Passed down from mother to daughter, traditional craftsmanship remains a source of pride, identity, and survival for generations of Himba women.

In Epupa, these skills continue to sustain families while keeping ancestral knowledge alive.

Kaukurisa Katjeja said basket weaving is a legacy inherited from her mother, which has helped her provide for her family.

Katjeja's experience underscores how indigenous knowledge continues to sustain generations of Himba women.

Meriam Kavari, who has practised traditional craftsmanship since 1996, similarly emphasised how these skills became her source of livelihood when formal employment was out of reach.

“I started in 1996, when I had children who were still in school. I was unable to secure a government job, and at the time, there were no social grants for children. We therefore had to work hard to support ourselves by selling crafts and collecting reeds to make baskets.”

Through basket weaving and traditional doll-making, Kavari has continued to preserve skills inherited through generations.

Ngureza Ruhozu highlighted how indigenous creativity opened a path to supporting her family through jewellery making.

However, declining sales and limited resources threaten the sustainability of their craft; they called for government support to help preserve and strengthen these indigenous livelihoods.