Finding your cultural identity through fashion

Traditional clothing is a creative way of cultural expression. It is very important that children, and even adults, are aware of their cultural identity and take pride in it. The different patterns and colours used by various cultural groups celebrate cultural heritage in a unique manner. Every ethnic group has their own style, with specific patterns and colours for specific occasions to honour their heritage.

According to social development advocate Olivia Nakale, traditional clothing is a reflection of your identity and is an important aspect of the cultural heritage of a particular group.

“Traditional clothing reflects the intangible cultural heritage of a community. This is so because traditional clothing embodies traditions, values and narratives of a particular culture,” she said.

She also mentioned that comprehensive indigenous knowledge is employed in the production of traditional garments.

For instance, the attire of the Himba people is predominantly made from the skins of livestock. In order to make the traditional clothing, the individual must know and understand the tools and techniques of tanning hides using their traditional knowledge, as well as crafting various belongings such as belts, necklaces and shoes.

Traditional clothing - along with traditional hairstyles - further denote various life stages, namely childhood, pre-puberty, puberty, early adulthood, married adulthood and old age. Therefore, by merely looking at a Himba person in traditional attire, one can identify whether they are a child, a twin, a boy, a girl or entering puberty. Traditional clothing can never be confused, in the same way that one cannot confuse a Himba person’s dress code from that of a Rukwangali-speaking person.

According to Nakale, traditional clothing further reflects a particular group's history, as can be identified in the changes of style and raw materials used to create a garment. All in response to environmental changes as well as trade. Traditional clothing is therefore an important marker of cultural identity.



Historical importance

Every pattern and colour represented in traditional clothing tells a story. It tells a story of historical importance and reminds us of our beliefs and our cultural past. When looking at the various ethnic groups and their traditional clothing, it is beautiful to see how diverse Namibia is.

When wearing that Damara dress or Baster dress, it shows that you are proud of your cultural heritage and that is very important because it is a part of who you are and it is what makes you Namibian.

Museums Association of Namibia director Ndapewoshali Ndahafa Ilunga echoed these sentiments.

“In Namibia, a country rich in ethnic diversity, traditional attire varies widely across different communities. However, there are also many similarities within the traditional attires of the different communities, based on their geographic environments (and the resources available therein), cross-community engagement, trade, etc. In addition, what one considers traditional attire can vary from full attire worn during important cultural ceremonies and rites of passage, such as weddings, festivals and initiation ceremonies, to individual elements such as jewellery and other adornments that are fused into everyday wear," she noted.

"Therefore, traditional clothing plays a significant role in the cultural identity of children in Namibia and across the world, serving as both a vibrant symbol of heritage and community belonging and a source of education. It is then understandable that knowledge-keepers use different opportunities to explain the significance of different attire elements, weaving stories of ancestors and traditional practices. This transmission of knowledge helps to pass on the knowledge systems related to both tangible and intangible cultural heritage, embedding in children a deep appreciation for their heritage and identity.”