Thank you for sharing and keep living the dream. The corn is crushed by hand to make cornmeal or porridge which is their staple diet. When they get into puberty, girls put the braids on front of their face. History Of The Himbas. They organise trips to that specific Himba village. 1977 Cambridge University Press It was very relaxed. One of the weirdest customs in the Himba tribe is going to visits and guests. Himba African tribe in Namibia by David Siu. Okuruwo, via the smoke, symbolizes a connection with their ancestors, who are in direct communication with their God Mukuru. Your email address will not be published. We earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and other affiliate partners. They do not have any education and rarely rely on generating income. Samburu tribe in Africa by Filiberto Strazzari. The Zulu nation is a proud one. There are plenty of Experience Himba life activities you can do here, Ill mention some of them; the traditional life of a Himba village, bushwalk, body painting, singing, dancing, etc. The name Ovahimba in the language of the Ngambwe (another indigenous group) means beggar and refers to the difficult times the members of the Himba tribe went through, including severe drought followed by the massive loss of livestock. Sign up to receive updates on our newest destinations, exclusive discounts for our tours, visa & vaccination requirements. Theres a decorative erembecrown crafted from cow and goat leather on top meaning shes married for at least a year or has a child, as well as decorative beads on her ankles lined with two leather stripes, signifying she has two children. Second, a very personal approach. Their braids tell a lot more about the tribe than you might think of. Sometimes we just have to visit one and think about all the things we would not need or should not miss that we have in our house (or life). Day-to-day tasks are traditionally split between the sexes with the women doing the hard tasks of carrying water, milking cows, building homes, and raising children while the men handle politics and tend livestock. You can just ask the chief if you can visit the village, if its allowed. Your email address will not be published. Request Permissions. WebTheir predominantly itinerant lifestyle means that this tribe moves throughout the years in order to find green pastures for their livestock. It is otjize, a paste of butter, fat, and red ochre. Must-Pack Essentials:Along with your typical gear, make sure to have: Jessica Festa is the editor of Epicure & Culture as well as Jessie on a Journey. Receive our newsletter and latest post in your mailbox! Fascinating place to visit, for sure! The eldest male leads the clan, and sons live with their fathers clan. Outlets: The four of us on my tour group ALL mistakenly brought the wrong converters. Red is considered to be a sacred color and represents blood and is the basic color for all shuka. It also protects the people from the extremely hot and dry climate in their habitat. If you have time you can visit some of them to learn more about the tribal and language diversity of the country. Youll get there once and experience it . When the woman wants to become a mother, she goes to the wood, mediates, and waits to hear the song of the baby she wants to give birth to. From traditional houses and dress to dancing, pottery, and beadwork, you can even help to brew traditional beer. The tribe is a patriarchic one. Also, some people have left the village to live in towns. Their livestock, which are mainly cows, chickens and goats provide them with dairy products (milk and butter) and meat. Where are is your boyfriend? she asks, with my guide George translating. The Bushmen were the great artists of southern Africa and their charming rock art dating back thousands of years can be found in caves and rock overhangs all over the country. There is free Wi-Fi in the lobby. #africanculture #african #himba #himbatribe #culture Learn how your comment data is processed. Driving without any particular plan we saw a sign next to the road sayingOvahimba Living Museumandwithout thinking twice we followed it. Maasai driving cattle into the ngorongoro crater by Vince Smith. Do a short hike to the top of the hill and seebushmenrock paintingsand a giant baobab. The Zulu people are the largest ethnic group in South Africa. Its the traditional Himba form of modern westerncourts. A gravestone adorned with painted cattle with its own enclosure sits nearby, andhis family lives in the main hut. While traditional clothing is reserved for special occasions, the Zulu retain strong connections with their ancestral and historical roots. She speaks English (among many other languages fluently). Traditionally, both men and women walk around naked. The women have a specific daily beauty ritual which takes about 3 hours each morning. South Africa & Eswatini - Bushfire Festival, Upon my arrival, I was greeted by a local guide, Vinice, who welcomed us for beverages. I was led to