Hertta-Maria Amutenja
Former Mr Gay Namibia, Wendelinus Hamutenya has hit back at the Ovaherero Traditional leaders who took issue with his choice of outfit at a recent anti-homophobia protest in Windhoek.
The Ovahereo Traditional Authority (OTA) expressed disgust after images of Hamutenya wearing a Herero women’s traditional dress( Ohorokova jozende) surfaced online. The protest was held against sanctioned homophobia and hate speech in Windhoek.
Hamutenya says he wore the Herero traditional attire because it has a significant impact on modern tradition. He challenged the traditional authority to indicate the section of the constitution that prohibits men from wearing female garments.
“I’m breaking gender norms, as one of the prominent gay activists in Namibia. l have a significant impact on breaking gender norms in traditional attire. Historically, traditional attire has been strictly divided into Herero and Aawambo clothing, with rigid gender roles dictating what was considered acceptable for each gender to wear. I challenge these traditional leaders to show me any rules in their constitution stating traditional wear shouldn’t be worn by gay men?” he remarked.
He urged the traditional leaders to focus on more pressing matters.
“Traditional leaders should know that there are more pressing and urgent matters that they should concern themselves with. They could spend their time better than getting into Micky Mouse fights with me. I am one of a kind and they are wasting their time,” Hamutenya said.
A leader of the OTA, Itamunua Kaitaa Meroro, said the dress was worn in an inappropriate manner and that the man did not appear to be a member of the Herero tribe.
“What is utterly disturbing is that this “man”, who chose to use our dress inappropriately, does not even appear to be a Herero, making me wonder why he chose our dress and not the one from his tribe. The Ovaherero Traditional Authority is aware of the LGBTQIA+ issues that had become topical this year and will leave that to the courts as a human rights issue,” he said.
In addition, he said it is completely inappropriate and distasteful for a “man” to wear it as it is reserved for women and it is initially introduced to young women through a specific ritual.
“Let me begin by saying that the Herero Traditional Dress has become a brand that has crossed the world and has become a tourist attraction. However, this dress is linked to a culture that has very deep roots in the Herero nation. It is completely inappropriate and distasteful for a “man” to wear it as it is reserved for women and it is initially introduced to young women through a specific ritual,” he added
Last month the Speaker of the National Assembly Peter Katjavivi also cautioned members of parliament (MPs) against hate speech and the incitement of violence.
Various members of parliament from both the National Assembly and National Council were accused of hate speech and inciting violence against the LGBTQIA+ community and other Namibians.
These sentiments were shared on WhatsApp groups titled ‘Anti-Gay Marriage’, ‘Ondangwa anti-gay marriage demonstration’, ‘Say no to homosexual’, ‘Zambezi anti-gay marriage’ and ‘Kavango East anti-same-sex/gay marriage demonstration 2023’, with close to 3 000 members.
The matter stems from the residency applications of a German woman who married a Namibian woman in Germany, and a South African man who married a Namibian man in South Africa, the only country on the continent allowing same-sex marriage.
In a judgement delivered last month, four judges declared that the denial of official recognition by the Ministry of Home Affairs to spouses in same-sex marriages, conducted outside Namibia, violates the constitutional rights to equality and dignity.
The court ruled that the same-sex spouses of Namibian citizens should be accorded the same rights with regard to immigration as the spouses in heterosexual marriages.
The Supreme Court justices also affirmed that the non-Namibian partner in each union should be recognised as the spouse of their Namibian partner under the Immigration Control Act of the country.
As a result of the judgement, non-Namibian spouses in same-sex marriages are granted the same rights of residence in Namibia which are typically granted to spouses in heterosexual marriages.
Namibia currently has the ‘Prohibition of Unfair Discrimination, Harassment, and Hate Speech Bill’ revised in 2021, but it has not been further adopted through the Office of the Ombudsman.
June is celebrated by the LGBTQIA+ community as Pride Month and it is meant to increase the visibility of the movement.
“We decided to have a march against hate speech from our traditional leaders, political leaders, church leaders, and some individuals by joining the worldwide celebration of Pride Month and by sending a message of love, over hate! So, this month is important in the LGBTQIA+ calendar. No one feels the need to hide who they are. Many individuals have fought for the rights that many in the LGBTQIA+ community have today,”said Hamutenya.
