A study on the historical and contemporary significance of Omwele Gwoshipika among Aawambo communities
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Date
2024
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Namibia
Abstract
Omwele Gwoshipika is (or was) one of the celebrated objects of Aawambo material culture of the
19th to 20th century, and an object of historical status in the social and political structure of
Aawambo communities. Omwele Gwoshipika excelled as a tool for the king to exercise political
and social authorities in Aawambo subjects. The aftermath of Germany's colonial administration
over Namibia from 1884 to 1915 has resulted in some of the Aawambo material culture being taken
away to Germany. Omwele Gwoshipika was among the items taken away from the source
communities to Germany in 1909 and kept in the Berlin Ethnographic Museum. The removal of
Omwele Gwoshipika by the Germans as an instrument of authority in the royal delegation of power
left a void in hierarchical representation of the king in the Aawambo kingdoms. This study attempts
to establish the significance of Omwele Gwoshipika among the Aawambo communities, their views
on its restitution to Namibia and it is design structure. The data of the study were collected using a
qualitative research method, which incorporated focus group and semi-structured interview with
groups and individual participants. The study found out that Omwele Gwoshipika has a very great
historical significance in the world of kings1
. There is mixed feelings among Aawambo regarding
the contemporary importance of Omwele Gwoshipika. The study established the excitement and
joy among the Aawambo regarding the restitution of Omwele Gwoshipika and that the ancient
design of Omwele Gwoshipika can be reinstated. Moreover, the study established mixed feeling
whereby some Aawambo communities felt that the restitution of Omwele Gwoshipika is not
valuable because the traditional and spiritual ways that used to keep Omwele Gwoshipika have
been compromised. The study concluded that for Omwele Gwoshipika to be successfully re-
integrated in use in Aawambo community with its original cultural characters, there are certain
behavioural changes that Aawambo youth need to favour such as discipline, orderliness and
adhering to the accepted standards of Aawambo cultural behavioural norms for the re-integration
of Omwele Gwoshipika to be installed successfully among Aawambo communities’.
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in History
Keywords
Material Culture, Omwele Gwoshipika, De-heritagisation, belongings, Aawambo, Namibia, University of Namibia