Meeting the Herero of Ombu Village: History, Memory, and Tradition

Ms. Ngurungunda pounding aromatic herbs

Ever since I saw a video about Herero women and their distinctive way of dressing years ago, I had hoped to one day see them in real life.

When I finally did, they were every bit as captivating as I imagined—but what struck me even more was how much I learned about the Herero people, their history, and the broader Bantu cultural heritage across Sub-Saharan Africa.

One of the facts I learned was that the first genocide of the 20th century was committed against the Herero people. Germany had colonized Namibia in 1884, often using deceptive agreements. The Herero and Nama were pastoralist communities, but as more German settlers arrived, their land was systematically confiscated. In response, the Herero rebelled—and the consequences were devastating. Between 1904 and 1908, an estimated 80% of the Herero population  was killed.*

Ombu Village, Namibia

In May of this year, I visited the Ombu Herero Cultural Village in northern Namibia, located off a dirt road branching from the B1 highway between Otjiwarongo and Sukses. The visit included an overnight stay at one of the village’s campsites and a guided tour led by a knowledgeable local guide named Patrick.

During the tour, Patrick provided valuable insights into the cultural and historical connections between the Herero and Himba peoples. Contrary to the common perception that the Himba constitute a separate ethnic group, he explained that they are in fact part of the broader Herero community. Both groups speak Otjiherero, a Bantu language, and share the same ancestral roots.

Ms. Ngurungunda in her traditional dress

The divergence in appearance and cultural expression between the Herero and Himba can be largely attributed to their differing interactions with German colonial forces. The Herero, who lived in closer proximity to the German settlers, adopted aspects of European dress, particularly the Victorian-style garments worn by Herero women—likely due to colonial influence and pressure. In contrast, the Himba, who remained geographically and socially more isolated, were able to preserve their traditional customs and attire, many of which continue to this day.

Ms. Ngurungunda preparing the herbs

Another closely related ethnic group is the Ovahimba of southwestern Angola. Like the Himba, Ovahimba women wear traditional attire and maintain similar customs, reflecting their shared origins with the Herero. Historically, the Ovahimba migrated from what is now Namibia, and their cultural practices continue to bear strong similarities to those of the Himba, particularly in dress and lifestyle.

As part of the visit, Patrick guided us through traditional Herero homesteads, illustrating how construction methods have evolved over time. One woman, dressed in an elegant Herero gown made from African-print fabric, demonstrated a traditional hygiene practice once used by Herero women. In times of water scarcity, rather than washing with water, women would pound aromatic herbs, heat them, and place them beneath their skirts. The resulting steam served to cleanse and perfume the body—a method that reflects both ingenuity and adaptation to environmental constraints.

Patrick with the village Chief and his family

Following a visit to the cattle kraal, we were invited to sit with the village chief and his family, where we shared a traditional drink of fermented milk. The village also features a small but informative museum, which guides visitors through the history of the Herero people's arrival in the region—part of the broader Bantu migration from west-central Africa to the southern parts of the continent.

One particularly striking aspect of the exhibition was the linguistic connection between the Herero of Namibia and the Duala people of Cameroon. Despite the geographical distance, both groups trace their origins to the Bantu expansion and retain notable linguistic parallels. For example, the term for the Creator in Duala is Nyambé, while in Otjiherero it is Ndjambi—a compelling reminder of their shared ancestral roots.

Image at the Museum

The museum also includes panels commemorating the Herero resistance against German colonial rule, including depictions of the rebellion's leader and photographic documentation of the genocide. A small souvenir area adjacent to the museum sells handcrafted items such as dolls and other locally made goods.

Visitors are charged a per-person fee for the guided tour, while campsite accommodation is billed separately. Those interested in visiting the Ombu Herero Cultural Village can contact Patrick Jeomba for further information (see contact details in the notes below).

* For further information on the Herero genocide, see the Montreal Holocaust Museum’s dedicated page: Herero Genocide in Namibia. The genocide, which occurred between 1904 and 1908, resulted in the deaths of approximately 80% of the Herero population and 40% of the Nama people.

It took the German government many decades to begin acknowledging the atrocities committed during its colonial rule—not only in Namibia but also in other African territories under its control. Following Germany’s defeat in World War I, its colonies were seized, and Namibia (then known as German South West Africa) was placed under South African administration.

I had the opportunity to engage with this history through exhibitions in Germany that confront the nation’s colonial past. Notably, I visited exhibitions at the Freiburg Augustinermuseum and the Hamburg Ethnological Museum, both of which I reflected on in an article titled Germany Faces Its Colonial History.

For those interested in visiting the Ombu Herero Cultural Village, guided tours and accommodations can be arranged by contacting Patrick Jeomba via WhatsApp at +264 816010871.

The Ombu Village Museum

Patrick with his lovely wife, dressed in traditional Herero attire