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History:
The Herero have been in
Namibia for over 350 years. The founding of the Herero nation is the
source of a legend of two brothers who parted ways at a leadwood tree
after leaving “a country of many mountains.” In the 1800s they migrated
further south, leaving the Himba and Tjimba tribes behind. They were once
a fearless and warlike nation. Their name is even derived from okuhera
which means “to throw an assengai.” However, they were historically the
recipient of suppression of their culture and confiscation of their land.
In addition their numbers were greatly decreased in the early 1900s by
German war atrocities to exterminate them. This pushed them into the
mostly inhospitable portions of the Kalahari Desert of Namibia, where most
of them remain to this day, and into the country of Botswana.
Present Day life:
Today, the Herero still have
the cattle herd as the focal point of their lives – their wooden stick
fenced cattle kraals remain the center of each settlement. These
Bantu-speaking people subsist on herding for meat and milk. Their pride
and status is found in the measure of their cattle. The most important
source of food is the Omaere or sour milk. Every evening they add
fresh milk to their calabashes for storage. The head of the family must
taste the Omaere the next morning before the women and children can
drink it. Unique for southern Africa, each Herero identity is defined
through specific fraternal and maternal family beliefs or property. The
father’s line determines the residence, religion and authority. The
mother’s line determines the economy and inheritance.
[Click on map above for a larger view]
Poems, songs, stories and
traditional dancing are still very important parts of this oral culture.
The subjects of these are often recounting past victories, praising
villages, praising cattle or teaching lessons.
The Herero are most famous
for the women’s Victorian dress and unique head-dresses. Their long
distinctive gowns consist of multiple layers of thick fabric. Their
head-dresses are rolled fabric forming a flat, horned shaped hat
representing the importance of the cattle. The yearly Maherero Day
festival is a showcase for a multitude of Herero women in their beautiful
dresses. Their traditional crafts include leather products, basketry and
colorful dolls clothed in their Victorian style dress.
Religion:
The Herero people exhibit
much of the early missionary influence. In the 1800s German missionaries
succeeded in introducing the Victorian style of dress after being appalled
with the Hereros’ semi-nakedness. Today they combine Christian dogma with
ancestor worship and magical ceremonies. Ancestor worship, like consulting
forefathers to deal with problems, is considered more powerful than
Christianity. There are even special places marked by stones that demand
you greet the deceased before passing. In the evening around the Okuruo,
sacred fire which may never die out, the head of the family contacts
ancestors through a loud conversation to ask for advice, for help or to
confess mistakes or offences.
The Herero believe in a
distant Supreme Being called Omukuru, “the Great One.” He is the
heavenly god they point to as the author of human life and life’s
blessings. He offers only kindness with no moral demands or strength. He
is cherished and thanked for kindness with no fear. They only pray to him
when all other means fail.
[Click on any photo above for a larger
view]
Summary:
Evangelism for the Herero
people needs to clearly communicate the true Gospel in their
heart language. Widespread dogmatic Christianity combined with ancient
traditions and ceremonies offers a God-sized challenge. They need the Lord
of the Harvest to send workers. There are no Baptist churches among them
and very little evangelical influence. They are a forgotten people. Will
you help them to know Jesus?
Go to the
CONTACT US
section to ask questions, to
request a Decision Kit
or to inform us of your decision to adopt a certain People Group.
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