The Himba People of Northwest Namibia, Facts, Culture, Photos

An indigenous community known as the Himba live mostly in the Kaokoveld region of northwest Namibia. Their semi-nomadic pastoral lifestyle is well-known, and they mostly depend on the environment and cattle herding for their livelihoods.

The powerful Himba tribe lives in the abandoned Kunene region of northwest Namibia. The Himba are mostly pastoralists and hunter-gatherers, descended from the Herero people of Angola who migrated southward from the continent. The Himba people’s lives revolve around Okuruwo, a sacred fire. Okuruwo symbolises a link with their ancestors, who are thought to have a direct line of communication with their god, Mukuru, through the smoke. The Himba keep the fire in the middle of the community and make sure it never goes out. The fire keeper, who is chosen by each household, is responsible for maintaining the sacred fire.

An African tribe known as the Himba are primarily nomadic, moving from one waterhole to another to care for their goats, cattle, and other animals. Everyday chores are separated based on gender. Men are given the less demanding responsibilities of managing communal politics and caring for livestock, while women are given the more challenging jobs of carrying water, constructing dwellings, milking cows, and raising children. This sex-based division extends to the fact that men are the only ones allowed to bathe in water, while women are required to maintain their personal hygiene by cleaning themselves with herb smoke that is acquired from fire.

Unexpectedly, the Himba have a bilateral social structure, which is uncommon among the various ethnic groups on Earth. Regardless of sex or family side, bilateral descent refers to descent. This suggests that every clan member is a member of both the maternal and paternal clans. In this unusual arrangement, the sons and their spouses reside with their father’s tribe, but the maternal uncle passes on the fortune. The bilateral descent is thought to improve the Himba’s chances of surviving because they dwell in an extremely hostile environment.

The distinctive decoration of the Himba people is the one thing that sets them apart from other tribes. Most safaris to Namibia’s Kunene region are now associated with this tribe because of their distinctive red ochre paint, which they smear all over their bodies, and their intricate hairstyles. Every year, a large number of tourists travel to Namibia to witness the distinctive way of life of these intriguing people. The various hairstyles represent the individuals’ varying socioeconomic statuses. The young children’s heads are clean and shaven, followed by plaits and braids that can be worn either forward or backward, and finally, the Erembe, a leather decoration made of sheepskin worn by adult females who have given birth. The frequently reddish-ochre hairstyles are quite beautiful and distinctive.

Traditionally, animal fat, butter, and a naturally occurring earth pigment that contains iron oxide are used to make the reddish-ochre paint that the Himba wear on their bodies, which they call otijze. In order to keep their skin hydrated, repel insects, and preserve their beauty, the Himba ladies apply this on their skin. Because of the powerful image that the red-ochre paint on their bodies left, the Himba people have become known as the “Red People of Africa.”

Unveiling Namibia: Exploring the Unique Himba Culture