Ova Herero Wedding and funerals

 The Ova Herero ethnic group have a very  civilized culture in terms of how traditions are and cultures are practiced , they way traditions , rituals , customs work is so sacred and can sometimes be worrisome , because of the fear that you might not perform or act in a rightful manner. 

To start of let me start off with their wedding procedures . The wedding procedures are not the ordinary engagement and the wedding procedure. Well it starts of two couples wanting to marry each other and they both inform their parents. So now what's next is that the 'groom to be' uncle's and dad is the one that is supposed to go to the bride parents to go ask for their daughters hand in marriage . One thing about this ethnic group , you don't present yourself , but your parents do .  Take note that when the grooms family is going to ask for a hand in marriage , there must be an uncle of the bride present to , otherwise they wont be able to ask for hand in marriage.  The groom family has to visit the brides family for a marriage proposal to be approved . The first one is usually the proposal , the second visit is where the elders discuss the lobola payment and the last visit  is  agreement on when the weddings should place . It is believed that a bride should sit down quietly in her nest , not move around , she must remain humble so her marriage goes in the same way. 

A week before the wedding the bride must also be at the village/ farm in a room prepared  for her and she sleeps alone. So this weddings are usually 3days , which is a weekend. The grooms family has to camp by Thursday already just a few meters not far from the bride's home. On Friday around 5 pm is when the grooms family comes and pays off lobola and they also go put on the ring on the bride finger. On Sunday which is now the main wedding day , in the early hours of the day the groom along side his age mates, these are usually people that you were circumcised  in the same year. So the groom comes and a tradition called "okusivira orupati" , is performed as well as a piece of fat is placed on the bride's head gear . This is where the bride and groom eat meat from the same rib of a cow. This is derived back from Adam and Eve , where by God created Eve from a rib of Adam . This also symbols the union of marriage that now you are one and no more true. lastly this tradition was mainly done as a ' you may kiss the bride' , meaning that it was seen as disrespectful to kiss in front of your elders , so eating meat from the rib will incorporate that. Later in the day a traditional dance , called 'outjina' , danced till the night folks away. The bride is also part of the outjina dance , ask she walks around the fire covered and a piece of fat is removed from her tjikaiva . Outjina is a female and omuhiva is male. The Sunday , which is the last day of the wedding , the bride is brought out of her room , and sits outside the groom , where the elders given them marriage advice and the groom takes off with her bride. That does not conclude the end of the wedding , after a few days the newly married couple has to come back to the bride's home for her to say her last goodbye's . 

The funerals of also have certain rituals and customs that are followed for the deceased to be laid to eternal peace. The casket arrives mostly  on Friday on Saturdays depending on the funeral plan. The casket is received by women in a room that mourn and cry during the whole funeral. The casket faces to the where the sun sets and in most cases its always opened by pastors for a few hours . It stays in that room till the following day , and only age mates of the deceased if its a man , must carry the casket. No women carries a casket and mostly women never give speeches at funerals. When the deceased was married the partner is covered in black and usually sits idle in a room . The opponent does not even look or see the casket .  At the graveyard the ceremonial chiefs lead the way and open the graveyard with traditional greeting's to the ancestors and then the burial takes place. Coming back home , the same ceremonial chief has to wash the hands of everyone that went to the burial. This is done to wash away funerals. 

Ova herero and Nama Genocide

'courtesy google photos' 

Germany started ruling South West Africa under the newly established German administration under Curt von Francois that was the newly German administrator. The first years of the German government occupation was not successful until after the introduction of the protection treaties. The Germans wanted the chiefs of the different ethnic group to sign voluntarily to German rule, however this was a success. (Asino et.al, 2020)

There were many further uprisings against the German rule as Germans tried to take land and cattle. The name reasons for the rebelliousness that later led to the war was colonial oppression, cattle confiscation as well as land confiscation.  The Herero people felt that they lost too much land to the Germans, they were not treated with proper respect and the traders would charge high prices they could not afford.

The Herero uprising under Samuel Maharero revolted against the Germans. The attack began on the 12 of January when remote farms were attacked and it is estimated that about 150 German settlers were killed. The war lasted until October 1907. The Herero people mostly died in the semi desert areas of Namibia due to hydration as water was scare, hunger and devastation. More than 80% of Herero and 75 % of the Nama died during the war.

After the war in October 1907, the Herero and Nama people were put into concentration camps, that had harsh living conditions and the death rate increased at Shark Island due to these harsh conditions, malnutrition, heavy chinned metal pieces around them. 

According to Dr. U  Muinjangue , deputy Minister of Health and social security  in an interview with DW NEWS , stated that they have not only fought for the recognition of the genocide with the German government , but they will continue to fight until Germany grants them reparations for the genocide.  The reparations were not yet accustomed to the Ova Herero and Nama people but it is yet to be accustomed. 

 

Otjiramwe Practice

 

Ova Herero otjiramue practice is a practice in the Ova Herero community where by a child from a brother and sister can get married and be involved in sexual activities

Commonly whispered belief that the otjiramue platform is for sexual activities and instead defends its objectives as making space available for advice, motivation and trust between the otjiramue where they can talk to each other about things they are unable to discuss with their own parents. It is through the practice of otjiramue that the youth were educated young girls and boys to abstain from sex and remain virgins up until they get married. As part of the otjiramue custom, elders help to choose partners for the young people who are of age and ready to get married because the older generation knows what is good for their children. A further motivation for this practice is of course the argument for keeping the wealth in the family. This practice was also introduced to retain family ties and relationships within the Ova Herero people.

Constant argument about this belief has made authorities question the impact of this practice on Herero women and girls. According to the Legal assistance in Namibia the  Namibian constitution does not give  guidance on this point , however it protects the practice of any culture , tradition or religion to an extent that it does not impinge on the rights of others. 

The constant conflict regarding the Otjiramue practice is a never ending conflict because everyone is entitled to their opinion, emancipation and colonialization, however I believe that in a world of established human rights no one is forced to practice it. However I strongly feel  that if you know and understand the aim of this practice , you will act in accordance with it. 

google photos