The photo of this beautiful OvaHerero woman was taken by Alice Mertens in 1966 in what appears to be central Namibia.
Exceptionally dressed and wearing an assortment of stylish adornments, the model graced the cover of coffee table book ‘South West Africa’ in 1966. (Note the narrower headdress – otjikaeva/otjikaiva – worn in those days.)
This photograph merges the natural elegance of the woman with the backdrop of the African savannah, encapsulating the timeless beauty of Namibia.
(Do any of our Padlangs fans recognise the model? She would now be in her early 80s, and may be someone’s friend, mother or grandmother.)