In his view, the lack of recognition of traditional chiefs, in accordance with Namibian law, relates to a lack of recognition of the minority indigenous tribes' communal lands. [6] Women's sandals are made from cows' skin while men's are made from old car tires. Upon marriage, a Himba boy is considered a man. Some of the villagers are socially inclined and very religious, reversing and worshiping their ancient gods. The huts are circular in shape, too, and are built using mud, excrements and mopane branches. The Himba leaders complain in their declaration about the culturally inappropriate school system, that they say would threaten their culture, identity and way of life as a people. [15] Often, because Mukuru is busy in a distant realm, the ancestors act as Mukuru's representatives. Men mainly look after the cattle and take it on long transhumance, in search for better pastures. WINDHOEK-(MaraviPost)-The traditional customs and beliefs enshrine tribeswomen of the Himba tribe to offer what most people call free ‘Sex’ to their visitors or guest and cousins. It gives Himba people's skin and hair plaits a distinctive texture, style, and orange or red tinge, and is often perfumed with the aromatic resin of the omuzumba shrub. In most occurrences this consists simply of skirt-like clothing made from calfskins and sheep skin or, increasingly, from more modern textiles, and occasionally sandals for footwear. The vast majority of Namibians (about 80 to 90%) are Christians. Double lineage means that each Himba belongs to two clans at the same time, the matriarchal and the patriarchal, this enables them to rely on two family groups when in need. The fire-keeper approaches the sacred ancestral fire every seven to eight days in order to communicate with Mukuru and the ancestors on behalf of his family. Around the 16th century, the Himba people crossed to Namibia from Angola, settling in Kaokoland (nowadays Kunene) as part of the Herero tribe. The ancient tribe of semi-nomadic herders from the barren lands of Namibia known as the Himba have been a favorite for photographers. Himba have suffered severe droughts and guerrilla warfare during the Angola civil war and Namibian independence. The Himba people of Namibia practice a form of monotheistic panentheism, ... Waaq is the name of a singular God in the traditional religion of many Cushitic people in the Horn of Africa, denoting an early monotheistic religion. By MichelleL 18th November 2014 No Comments This magnificent tribe inhabit the Kaokoland area of Namibia and are descendants of a group of Herero herders who fled into the remote north-west of Namibia after been displaced by the Nama. Under bilateral descent, every tribe member belongs to two clans: one through the father (a patriclan, called oruzo) and another through the mother (a matriclan, called eanda). The first, titled "Declaration of the most affected Ovahimba, Ovatwa, Ovatjimba and Ovazemba against the Orokawe Dam in the Baynes Mountains"[22] outlines the objections from regional Himba chiefs and communities that reside near the Kunene River. As stated in my earlier post on this page, “the Himba tribe are among the peoples of Namibia. The OvaHimba have been successful in maintaining their culture and traditional way of life. Culturally distinguishable from the Herero people, the OvaHimba are a semi-nomadic, pastoralist [1], Members of a single extended family typically dwell in a homestead (onganda), a small family-village, consisting of a circular hamlet of huts and work shelters that surround an okuruwo (sacred ancestral fire) and a kraal for the sacred livestock. Their homes are built around an okuruwo (ancestor fire) and their animals, all of which are connected to their ancestor worship. Polygamy is permitted in the Himba society, each man can marry more than one woman, the first marriage is usually arranged by the village elders whereas the following ones are free, the only thing required is the consent of all the spouses. These particular people reside on the northwestern side of Namibia and are bordered by Angola to the north. Another belief is related to the so-called fairy circles, the Himba believe they are the prints left by gods when they go to certain spots to pray, when a Himba gets sick, he or she is  brought to the centre of the  circle of fairies for healing. Two tribal groups living in Namibia, the San and the Himba, practice their traditional beliefs while a section of the Christian population also incorporates traditional rituals and customs in their religious life. Namibia, Etosha N.P. However this religion was mostly replaced with the Abrahamic religions. [1], Some Himba children attend Western schools and some young people leave the homelands to live in towns.