Ekori

Ekori

The Ekori is a headdress that both OvaHerero and  Ovahimba were wearing in the nineteenth century. It was crafted out of leather and embellished with iron beads and intricate leather stitching. Mrs Cynthia Schimmings stated that “when missionaries came into contact with the communities who wore the Ekori, they perceived it as satanic since it resembled the cow horn.”

An Ekori was worn by a married woman. This Ekori was collected in 1949 by Mrs S.J Bowker in 1949. (NMN, E371)

Question

What is the connection between the Ekori and the Oshikaiva (which is now more commonly worn by Ovaherero women) ?

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