It is believed that very many centuries back, the Herero who are a cattle breading tribe migrated from Namibia.
Its alleged that they once occupied lands of Roruu which were rich with reed and clean water for their animals, however, as these became scarce, they begun migrating southwards.
Unfortunately, to date, even researchers have failed to discover the marshland that these people previously occupied.
Basing on the told legends these people further migrated south from the east Africa’s great lakes region, crossing the vast lands of current Zambia, through southern Angola until in around 1550, they finally arrive on the banks of river Kunene.
They occupies these lands for over two hundred years (200) and them there was a split in the tribe with Maendo leading the larger group away which migrated further south and left the Tjimba as well as the Himba tribes behind.
Close to mid-way the eighteenth century, Maendo’s groups arrived at River Swakop. In the 19th century this group migrated east and finally settled in the northern central part of the country.
During the 19th century the Mbanderu as well as the Herero were still living together in families led by an Omukuru. There is no defined political structure among them and this is mainly because of the dual descent system. The Orzo which is the paternal line is what determines one’s status in the hierarchy of the family, or place of residence. However, distribution of movable property is determined by the eanda – which is the maternal line. when it comes to enforcing proper laws governing their traditional inheritance as well as controlling most of the people’s property mainly cattle, it is the matri-clans that do so.
The patri-clans are responsible for sacred objects and the ozohivirikwa (the holy cow), exerting authority in the family, ancestral fires, priesthood, ceremonial food taboos as well as succession of the local chiefs.
Following the colonial wars of 1904 to 1907, between the German and the Herero, there was a huge decline in their general population, as many Herero people were massacred during General Lothar von Trotha rule. They were robbed of their land and cattle and the few survivors disintegrated as a single group with many taking refuge in Botswana – then Bechuanaland (Botswana). In 1915, after South Africa attained administration of Southwestern Africa the refugees started returning and they were allocated areas such as Ovitoto, Aminuis, Otjohorongo, Epukiro as well as Waterberg East to be their new home.
In spite of the suppression of their native culture, taking away of their tribal lands and the limitation of labor laws, the few surviving Hereros have managed to uphold their family life bonds, tribal solidarity as well as national awareness alive. Each year in the month of August, they celebrate the Maharero Day. There are approximately 130, 000 of these living in Namibia.
Today they have a theatre group which performs very interesting plays based on their history. Within Okaepe village is a primary school whose pupils entertain visitors with music, games, dance and drama. You can also visit the cultural and tourism centre found in Okakarara settlement.
