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Some interesting facts about Himba tribe in the
northern part of Namibia
Africa, the cradle of mankind, is the
home of rich and diverse culture. Africa
boasts of different groups of people with diverse way of life ranging from
their food, dress, language among others. There is one tribe in Africa with a
very distinctive culture as compared to other indigenous African cultures and
the people in the world at large - the Himba tribe.
Their way of life is overwhelming and
wild in many ways. Some people consider them as nomadic because of the way they
portray themselves.
Their values and identity are
well-kept, making them one of the popular tribes in Namibia.
The Himba tribe is located in the
Kunene Region in the northern part of Namibia with an approximated population
of about 50,000 people. They speak OtjiHimba language as means of exchanging
information among themselves.
They are predominantly livestock
farmers who engage in the rearing of goat and sheep for domestic and commercial
purposes but with cattle as the determinant of ones wealth.
Some people also engage in hunting of
games due to the availability of forests in their area.
Apart from their economic activities,
the Himba tribe has special values that distinguish them from others.
The Himba tribe does not frequently
bathe with water due to its scarcity in their environment. Instead, they use
smoke baths to cleanse themselves. This involves sitting in the smoke from a
fire, which they believe removes dirt and evil spirits.
The Himba tribe uses a mixture of
ochre, butterfat, and herbs to cover their skin and hair, giving them a
distinctive red-brown hue. The ochre also has antibacterial properties, which
helps to prevent infections and skin irritation.
They have defied all western
influences and upheld cultural practices that many people find absurd.
The Himba people have practices
called "Okujepeisa Omukazenchi" meaning offering wife to guest. It is
a practice where men allow their guests to have sex with their wives in the
night as a way of welcoming the visitors.
Furthermore, the hairstyle of the
Himba women convey a lot of information about their lives processes. For
example, young girls often have two braids in front whiles married women wear ornate
headpiece called Erembe and made up of sheepskin and cow hides. Widows have
single braid at the back.
The Himba people are polygamous with
the average Himba man being husband to two wives and families tend to enlarge.
This practice ensured gradual increase in population of the people. Young Himba
girls are married to male partners chosen by their fathers. Cattle is offered
as bride-price in the form of transaction. The bride-price can be negotiable
between the groom’s family and the bride’s father depending on the relative
poverty of both families.
Credit: Governor