meet the other women of the compound who were engaged in a game of Onyune and in Oshiwambo it is called Owela. She is a Himba woman and left her village at age 11 to get educated. | August 21 2019, Luke Hardiman Thank You! It shows how happy one can be with very little things. The guy that runs it is very knowledgeable about the Himba culture and the surrounding area. Himba tribe hairstyling by Michael Haebner. A Himba tour in Namibia is the perfect way to visit their local villages. this is indeed very interesting. Andrew Hofmeyr Good luck, Excellent info and thanks for the most informative 'briefing'. Under bilateral descent, every tribe member belongs to two clans: one through the father (a patriclan, called oruzo ) and another through the mother (a matriclan, called eanda ). the Himba Tribe Himba people What can you do and see at the Himba Village? Accompanied by song, pairs of men take turns to see who can jump the highest. Himba men have an average of two wives. After years of permanent travel we found a new home in the Algarve, Lagos, Portugal. Despite the pressures of the modern world, the Maasai have fought to preserve their way of life and as a result, any East African safari is awash with the sight of colorful Maasai, herding their cattle, walking along roads, or dancing the adumu. On the contrary, men will usually be seen dressed in western clothing. To find out more about the intriguing African tribes of Ethiopia seeUp Close and Personal with the Omo Valley Tribes of Ethiopiaby Stephanie Parker. Language: English is the national language, though most also speak Afrikaans and German (Namibia experienced a period of German rule from 1884 under German South-West Africa). As Himba live in isolated desert regions, access to water is a daily concern, and the precious resource is reserved solely for drinking. I also think its important to take something away from the experience. Another specific feature is their hair. The Himba tribe wants to maintain their own way of living. Binti Summary & Analysis While this village in particular has about six women, there are now over 20 including those from nearby. My guide, George, and driver, Martin, were both fun and knowledgable, helping to facilitate all activities in a way that helped our group get the most out of them. Opuwo, a small town in Northern Namibia, is the best place to see this tribe up close. Women are responsible for decorating the homestead and often the faade and sides of buildings are brightly painting with striking geometric patterns filled in with color. We experienced everything on this blog and wrote every word. The Himba do live there according to their tradition but receive nearly daily visitors. Divorce is also a practice, though the woman must remember that whatever the man gave her family as a dowry say, four cattle they must give back double eight cattle. Constantly in search of pastures for their cattle, much of the conflict in their ever-shrinking range is caused by the search for land. Would love to immerse in Himba experience. Moral obligations are important and very strict. The Hadzabe of Tanzania is a tribe of hunter-gatherers living in north-central Tanzania, and perhaps the last true nomadic tribe in East Africa. While Id skip dressing provocatively, shorts, tanks, tees and sundresses are totally fine. Unforgiving namibia home of the himba by Marc Veraart. Its really interesting. This is their specific trademark, at least for the women. scented with aromatic resin, this is a mixture Himba women apply each morning to their skin and hair. From young children with clean-shaven heads to braids and plaits facing forwards and backward and finally, to the Erembe a sheepskin leather ornament worn by women who have had children, the often red-ochred hairstyles are both otherworldly and gorgeous. The Samburu tribe from north-central Kenya are pastoralists from the great plains of the Samburu region. You can find Himba people in the North of Namibia, in the Kunene region. The tour cost is 150 NAD per person, plus a gift of 150 NAD per group. The famous maasai jumping dance 'adumu' by Michael. During the night, an ember of this fire is taken into the Chiefs hut to make sure the sacred fire can be relit again in the morning. An established artist with a master's in English literature, Andrew has traveled far and wide but South Africa still has his heart. The traditional healer or sangomais required to do battle with these forces using medicines like herbs or by throwing of bones. As water is scarce they use a mixture of pastes on both their bodies and hair. The ultimate source of power for the deeply religious African tribe of the Samburu is their God Nakai. The following two tabs change content below. The daughter takes down a few marriage ceremonial headdresses, a lighter one with colorful beads signifying the woman has no children and a heavier darker one signifying the woman already had children. It was one of the first tribes we saw in Africa one out of 