March 1, 2013

Conflict and costume: the Herero tribe of Namibia – in pictures

Jim Naughten's dramatic portraits featuring traditional costumes reveal Namibia's colonial history

Herero Tribe: Herero Tribe — A Herero woman in an orange and blue patterned dress
Photograph: Jim Naughten Photograph: Jim Naughten

Herero Tribe: Herero Tribe — A Herero cadet in a cardboard hat. In 1904, war broke out between the German colonisers and the local tribes. The Herero tribe lost approximately 80% of its population Photograph: Jim Naughten

Herero Tribe: Herero Tribe — A Herero woman in a yellow dress
Photograph: Jim Naughten Photograph: Jim Naughten

Herero Tribe: Herero Tribe — Herero cavalry cadets. The Herero men took great pride in wearing the uniforms of German soldiers they had killed in the battle. To this day the Herero people continue to wear the German uniforms and Victorian dresses to honour their warrior ancestors Photograph: Jim Naughten

Herero Tribe: Herero Tribe — A Herero woman in a patchwork dress
Photograph: Jim Naughten Photograph: Jim Naughten

Herero Tribe: Herero Tribe — A Herero woman in a blue dress making a cow dance pose. At the end of the 1800s, German missionaries sought to convert the tribe, clothing them in their European fashions Photograph: Jim Naughten

Herero Tribe: Herero Tribe — A Herero woman in a pink dress
Photograph: Jim Naughten Photograph: Jim Naughten

Herero Tribe: Herero Tribe — A Herero man in a yellow suit Photograph: Jim Naughten

Herero Tribe: Herero Tribe — A Herero woman in a pink dress with a yellow scarf
Photograph: Jim Naughten Photograph: Jim Naughten

Herero Tribe: Herero Tribe — A Herero cadet in a kilt Photograph: Jim Naughten

Herero Tribe: Herero Tribe — A Herero woman in a patchwork dress Photograph: Jim Naughten

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