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43-549: Damara may refer to: Damara (people) , Namibian people Damara (feudal landlord) , landlords of ancient Kashmir Damara ( Forgotten Realms ) , a fictional kingdom in the Forgotten Realms D&;D campaign setting Damara, Central African Republic , a town Damara sheep , a breed of sheep Damara Megido , a character from the webcomic Homestuck (2009-2016) See also [ edit ] Damaraland ,

86-488: A ǀhauib (a Damara dik-dik ) or a dôas , ǀnâus ( Duiker ) that is worn to cover breast and the abdomen (during pregnancy). An elderly man, kaikhoeb , is any Damara male that has undergone the second and last hunting ritual. An elderly woman, a kaikhoes , is a female or a lady (khaokhoes) that has concluded her menstrual cycle. All elderly men and women would wear a ǃgūb , which is a skirt-like loin-cloth or traditional skirt for men and women. Elderly women would also wear

129-555: A ǁkhaikhōb and sometimes a khōǃkhaib (headgear fashioned of soft hide). Women being more aware of beautification would wear ǃgamdi (small traditional earrings made from iron and or copper) and wear necklaces made of ostrich egg shells known as a ǁnûib in Khoekhoegowab. Women wore ǃganudi (arm bangles) and ǃgoroǃkhuidi (ornamental anklets) they also originally made from iron and or copper later replaced by beads and or ostrich egg shells. An anklet made from moth larvae (ǀkhîs)

172-407: A ǃnoreb (a common genet ). Married women just like girls would wear a ǀgâubes (rear loincloth) and would wear a ǀawiǃgaes (loincloth consisting of strips) instead of a regular ǃgaes . A ǁkhaikhōb would also be worn only to ceremonies and on auspicious occasions, but mostly during pregnancy and by elder women on a daily basis. The ǁkhaikhōb is the hide of a medium-sized antelope most preferably

215-702: A controversial hydroelectric dam on the Cunene. In 2012 the Governments of Namibia and Angola announced plans to jointly build the Orokawe dam in the Baynes Mountains . According to the indigenous Himba who would have been most affected by the construction of the dam, the dam would threaten the local ecosystem and therefore the economic basis of the Himba. During February 2012, traditional Himba chiefs issued

258-808: A declaration to the African Union and to the United Nations Human Rights Council of the United Nations , titled "Declaration of the most affected Ovahimba, Ovatwa, Ovatjimba and Ovazemba against the Orokawe Dam in the Baynes Mountains," which outlines the fierce objections against the dam from the traditional Himba chiefs and communities that reside near the Kunene River. In September 2012,

301-423: A girl, an unmarried or married woman and an elderly woman in the same manner that it differentiated between boys, unmarried and married men and men of age. Some outfits were reserved for special ceremonies in contrast to everyday garments. A girl in a Damara context is any female that has not yet undergone the menstrual cycle while a boy is any male that has not yet undergone the first hunting ritual. A girl stays in

344-592: A region in Namibia inhabited by the Damara people Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Damara . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Damara&oldid=1173912093 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description

387-555: A result of fractions in the already mentioned clans. The Damara consist of 34 clans: At least 12 Damara clans were recorded by the beginning of 1800 with various identities and leadership styles. The Damara are divided into clans, each headed by a chief, with a King, Justus ǁGaroëb , over the whole Damara people. Prince ǀHaihāb, Chief Xamseb, and ǁGuruseb were among the richest and most powerful chiefs. Damara males were not circumcised . However, groups of boys were initiated into manhood through an elaborate hunting ritual. This ritual

430-534: A single group in the area that is a stone's throw and an eagle's flight in the surrounding of Dâureb ( Brandberg Mountain ), Paresis Mountains , ǃHōb ( Waterberg ), the Omatako Mountains , Otavi Mountains and ǃOeǂgâb ( Erongo Mountains ). Oral and written historical records have it that intruders, reportedly under the leadership of a certain Mukumbi (Mûtsixubi) invaded that area in 1600, and clashed with

473-530: A thousand Himba and Zemba people marched in Opuwo to protest once more against Namibia's plans to build the Orokawe dam in the Cunene River without consulting with the indigenous peoples that do not consent to the construction plans. Tourists frequent campsites or lodges at Epupa, which offer water sports on the river, including rafting and canoeing. Ancient baobab trees grow alongside the gorge , and there