[8]. Himba huts in the background. Holy fire/Supreme being (Mukuru) Himbas are animists, and their supreme being is called Mukuru. The appellations formerly applied to them (Hottentot and Bushmen, respectively) have gone out of use because of their derogatory connotations. When a person dies, the OvaHimba evaluate the care of those who are left behind, such as orphans and widows. Find out here our itineraries. September 2012, the United Nations special rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples visited the OvaHimba and heard their concerns that they do not have recognized traditional authorities and that they are placed under the jurisdictions of chiefs of neighboring dominant tribes, who make decisions on behalf of the minority communities. Now I know exactly what to bring next time! Lutheranism is the predominant Christian denomination in the country. The men's main tasks are tending to the 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. [7] In order for the bride's family to accept the bridewealth, the cattle must appear of high quality. Pubescent Himba girl with hair headdress styled to veil her face. Two tribal groups report practicing traditional beliefs: the San people, which make up approximately 3% of the population, and the Himba, which are less than 1% of the total population. Between that fire and the hut of the head man of the village, there is an imaginary line which should never be crossed by visitors. Visit Africa with us! They expressed their frustration over the lack of recognition of their traditional chiefs as "Traditional Authorities" by the government;[29] Namibia's plans to build the Orokawe dam in the Baynes Mountains at the Kunene River without consulting with the OvaHimba, who do not consent to the construction plans; culturally inappropriate education; the illegal fencing of parts of their traditional land; and their lack of property rights to the territory that they have lived upon for centuries. [10] Himba clans are led by the eldest male in the clan. Common creation stories exp… [12], In the 1980s it appeared the OvaHimba way of life was coming to a close due to a climax in adverse climatic conditions and political conflicts. [1] Non-farming businesses, wages and salaries, pensions, and other cash remittances make up a very small portion of the OvaHimba livelihood, which is gained chiefly from their work in conservancies, old-age pensions, and drought relief aid from the government of Namibia. We will make you live an unforgettable experience! The Himba (singular: OmuHimba, plural: OvaHimba) are indigenous peoples with an estimated population of about 50,000 people[1] living in northern Namibia, in the Kunene Region (formerly Kaokoland) and on the other side of the Kunene River in southern Angola. Between 1904–1908, they suffered from the same attempt at genocide during the Herero Wars conducted by the imperial colonial government in German South-West Africa under Lothar von Trotha that decimated notably the Herero people and the Nama people during the Herero and Namaqua Genocide. Himba woman prepares a fire. [28], March 25, 2013, over 1,000 Himba people marched in protest again, this time in Opuwo, against the ongoing human rights violations that they endure in Namibia. They also practice early arranged marriages. However, the OvaHimba do not like to be associated with OvaTwa. Many consider the Himba people the most beautiful African tribe. [1], Women and girls tend to perform more labor-intensive work than men and boys do, such as carrying water to the village, earthen plastering the mopane wood homes with a traditional mixture of red clay soil and cow manure binding agent, collecting firewood, attending to the calabash vines used for producing and ensuring a secure supply of soured milk, cooking and serving meals, as well as artisans making handicrafts, clothing and jewelry. [citation needed] Culturally distinguishable from the Herero people, the OvaHimba are a semi-nomadic, pastoralist people and speak OtjiHimba, a variety of Herero, which belongs to the Bantu family within Niger–Congo. Since Mukuru is often busy in some other realm, the ancestors often serve as Mukuru’s representatives. According to tradition, when a woman desires to have a baby, she goes off the village and sits under a tree by herself, and she keeps silent until she can hear the “birth song”, or the “song of the child”. Bilateral descent is found among only a few groups in West Africa, India, Australia, Melanesia and Polynesia, and anthropologists consider the system advantageous for groups that live in extreme environments because it allows individuals to rely on two sets of kin dispersed over a wide area. Despite the fact a majority of OvaHimba live a distinct cultural lifestyle in their remote rural environment and homesteads, they are socially dynamic, and not all are isolated from the trends of local urban cultures. A practice not carried out by men, the Himba women apply a paste of butter, […] [11], The OvaHimba history is fraught with disasters, including severe droughts and guerrilla warfare, especially during Namibia's war of independence and as a result of the civil war in neighboring Angola. The Himba have a monotheistic belief system, but their god is distant and all communications have to take place through the spirits of their male ancestors. This happens from the onset of puberty,[1] which may mean that girls aged 10 or below are married off. Along with the inheritance of wealth, moral obligations are also important within the tribal structure. Groups of the last remaining hunters and gatherers Ovatwa are held in secured camps in the northern part of Namibia's Kunene region, despite complaints by the traditional Himba chiefs that the Ovatwa are held there without their consent and against their wishes.