Tribe Himba - away from civilization

In the north of Namibia lives an amazing tribe, of which very few people knew. Its residents, who did not contact with white people, for a long time did not allow journalists to come to their home, and after several reports, interest in them increased incredibly. There were many who wanted to visit the tribe and tell the world about the nomads living by their own laws.

Tribe of pastoralists

The tribe of the Himba, whose number does not exceed 50 thousand people, has lived in scattered settlements since the 16th century and leads a semi-settled semi-nomadic existence in a desert where there is no water. Now it is engaged in cattle breeding: the inhabitants breed cows of a special breed, unpretentious and ready to do without water for a long time. Pets - this is the main wealth and inheritance, which is not regarded as food.

People who are not familiar with the benefits of civilization

Selling animals, they help out a little money, and frequent visitors buy souvenirs and handicrafts. Earnings the African tribe hemb spends on the purchase of sugar, corn flour, delicacies for kids. Clothes are not needed for residents, they make loincloths from animal skins and fasten them on the body with a strap. All they need is flip-flops to walk on the scorching desert. None of them use technology, almost does not know writing, dishes for members of the tribe are replaced by vessels hollowed out in a pumpkin, but they do not suffer at all from lack of attributes of civilization.

The tribe of Himba, whose photo was often printed in various publications, observes ancient customs, worships the souls of the dead and the god Mukur, breeds cattle and does not shed other people's blood. They lead a peaceful existence in a lifeless desert, in the face of severe water shortages.

Attention to appearance

For members of the tribe, the appearance plays an important role in traditional culture. He points to the situation 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 are turban.

Girls braid long hair in braids with a forehead, with age they make hairstyles that consist of a huge number of braids, and the boys pull their hair into a pony tail tied in a bun.

Women recognized as the most beautiful

Representatives of the hemb do not miss a single detail and carefully monitor their appearance, caring for the skin and hair. Absence of clothes they compensate with numerous ornaments, 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 eyes of the amygdala shape are admired by travelers who claim that every girl could work as a model on the podium.

They are tall and slender women, standing out against the background of the rest of the tribes of the country. They deftly carry on the head containers with precious water, so they have formed a beautiful posture. Ornaments that women wear on the neck, legs, hands, serve not only for beauty - so the local girls protect themselves from snake bites.

Magic mixture for face and body

Each drop of water is worth its weight in gold, and what it manages to get is drunk, so the members of the tribe do not wash, and a special mixture of red-orange color, to which the hemb is required by a special shade of skin, helps them survive. Women rub the rocks of volcanic rock in powder and mix it with milk, beaten with milk, ash, plant elixirs. Every morning begins with the fact that the aborigines apply ocher paint, which maintains the necessary level of hygiene and protects from biting insects and scorching sun rays, on the entire body and face.

The incredibly soft leather of women looks beautiful and smells pleasantly of the aromatic resin, which is often added to the mixture, which serves as the basis for the complex hairstyles with which the heba tribe is different.

Interesting Facts

Every inhabitant has a second, "European" name. His children receive it when they study in mobile schools. Each child knows how to read and knows several phrases in English, but after the first classes of instruction, few people continue.

The Himba tribe in Namibia is building cone-shaped huts of young trees and palm leaves that are intertwined with leather straps, and later covers them with manure and silt. Inside such a dwelling there are no conveniences, except for a mattress on the floor.

The tribe lives in a clan led by an elder - grandfather, in charge of housing, religious aspects, observance of laws and traditions, economic issues, property management. His powers are confirmed by a special bracelet on the hand of the erenge. The headman marries, holds various ceremonies and rituals at the sacred fire, attracting the spirits of the ancestors to the solution of vital issues.

Marriages are concluded in such a way that the wealth is distributed equally. After the wedding, the wife moves to her husband and accepts the rules of the new clan.

Women get up very early, at dawn, milking cows, which men take to the pastures. As soon as the land is scarce, the tribe of the Himba is removed from the place and moves to another place. Husbands wander with herds, leaving their wives and children in the village.

Of modern things, the tribe has adopted plastic bottles, which store jewelry.

In the village it is best to go along with a guide who will tell in detail about the life of the tribe and will be able to negotiate with the leader about visiting the home.

The amazing tribe of Himba are hospitable and smiling people who do not seek the benefits of travelers who have become frequent travelers. An original people, who are isolated from the outside world, are indifferent to the benefits of civilization, and every case of preserving traditional ways is of great interest to scientists and tourists.