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516-461: Is ǁGamab , also referred to as ǁGammāb (provider of water), ǁGauna (Sān), ǁGaunab (Khoekhoe) and Haukhoin ( Khoekhoe : foreigners ) by the Khoekhoe. He lives in a high heaven, even above the heaven of the stars. ǁGamab, from ǁGam, Khoekhoe : water , and mā, Khoekhoe : give is provider of the water and thus associated with the rising clouds, thunder, lightning and water. He ensured

559-435: Is a strip of soft leather worn between legs. Both ends are tucked under thong around waist and flapped over at front and the back. They would also wear a danakhōb which is the skin of any smallish animal that the wife presents to her husband at their wedding to wear on his head. The men would wear the "head hide" to ceremonies and on auspicious occasions to show that he is the head of a household. The hide would preferably be of

602-409: Is a unique innovation of the Damara women as they shaped a headgear that can be fashionable yet work effective as they still could ǂkhao (carry/load something on head) water containers and firewood. It is not only the ǃkhaib that was fashionable and work effective but also the sleeves as the sleeves have a protruding elbow design allowing the elbow to contract and release without constrains. The length of

645-403: Is called an axa-aob while a woman is an oaxaes . An unmarried man would simply wear a ǁnaweb which is a loin-cloth that is tucked in between the legs while an unmarried woman wore a ǃgaes to cover genitalia and a ǀgâubes to cover the rears. A married man that has a child or children is called an aob , while a married woman with children is a taras . Such a man would wear a sorab which

688-405: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Damara (people) Genetic studies have found that Damara are closely related to neighbouring Himba and Herero people, consistent with an origin from Bantu speakers who shifted to a different language and culture. Their name in their own language is the "Daman" (where the "-n" is just

731-400: Is milking the cows in the morning and nurturing the young. Men traditionally hunt and herd the cattle, leaving the village as early as the sunrise, patrolling their area to protect their cattle and grazing ground as tradition dictates. Men can be very aggressive towards intruders if not notified of any other male presence in a grazing area. Though many Damara people own and live on rural farms,

774-434: Is repeated twice, for teenagers and grown men, after which the initiates are considered clan elders. Their traditional clothing colors are green, white, and blue. Green and blue identify the different sub-groups. Some women may wear white and blue or white and green, the white representing peace and unity among all Damara-speaking people. The women do household chores like cooking, cleaning, and gardening. Their primary duty

817-524: Is sometimes shallow and fordable, at others confined to a narrow rocky channel. Near the sea the Cunene traverses a region of sand-hills, its mouth being completely blocked at low water. The river enters the Atlantic in 17° 18′ S., 11° 40′ E. There are indications that a former branch of the river once entered a bay to the south. The Namibian government proposed in the late 1990s to build the Epupa Dam,

860-607: The Angola highlands southwards to the border with Namibia . It then flows in a westerly direction along the border until it reaches the Atlantic Ocean . One of the few perennial rivers in the region, the Cunene is about 1,050 km (650 mi) long, with a drainage basin 106,560 km (41,140 sq mi) in area. Its mean annual discharge is 174 m /s (6,100 cu ft/s) to 222 m /s (7,800 cu ft/s) at its mouth. The Epupa Falls lie on

903-558: The United Nations special rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples visited the Himba, and heard their concerns. On November 23, 2012, hundreds of Himba and Zemba from Omuhonga and Epupa region protested in Okanguati against Namibia's plans to construct a dam in the Kunene River in the Baynes Mountains, against increasing mining operations on their traditional land and human rights violations against them. On March 25, 2013, over

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946-423: The ǂgaeǂnoas (have earring holes made) after which black thread would be inserted until such a time they will first start wearing ǃgamdi (earrings). A man in the Damara context is any male that has undergone the first hunting ritual while a woman is any female that has experienced the menstrual cycle. The Damara culture would continue to differentiate between a married and unmarried man or woman. An unmarried man

989-658: The Berg Damara. The group that remained in and around ǃOeǂgâb (Erongo Mountains) and settled nearby present-day ǀÂǂgommes ( Okombahe ) got to be known as the ǃOeǂgân (Damaran of the Erongo Mountain). There were also two other groups that moved down the Tsoaxub ( Swakop River ) and ǃKhuiseb ( Kuiseb River ) respectively, namely the Tsoaxudaman and the ǃKhuisedaman. Another group, the |Gaiodaman, moved towards

