Become immersed in the lives of the Ovaherero people as they go about their daily routines.
Ombu Cultural Village seeks to document and preserve the heritage and culture of the Ovaherero in the form of a living museum, reflecting on the past whilst informing the present
The Village consist of a traditional homestead, comprising 9 houses with dinstinctive original designs and building methods dating back to 1880, and other periodic designs over the last 150 years.
Earlier houses were built with a mixture of cow dung and ant-hill sand.
Cattle and sheep kraal were built using wood. It is also used to provide support and strength in the constuction of houses.
As the Ovaherero started to encounter other cultures, including early colonialists, iron sheets and drum sheets were used in constructing housing.
Since the 1980's, bricks and mortar are used by wealthier families in the villages.
The culture and traditions of the people are showcased in an interactive manner, as the village inhabitants go about traditional daily routines of working to make and prepare food.
Their lifestyle, village design and the centrality of cattle to all their existense is demonstrated.
The life of the Ovaherero people is centred around their cattle. Their forklore, dance, dresses and traditional practises are informed by cattle.
Cattle are sacred and play a very important part in most aspects of their life, from source of food, belief system to their costume and clothing.
The central pillar to the Ovaherero religion or belief system is the sacred hearth (holy fire or okuruuo).
It is situated between the main house and the cattle kraal, and will also be showcased and explained at the Village.