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Herero Woman at Work, Herero Craft Market, Namibia | Damaraland and Kaokoland - Namibia (IMG_4033.jpg)

Herero Woman at Work, Herero Craft Market, Namibia

The most distinctive feature of Herero women's dress is their horizontal horned headdress, the otjikaiva, which is a symbol of respect, worn to pay homage to the cows that have historically sustained the Herero. The headdresses can be formed from rolled-up newspaper covered in fabric. They are made to match or coordinate with dresses, and decorative brooches and pins attached to the center front. The overall intended effect is for the woman to resemble a plump, slow-moving cow.
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