1032-484: The Cunene traverses a swampy plain, inundated during high water, and containing several small lakes at other times of the year. From this swampy region divergent branches run S.E. They are mainly intermittent, but the Kwamatuo, which leaves the main stream in about 15° 8′ E., 17° 15′ S., flows into a large marsh or lake called Etosha , which occupies a depression in the inner table-land about 3400 ft. above sea-level. From

1075-561: The Damaran next to the Sān, are the first inhabitants of what is today known as Namibia. Oral tradition has it that the Damaran came to Namibia from ǁKhaus (Equatorial Rainforest) through ǃĀǂkhib centuries ago. The Damaran initially settled between Huriǂnaub ( Kunene River ) and ǃGûǁōb ( Kavango River ), before entering what later-on centuries long after became known as ǀNaweǃhūb ( Ovamboland ). The Damaran moved southwards and were living peacefully as

1118-465: The Damaran. The Damaran dispersed in splinter groups as a result of the aftermath of this battle wherein the then Damara Gaob (King), Gaob ǀNarimab succumbed due to injuries sustained in the battle. The Damara, besides the ǀGowanîn, splinter groups then settled all over the country in areas where there was an abundant water and shelter in the form of mountains. Remnants of the group that was led by Gaob ǀNarimab who dispersed moved eastwards and settled in

1161-551: The Damarokoes (Damara dress). The Damarokoes was adopted from missionary wives in the mid-19th century and was introduced due to the Christianisation of the Damaran as missionaries saw the animal hides as "primitive and exposing". The dress adopted to cover up the "nude" Damara women ensured just that with its ankle-lengthiness and long sleeves and a ǃkhens (shawl) to ensure maximum coverage. The Dama ǃkhaib (headgear)

1204-707: The Khoekhoe plural ending). The name "Damaqua" stems from the addition of the Khoekhoe suffix "-qua/khwa" meaning "people" (found in the names of other Southern African peoples like the Namaqua and the Griqua ). Prior to 1870, the hunter-gatherer Damaran occupied most of central Namibia. They used to practice pastoralism with sheep and cattle, but were also agriculturalists, planting pumpkins, corn, and tobacco. The Damaran were also copper-smiths, known for their ability to melt copper and used to make ornaments, jewellery, knives and spear heads out of iron. The Damaran - just like

1247-732: The Namaqua and the Herero, most living as servants in their households. In 1960, the South African government forced the Damara into the bantustan of Damaraland , an area of poor soil and irregular rainfall. About half of their numbers still occupy Damaraland. According to written accounts of the history of the Damaran which dates back to the leadership of the Damaras as far back as the 14th century (1390), substantiated by archaeological and ethnological evidence reflected to those records,

1290-571: The S.E. end of the Etosha lake streams issue in the direction of the Okavango , to which in times of great flood they contribute some water. On leaving the swampy region the Cunene turns decidedly to the west, and descends to the coast plain by a number of cataracts, of which the chief (in 17° 25′ S., 14° 20′ E.) has a fall of 330 ft. The river becomes smaller in volume as it passes through an almost desert region with little or no vegetation. The stream

1333-462: The Sān - believed in communal ownership of land, meaning that no individual owned land as God had given land to everyone. Thus, rather than one person owning good grazing land and another seeking out an existence, all would live in harmony. It was for this reason that many were displaced when the Nama and Herero began to occupy this area in search of better grazing. Thereafter the Damara were dominated by

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1376-489: The annual renewal of nature being the cycle of the seasons and supplied game animals to the ǃgarob ( Khoekhoe : veld ) and the Damaran. One of his chief responsibilities is to warrant the growth of crops. ǁGamab is also the God of Death, directing the fate of mankind. He shoots arrows at humans from his place above the skies and those struck fall ill and die. After death, the souls of the dead make their way to ǁGamab's village in

1419-521: The area of ǃKhuidiǁgams ( Omaruru ) and Parase!homgu (Paresis Mountains), and later-on moved back to area west of ǃHob (Waterberg). During the 1904 wars with the German colonial forces, some members of the ǀGaiodaman fled with the Ovaherero to Piriǃhūb (Botswana), whereas some settled at ǀŪgowas in the vicinity of ǃHob (Waterberg Mountain). The major group of Damaras fled down towards the south, as far as

