For generations, the Himba people have been a semi-nomadic tribe lived in the northern part of Namibia. Also to their fundamentally rooted cultural traditions and beliefs, they are well-known for their elaborate jewelry and characteristic red ochre body paint.
What does the Himba tribe offer?
The indigenous Himba tribe, also known as the Ovahimba, estimated to be approximately 20,000 and 50,000 people in northern Namibia. For the Himbia tribe, having s*x is an indicative of hospitality and warmth.
What is the occupation of the Himba tribe?
The men's main tasks are tending to livestock farming, herding, where the men will often be away from the family home for extended periods, animal slaughtering, construction, and holding council with village tribal chiefs.
What are the beauty secrets of Himba?
They paint their bodies with a red otjize paste, a mixture of butterfat and ochre, which protects their skin from sun damage and insect bites. The otjize paste is considered a highly desirable cosmetic as it symbolizes the rich red color of the earth and blood, the essence of life.
What does himba tribe offer to guests?
The men of the Himba Tribe have several women, and as a courtesy, they will sometimes make a wife available to visiting guests so she can provide s*xual pleasure. The guest sleeps with the wife, while the husband stays outside.
What food Himba people eat?
The Himba normally eat gruel made from cornflowers; they only eat meat once every two weeks, such as springbok, goat, and beef.
Their main diet is sour milk and maize porridge (oruhere ruomaere) and sometimes plain hard porridge only, due to milk and meat scarcity. Their diet is also supplemented by cornmeal, chicken eggs, wild herbs, and honey. Only occasionally, and opportunistically, are the livestock sold for cash.
Himba Religion and Politics
The OvaHimba are monotheistic animists, and their god Mukuru, the sacred ancestral fire (okuruwo), and their sacred livestock complete the Trinity at the center of each family's universe.
They are well-known for their elaborate jewelry and characteristic red ochre body paint, in addition to their deeply ingrained cultural customs and beliefs. The Himba people are proficient in agriculture, animal husbandry, and hunting, and they have a special bond with their surroundings.