[23]. As such, the OvaHimba have worked with international activists to block a proposed hydroelectric dam along the Kunene River that would have flooded their ancestral lands,[21] 2011, Namibia announced its new plan to build a dam in Orokawe, in the Baynes Mountains. [1] There are also a few groups left of the OvaTwa, who are also OvaHimba, but are hunter-gatherers. Himba people, especially women, are famous for covering themselves with otjize paste, a cosmetic mixture of butterfat and ochre pigment. Because of the harsh desert climate in the region where they live and their seclusion from outside influences, the OvaHimba have managed to maintain and preserve much of their traditional lifestyle. [16] Some OvaHimba believe that death is caused by omiti, or rather, by someone using omiti for malicious purposes. It is up to the eldest woman of the village to tender the sacred fire. Their fame for ornate styles have spread beyond the remote, Kunene region where they live, mostly tending livestock. The Himba are a monotheistic people who worship the god Mukuru, but also practice ancestor worship as well. The Himba are animists, their religious beliefs revolve around the god Mukuru and the cult of ancestors. Facing crisis, the tribe decided to move south and explore different regions. The Himba religion itself is monotheistic. Each family must keep the ancestral fire lit to communicate with Mukuru through the intercession of the ancestors. Apart from the food you can buy … In the signed letter of the Himba community from Epupa, the region that would be directly affected by the dam, the traditional leaders explain that any consent form signed by a former chief as a result of bribery wasn't valid as they remain opposed to the dam. Despite this they have persevered and the traditions and culture of the Himba people remains; Himba women rub their bodies with otjize which is a mix of ochre and butter fat, this give protection to their skin from the harsh climate. Access is via a small opening on one side and the interior is plain. The OvaHimba are considered the last (semi-) nomadic people of Namibia. The Himba don’t count their years from when they were born, nor from when they are conceived, but from the day that the child was a thought in his mother’s mind. Every Himba family builds an altar in the hut with sacred ancestral fire, … Both the Himba men and women are accustomed to wearing traditional clothing that befits their living environment in the Kaokoland and the hot semi-arid climate of their area. Also ancestral spirits play an important role. [33] The OvaHimba use four colour names: zuzu stands for dark shades of blue, red, green and purple; vapa is white and some shades of yellow; buru is some shades of green and blue; and dambu is some other shades of green, red and brown. Himba village about 15 km north of Opuwo, Namibia. The Himba (singular: OmuHimba, plural: OvaHimba) are indigenous peoples with an estimated population of about 50,000 people living in northern Namibia, in the Kunene Region (formerly Kaokoland) and on the other side of the Kunene River in southern Angola. Sons live with their father's clan, and when daughters marry, they go to live with the clan of their husband. From pubescence, boys continue to have one braided plait, while girls will have many otjize-textured hair plaits, some arranged to veil the girl's face. KHOI AND SAN RELIGION KHOI AND SAN RELIGION . What could be the reason behind such an act? Women of the semi-nomadic Himba tribe in northern Namibia are famous for their reddish hair and complexion. Crandall, D. (1998). Properly, the terms Khoi and San refer to groups of related languages characterized by click consonants and to speakers of these languages, … The Himba people are predominately livestock breeders and farmers while their women are preoccupied with gathering firewood, cooking and serving meals and sourcing for fresh water. The Himba society is matriarchal. [13], The OvaHimba are a monotheistic people who worship the god Mukuru, as well as their clan's ancestors (ancestor reverence). They are an indigenous group of people with a population range of about 20,000 to 50,0000.” They are an indigenous group of people with a population range of about 20,000 to 50,0000.” The OvaHimba coexist and interact with members of their country's other ethnic groups and the social trends of urban townsfolk. They mostly depend on livestock for survival where the wealth of a man is determined by the number of cows he has. [34], Like many traditional societies, the Himba have exceptionally sharp vision, believed to come from their cattle rearing and need to identify each cow's markings.