Sacred Cows of Ovawambo

There is an exceptionally beautiful tradition of rearing cattle among other domestic animals in Oshiwambo culture.
Like in many African traditions, cows for Ovawambo are sacred, protected and praised. Cows are, or at least used to be significant connections between the living and our ancestors. It is believed that the souls of important ancestors inhabit the bodies of special cows that they have left behind. Such cows are usually believed to acquire the character of their owner and when the owner is deceased, people see the cows the soul of the deceased.

Traditionally, one could not just kill a cow when they feel like it. Only at ceremonial/ritual events, a cow is sacrificed: at a funeral, wedding or on other very few other important occasions such a fetching the rain from Evale.
In the case a cow was sacrificed, a very emotional event for the owner or caretaker (herder), one is expected to bid it farewell with a praise (to i tange in Oshiwambo), otherwise, it is believed that there is a possibility of it not dying even after thrusting it with a spear as many times as one can.

Cows are not only praised when they are killed, in fact in Oukwanyama, we have a special event called edano leengobe (loosely translated as a play of the cows), where renowned cattle herders gather along with their members of communities to show off their best cows while glorifying their names through songs, chants and ululations. The song on the background of this video is one example of a group of men doing so.
Keeping cows in my culture used to be (still is to a few) for sentimental values and not for monetary wealth or as a source of meat.
Music: Ngadima by Olupale