User:Mulhearno1/Nama people

Dress
The traditional dress of Nama women consists of long, formal dresses that resemble Victorian traditional fashion. The long, flowing dresses were developed from the style of the missionaries in the 1800s, and this traditional clothing is today an integral part of the Nama nation's culture.

Settlements
Traditionally, Nama camps had 5-30 huts. These huts were circular domes and their doors faced the center of camp. They were also arranged hierarchically, the chief was placed west and faced east. Other families were placed based on their seniority, Elder brothers and their families were on the far right, while younger brothers and their families on the left. There are no enclosures for adult livestock. They are expected to sleep in front of their owners huts. Calves and lambs are placed in an enclosed area in the middle of camp. The huts were lined with reed mats made by women. The mats are placed on wooden frames. The reeds are able to soak and absorb water well, thus being able to protect the Nama people from summer rains. These Huts are very mobile, but also stable, being able to break them down in less than an hour. The huts are also reusable.

Religion
They have largely abandoned their traditional religion through the sustained efforts of Christian (and now Muslim) proselytisers. The majority of the Nama people in Namibia today are therefore Christian while Nama Muslims make up a large percentage of the Namibia's Muslims.

Burials
In the past funerals weren't a big social gathering. The Nama people simply buried the body and never spoke about the person again due to fear of spirits. today funerals are social solidarity. The position of the person in the community being buried matters that determines the burial site. Members of close relatives of the deceased person spend a week preparing the grave site, digging, and using flattened oil drums as sheets. The actual mourning takes place three days before the actual burial. During the first two night of the mourning, there is singing of hymns, preaching, and praying. On the last day of the mourning and the day of the burial, there are speeches presented and messages of condolences. The grave site itself is lined with brick and once the body is inside a wooden board is laid upon the top before it is covered with dirt. This style of the burial site makes it easy for preservation of the body.