[35]. The Khoi and San are the aboriginal peoples of southern Africa. The OvaHimba are predominantly livestock farmers who breed fat-tailed sheep and goats, but count their wealth in the number of their cattle. It is standard practice to offer an ox, but more cattle will be offered if the groom's father is wealthy and is capable of offering more. They do not take bath, but they make aromatic baths with herbs. The Himba are animists, their religious beliefs revolve around the god Mukuru and the cult of ancestors. Their main diet is sour milk and maize porridge (oruhere ruomaere) and sometimes plain hard porridge only, due to milk and meat scarcity. This practice is illegal in Namibia, and even some OvaHimba contest it, but it is nevertheless widespread. Often, because Mukuru is busy in a distant realm, the ancestors act as Mukuru's representatives. [citation needed] Women who have given birth wear a small backpack of skin attached to their traditional outfit. The second, titled "Declaration by the traditional Himba leaders of Kaokoland in Namibia"[25] lists violations of civil, cultural, economic, environmental, social and political rights perpetrated by the government of Namibia (GoN). Dry-season pastures are rested during the rainy season which results in higher biomass production in the soil compared to constantly grazing all pastures.[3]. [2], The OvaHimba use a heterogeneous pasture system that includes both rainy-season pastures and dry-season pastures. The different clans living in a village are led by a headman who establishes rules and prohibitions, such as the ban for menstruated women to eat the meat of a certain animal or to milk cows. The indigenous people have a population of 50,000, living in northern Namibia. Traditionally, both men and women walk around naked. Women who have been married for about a year or have had a child wear an ornate headpiece called the Erembe, sculptured from sheepskin, with many streams of braided hair coloured and put in shape with otjize paste. A Himba girl is not considered a fully-fledged woman until she bears a child. In daily practice the plaits are often tied together and held parted back from the face. Both the fire and the livestock are closely tied to their veneration of the dead, the sacred fire representing ancestral protection and the sacred livestock allowing "proper relations between human and ancestor". An ancient tribe of semi-nomadic herders known as the Himba, embrace a new faith. The fire-keeper approaches the ancestral fire every seven to eight days in order to communicate with Mukuru and the ancestors in behalf of his family. [1] The responsibility for milking the cows and goats also lies with the women and girls. Flickr.com. The Role of Time in Himba Valuations of Cattle. The fire represents ancestral protection and the livestock allows for proper relations between human and ancestor. Their diet is also supplemented by cornmeal, chicken eggs, wild herbs and honey. [20] Some OvaHimba will consult a traditional African diviner-healer to reveal the reason behind an extraordinary event, or the source of the omiti.[19]. [32], Several researchers have studied the OvaHimba perception of colours. In February 2012, traditional Himba chiefs[24] issued two separate Declarations[25][26] to the African Union and to the OHCHR of the United Nations. [1] Livestock are the major source of milk and meat for the OvaHimba. There are also a few groups left of the OvaTwa, who are also OvaHimba, but are hunter-gatherers. [27], November 23, 2012, hundreds of OvaHimba and Zemba from Omuhonga and Epupa region protested in Okanguati against Namibia's plans to construct a dam in the Kunene River in the Baynes Mountains, against increasing mining operations on their traditional land and human rights violations against them. Testi e immagini © Exploring Africa - 2021, Africa's Most Successful Conservation Projects, Himba people social organisation and religious beliefs. As is customary in Himba culture and climate, a Himba girl of northern Namibia wears a traditional skirt made from calfskin leather, headdress and jewelry which signify her social status. Young Himba girls are married to male partners chosen by their fathers. Christian festivals are celebrated throughout the country. Only occasionally, and opportunistically, are the livestock sold for cash. However, inheritance of wealth does not follow the patriclan but is determined by the matriclan, that is, a son does not inherit his father's cattle but his maternal uncle's instead. [1] Women and girls take care of the children, and one woman or girl will take care of another woman's children. Women play a fundamental role in the Himba society and do most of the duties, such as the collection of water, the construction of homesteads and the care of the children. I didn’t know how else to help, what to bring. Marriage among the OvaHimba involves transactions of cattle, which are the source of their economy. The indigenous religions are based on animistic beli… Unmarried young men continue to wear one braided plait extending to the rear of the head, while married men wear a cap or head-wrap and un-braided hair beneath. Knowing they are dressed in a traditional way, bringing clothes was not an option so I felt lost. The indigenous people have a population of 50,000, living in northern Namibia. Before this experience I could only think of bringing food to the Himba tribe I would be visiting. Each family must keep the ancestral fire lit to communicate with Mukuru through the intercession of the ancestors. The Himba are animists and they have their own god called Mukuru, who they speak to via a holy fire that burns in their village. The Himba tribe is an indigenous people with