In the north of Namibia lives an amazing tribe that few people knew about. Its inhabitants, who had no contact with white people, for a long time did not allow journalists to visit them, and after several reports, interest in them increased incredibly. There were many who wanted to visit the tribe and tell the world about nomads living by their own laws.
Cattle Breeders Tribe
The Himba tribe, whose population does not exceed 50 thousand people, has been living in scattered settlements since the 16th century and leads a semi-sedentary, semi-nomadic existence in the desert, where there is no water. Now it is engaged in cattle breeding: residents breed cows of a special breed, unpretentious and ready to do without water for a long time. Pets are the main we alth and heritage that is not considered food.
A people not familiar with the benefits of civilization
By selling animals, they help out a littlemoney, and frequent guests buy souvenirs and crafts. The African Himba tribe spends their earnings on buying sugar, cornmeal, and treats for kids. The inhabitants do not need clothes, they make loincloths from animal skins and fasten them to the body with a belt. All they need are slippers to walk through the desert that burns their feet. None of them uses technology, almost does not know writing, the dishes for members of the tribe are replaced by vessels hollowed out in a pumpkin, but they do not suffer at all from the lack of attributes of civilization.
The Himba tribe, whose photo was often published in various publications, observes ancient customs, worships the souls of the dead and the god Mukuru, breeds cattle and does not shed other people's blood. They lead a peaceful existence in a lifeless desert, in conditions of severe water shortage.
Attention to appearance
For members of the tribe, appearance plays an important role in traditional culture. It indicates the position in society and certain phases of life. For example, married women wear a kind of crown on their heads, which is made from goat skins, and married men wear a turban.
Girls wear their long hair in braids over their foreheads, with age they make hairstyles that consist of a huge number of braids, and boys pull their hair into a ponytail tied in a bun.
Women voted the most beautiful
Himba representatives do not miss a single detail and carefully monitor their appearance, caring for their skin and hair. They make up for the lack of clothesnumerous jewelry made of copper, shells and pearls. This is an important part of the centuries-old traditions, and the women of the Himba tribe are recognized as the most beautiful. Their delicate features and almond-shaped eyes are admired by travelers who claim that every girl could work as a model on the catwalk.
These are tall and slender women who stand out from the rest of the country's tribes. They deftly carry containers of precious water on their heads, thanks to which they have developed an excellent posture. Jewelry that the fair sex wears around the neck, legs, arms, is not only for beauty - this is how local girls protect themselves from snake bites.
Magic Face & Body Blend
Every drop of water is worth its weight in gold, and what you can get is drunk, so the members of the tribe do not wash themselves, and a special mixture of red-orange color helps them to survive, to which the Himba owes a special skin tone. Women grind stones of volcanic rock into powder and mix it with butter, ash, vegetable elixirs whipped from cows' milk. Each morning begins with the application of ocher paint, which maintains the necessary level of hygiene and protects against insect bites and scorching sun rays, to the entire body and face.
Women's incredibly soft skin looks beautiful and smells good of aromatic resin, which is often added to the mixture, which also serves as the basis for complex hairstyles that distinguish the Himba tribe.
Interestingfacts
Every inhabitant has a second, "European" name. Children receive it when they study in mobile schools. Every child knows how to count and knows a few phrases in English, but after the first classes, few people continue it.
The Himba tribe in Namibia builds cone-shaped huts from young trees and palm leaves, which are intertwined with leather straps, and later covered with dung and silt. There are no amenities inside such a dwelling, except for a mattress on the floor.
The tribe lives in a clan led by an elder - a grandfather who is responsible for housing, religious aspects, observance of laws and traditions, economic issues, property management. His powers are confirmed by a special bracelet on the erenge hand. The headman enters into marriages, conducts various ceremonies and rituals at the sacred fire, attracting the spirits of ancestors to solve pressing issues.
Marriages are arranged in such a way that we alth is distributed equally. After the wedding, the wife moves in with her husband and accepts the rules of the new clan.
Women get up very early, at dawn, milk the cows, which the men take to pasture. As soon as the land becomes scarce, the Himba tribe is removed from their place and moves to another place. Husbands wander with herds, leaving their wives and children in the village.
From modern things, the tribe has taken root plastic bottles in which jewelry is stored.
It is best to go to the village with a guide who will tell you in detail about the life of the tribe and will be able to arrange a visit to the dwelling with the leader.
The amazing Himba tribe are hospitable and smiling people who do not seek benefits from frequent travelers. The original people, existing in isolation from the outside world, are indifferent to the benefits of civilization, and each case of preserving traditional ways is of great interest to scientists and tourists.