8! So how does someone sleep with their significant otherif they share a tent with nine other people? Stephanie Parker The otjize, a mixture of butterfat and ochre pigment has skin beneficial purpose as well. First of all, there are very few conservation or cultural projects in Africa that are run by local people. Around us the walls are dangling with decorative garments, similar to a western closet. The Himba Village was one of thebest places in Namibiawe visited during our road trip. A closer examination of the Himbas working and social lives, compared to other indigenous peoples, will help pick apart the various factors that shape their view of the world. The belief is that the baby chooses his parents. The guide will also be able to inform you about their traditions and habits, what to do and what not. Himba African tribe in Namibia by David Siu. The desolate Kunene region of northwest Namibia is home to a resilient people called the Himba. Required fields are marked *. The mixture, a combination of butterfat and ochre, is called otjize paste. Its believed to prevent hair growth. These people seem super happy in whatever little that they have! If you see these women, their skin looks (and feels) very smooth, soft and young, meaning it is a perfect anti ageing cream as well as a hair remover. Men use a wooden holder as a pillow. For children, the hairstyle is different between boys and girls. Twin boys and girls have only a single braid each. Another interesting custom and ritual is childbirth. When a guest knocks on the door, the man of the house has to give his approval. Savannahs, lions, safari vehicles, and a red-robed Maasai, standing elegant and slender against the infinite horizon. Your email address will not be published. It must be shared. Hunter-gatherers and pastoralists, the Himba descend from the southward migrating Herero of Angola. Ubuntu states that we are people, not because of our individuality, but by virtue of our connections to other people, thus underlying the importance of relationships. For various reasons including mining, farming, and the creation of national parks, the Bushmen have been forced into ever smaller ranges. The red ochre body paint of the Himba called otijze is made from butter, animal fat, and a naturally occurring earth pigment that contains iron oxide. Migration continued, with part of the group staying in Opuwo and the other continuing on and later becoming the Herero, the tribe my guide George descends from. Here are a few tips on local etiquette and culture to help you on your way. As a student of the world, I learned that if you want to look to the strength of a household or even a community, you must first look at the women of the community. Its the place where all religious rituals take place. The Himba Tribe Without their livestock, these people would struggle to flourish outside of modern-day living. Traditional San bushman dwelling by WycliffeSA. Namibia Packing List: What to Pack for Namibia, Complete Namibia Self Drive Road Trip Itinerary. Most of the men are out herding their livestock which is the equivalent of money to Westerners or possibly in another village courting another partner, as the Himbas are polygamous and men typically have two wives. Himba children with traditional hairstyles by Michael Haebner. The OvaHimba choose not to conform to modern society and opt to still wear their traditional clothing, which consist of loin cloths and miniskirts from animal skin. When it was time to depart, I I felt as if I was leaving a sisters house. Cambridge University Press (www.cambridge.org) is the publishing division of the University of Cambridge, one of the worlds leading research institutions and winner of 81 Nobel Prizes. The Himba tribe in the north of Namibia, with an estimated 50.000 people, are still living the way their ancestors did. Also, as a student of the world, I learned that if you want to look to the strength of a household or even a community, you must first look at the women of the community. The Samburu are renowned for their colorful clothing and their unique social structure. By continuing to browse this site, you give us your consent to set cookies on your device, lots of little chocolate chip ones. As we began walking into the compound, I was greeted by a Sistren who greeted me saying Moro which translates to Good Morning. Maasai driving cattle into the ngorongoro crater by, The famous maasai jumping dance 'adumu' by, Himba children with traditional hairstyles by, Traditional Zulu homestead in South Africa by, Zulu culture, Kwa-Zulu Natal in South Africa by, Traditional Ndebele women of South Africa by, Up Close and Personal with the Omo Valley Tribes of Ethiopia, African Culture: More Than Just The Big 5 Animals (20 Cultural Gems), Discover the Magic of San Rock Art in Southern Africa, Tips for Tipping on African Safaris - who & how to tip, 40 foods to eat in Cape Town, recommended by locals, African Culture Highlights: 7 Fascinating African Traditions.