national attire. We do this during wedding ceremonies, cultural dances and other cultural-related festivals. I really do find it very disrespectful by having to use our traditional attire to be attached to some styled fashion clothes.

If you want to wear your traditional attire, wear it the way it is supposed to be worn. If I am to be specific, the Oshiwambo attire has lost its value. It has become our daily bread, and we are not impressed anymore. Traditional attire was supposed to catch our attention, and make us proud of who we are. Nowadays, anyone can put on an Otjiherero, Nama or Oshiwambo dress to go shopping, which is not the aim.

Not a few months ago, an Oshiwambo young male had disguised himself properly in an Otjiherero dress, and used this outfit to steal. Where is the value that we were supposed to have for our national attire? It seems like culture does not mean anything anymore; it is not significant anymore as it used to be.

Otjikaiva, which is a symbol of respect, is worn to pay homage to the cows. It is now used for sinning, while its main aim is to identify Otjiherero people from other ethnic groups, and to give respect to their culture.

Wearing traditional clothes is not just to show off, but it is important because it shows that you value your cultural traditions. In today’s generation, people tend to forget how deeply-rooted clothing can be in values such as tradition and pride for one’s home country.

Traditional attire is not just anything that you can pick from your suitcase and put on. It is worn for a reason, and putting it on gives you belonging; it represents you as a Namibian. It represents the beauty of our Namib Desert to other countries. Feel proud of your roots. A traditional outfit is not just attire, it’s a religion in itself.