an estimated population of about 50,000 living in northern Namibia, in the Kunene Region and on the other side of the Kunene River in Angola. The name ‘Himba’ has become a worldwide name following the ‘weird’ ancestral practice of the people of the Himba tribe.. … [4][5] Widowed men will remove their cap or head-wrap and expose un-braided hair. Himba woman and some of her family standing in her father's homestead in Otutati, Kunene Region, Namibia. For years, an ancient tribe of semi-nomadic herders known as the Himba has drawn photographers to Namibia’s barren northwest. [1] The OvaHimba are semi-nomadic as they have base homesteads where crops are cultivated, but may have to move within the year depending on rainfall and where there is access to water. About 50% of the population is affiliated to the Lutheran Church. [13] A severe drought killed 90% of their livestock, and many gave up their herds and became refugees in the town of Opuwo living in slums on international humanitarian aid or joined Koevoet paramilitary units to cope with the livestock losses and widespread famine. There Are Three Very Distinct Aspects to An Ovahimba Woman’S look. [14] Each family has its own sacred ancestral fire, which is kept by the fire-keeper. The Himba live in Northern Namibia, they refuse modern progress and Western culture and still live according to ancient traditions. The government of Norway and Iceland funded mobile schools for Himba children, but since Namibia took them over in 2010, they have been converted to permanent schools and are no longer mobile. Bridewealth is involved in these transactions; this can be negotiable between the groom's family and the bride's father, depending on the relative poverty of the families involved. Each family has its own ancestral fire, which is kept by the fire-keeper. As a result, the striking image of the Himba … [19] But users of omiti do not always attack their victim directly; sometimes they target a relative or loved one. The Himba tribe… some interesting facts! The Himba also believe in witchcraft, omiti, and “black magic”, and think that those who practice omiti can even cause illness or death. The OvaHimba submitted in February 2012 their protest Declaration against the hydroelectric dam to the United Nations, the African Union and to the Government of Namibia.[22]. The Himba worship their ancestors and the god Mukuru. Access to water-points and pastures are another part of the OvaHimba inheritance structure. A few centuries later, a bovine epidemic swept through Namibia, causing a great loss in cattle. The fire must be kept lit at all time to protect the inhabitants from demons. The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 4(1), 101-114. doi:10.2307/3034430, Linguistic relativity and the color naming debate, "Opuwo's lonely voice against child marriages", https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-40247310, "Fast Facts: The Himba of Namibia - Namibia Tourism Board", "Namibia: Dam will mean our destruction, warn Himba", United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, "Declaration of the most affected Ovahimba, Ovatwa, Ovatjimba and Ovazemba against the Orokawe Dam in the Baynes Mountains", "Indigenous coalition opposed to new dam", "Indigenous Himba Appeal to UN to Fight Namibian Dam", "Declaration by the traditional Himba leaders of Kaokoland in Namibia", "Namibian Minority Groups Demand Their Rights", "Statement of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, James Anaya, upon concluding his visit to Namibia from 20-28 September 2012", "Namibia: Indigenous semi-nomadic Himba and Zemba march in protest against dam, mining and human rights violations", "German GIZ directly engaged with dispossessing indigenous peoples of their lands and territories in Namibia", "Himba, Zemba reiterate 'no' to Baynes dam", "Indigenous peoples Himba community condemn RTL TV series Wild Girls, asking Earth Peoples co-founder Rebecca Sommer for help to intervene on their behalf and stop it", "NAMIBIA Semi-nomadic HIMBA march again in protest against dam construction and government attempt to bribe Himba chief's consent", "Colour Categories and Category Acquisition in Himba and English", "Language, thought, and color: Whorf was half right", "The astonishing vision and focus of Namibia's nomads", Himbas, struggle for survive; a long term documentary by photojournalist and filmmaker Delmi Alvarez, Keep the Dance Alive I Que la danse continue, A Peace Corps volunteer works among the Himba, HIMBA DANCE in Omuhonga, Kaokoland, Namibia, video by Rebecca Sommer, Photos from Himba village near Opuwo, Namibia, Africa on the Matrix: Himba People of Namibia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Himba_people&oldid=1007357273, "Related ethnic groups" needing confirmation, Articles using infobox ethnic group with image parameters, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2010, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2015, Pages using Sister project links with default search, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. ’ ancestral practice of the OvaTwa, who are also important within the tribal structure religious revolve! 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