The Pre-Colonial Costumes of the Aawambo Significant Changes under Colonialism and the Construction of Post-Colonial Identity

ABSTRACT  

Pre-colonial Oshiwambo costumes played a significant role in ensuring the continuity of the socio-cultural and ethico-moral principles of the Aawambo. This study aims to record, document, describe and analyse the circumstances that caused aspects of Aawambo traditional heritage to disappear. The thesis analyses the meaning of traditional costumes before European influence and the impact that the change from traditional costumes to European fashion has left on the 

community today. It is strongly argued that Christianity and colonialism should be held accountable for influencing the community to abandon its traditional costumes. The thesis examines the following central questions; what was the impact of cultural  imperialism on the material culture of the northern kingdoms? In what ways did material  culture change during the initial period of contact and subsequent conquest by  colonial forces? Why did new forms of material culture so rapidly displace traditional  items? To answer these central questions the thesis is divided into four main chapters with an introduction (Chapter One) and conclusion (Chapter Six). Chapter two examines traditional fashion and identity among the Aawambo. This chapter exhibits a number of photographs that compliment the text and argues that these traditional costumes reflected the value systems of the society that produced it and significantly contributed to the construction of the identity of that society.