1462-442: The chess known as a karab was also worn by men. Tsaob (ash) was used as an anti-perspiring agent by the Damaran as they believe that it is the purest substance on Earth. The replacement of animal hides with fabrics has also been visible in the Damara culture as the aforementioned outfits are mostly worn to cultural ceremonies and on auspicious occasions. Thus the Damaran sought for a perfect substitution for animal hides and introduced

1505-487: The dress is also fashionable and work effective as it is not too long so as to be caught by twigs, branches and or thorns. Damara men on the other hand were shirts, coats and or blazers with Damara colours being blue, white and green, sometimes with print or embroidery. Kunene River The Cunene (Portuguese spelling) or Kunene (common Namibian spelling) is a river in Southern Africa . It flows from

1548-410: The heaven above stars and gather around him at a ritual fire. Then he offers them a drink from a bowl of liquid fat to drink, as a reward. ǁGamab's arch-enemy is the evil ǁGaunab. The Damara made use of animal hides for clothing. The principal animal hides that were used were those of springbok and goats for clothing and sheep and jackal for blankets. Damaran traditional attires differentiated between

1591-406: The house for the duration of her first menstrual cycle. A hunting ritual was performed in the Damara culture as Damara males were not circumcised. The first hunting ritual was performed by boys in order to become man and the second by man to become community elders. All Damara children regardless of sex wore a ǃgaes , an apron like loin-cloth that covers genitalia. Girls would at a tender age undergo

1634-452: The majority live in the small towns scattered across the Erongo region or in Namibia's capital city of Windhoek . Those that still live on farms tend to live in extended family groups of as many as one hundred, creating small villages of family members. The Damara are rich in cattle and sheep. Some chiefs possess up to 8,000 head of horned cattle. The supreme deity of the Damaran (ǂNūkhoen)

1677-415: The morning. They would also sprinkle some sâ-i (buchu powder) on their hides and blankets with a ǃūro-ams (powder-puff made from a piece of hare fur used to pluck ǃūros (tortoise-shell container, carried by women for holding sâ-i) to power oneself.) Man also wore arm bangles (ǃganugu) and ǃgoroǃkhuigu (anklets) which were unadorned in design and denser than those of women. A strand of beads that criss-crossed

1720-553: The river. Olushandja Dam dams a tributary of the river, the Etaka, and helps to provide the Ruacana Power Station with water. The main stream rises in 12 ° 30′ S. and about 160 miles in a direct line from the sea at Benguella , runs generally from north to south through four degrees of latitude, but finally flows west to the sea through a break in the outer highlands . Between the mouths of its two tributaries ,

1763-546: The ǀGowas, also known as ǀŪmâs (Kalahari Desert) and got the name ǀGowanîn (Damaran of the Kalahari- later referred to as the Sand Kaffers by the imperialist Germans). Another group fled to mountainous central Namibia seeking shelter in ǀKhomas (Khomas Hochland), ǃAoǁaexas Mountains, ǂĒros (Eros Mountains) and ǀAu-ās (Auas Mountains) and became known as the ǀKhomanin (Damaran of the [ǀKhomas] mountains), later referred to as

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1806-498: The ǃGarib ( Orange River ) and settled in that area, and installed Gaob !Gariseb as their leader. This group moved back northwards around 1670, and settled at ǂKhanubes, wherefrom they moved and split into two groups, one of which settled in the vicinity of ǂAixorobes ( Tsumeb ) and the other one led by Gaob ǀNarirab settled at |Haigomab!gaus, south-east of Otjituuo . The latter-mentioned group split up in four (4) factions: The remainder of clans not mentioned above came into existence as

1849-452: Was also worn but only during performances/dances along with a tussled apron known as a ǀhapis (for females) and or ǀhapib (for males) ǃNau-i (traditional facial foundation) also played a significant part in Damara and the wider Khoekhoe cosmetics. Women would ǀīǃnâ (perfume) hides and blankets by stewing buchu on hot stones placed under a ǀīǃnâs (dome-shaped basket) after which they would boro themselves (smear red ochre on their faces) early in

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