People from all works of life joined in the Damara dress heritage festivities held at the Katutura Community Centre last Saturday.
The event was a hive of activity with a fashion show, music performances and the attendance of Namibia’s First Lady, Monica Geingos.
Traditionally worn by the Khoekhoegowab speaking people in Namibia, the Damara dress, which resembles Victorian-style dresses, is a long flowy dress often made up of a patchwork of fabrics. Structurally, it is slightly different from the Herero dress, and it is traditionally worn with a headscarf.
Speaking to The Weekender after the event, songstress Erna Chimu was full of praise. “It was such a beautiful occassion. If we can get Damara people together for these kinds of events, we will know more about the dress,” she said, admitting that she herself knew very little. “I didn’t know a lot about the dress so it was good to even see how the doek (head scarf) is made. It was a whole new world for me and I fell in love with it.”
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