Meet the Himba Tribe of Namibia

The Himba of northwest Namibia

The desolate Kunene region of northwest Namibia is home to a resilient people called the Himba. Hunter-gatherers and pastoralists, the Himba descend from the southward migrating Herero of Angola.

Unforgiving namibia home of the himba - Marc Veraart

Life for the Himba revolves around the holy fire called Okuruwo. Okuruwo, via the smoke,  symbolizes a connection with their ancestors, who are in direct communication with their God Mukuru. The fire burns at the centre of the village and is never allowed to go out and each family has a fire-keeper whose job it is to tend the sacred blaze.

Himba children with traditional hairstyles - Michael Haebner

The Himba are a nomadic African tribe and traditionally travel from waterhole to waterhole tending their cattle and goats. Day to day tasks are traditionally split between the sexes with the women doing the hard tasks of carrying water, milking cows, building homes and raising children while the men handle politics and tend livestock. This division even extends to the use of water for bathing which is reserved exclusively for men. Women use herb-smoke from fire to cleanse their pores and maintain personal hygiene.

Himba tribe hairstyling - Michael Haebner

Interestingly, the traditional clan structure of the Himba is bilateral – evident in only a handful of traditional peoples around the world. Bilateral descent means that every clan member belongs to two clans, that of the mother, and that of the father. Under this unique arrangement, the sons live with the father’s clan as do the wives, however, inheritance passes from the maternal uncle. Living in such a harsh environment, it is believed that this bilateral descent provides a better chance of survival.

Himba red ochre hairstyle - Joanne Goldby

The most distinctive characteristic of the Himba is their unique adornment. The distinctive red ochre body paint and elaborate hairstyles have become synonymous with any safari to the Kunene region of Namibia. Hairstyles signify status, age and social standing. From young children with clean-shaven heads to braids and plaits facing forwards and backwards and finally to the Erembe – a sheepskin leather ornament – worn by women who have had children, the often red-ochred hairstyles are both otherworldly and gorgeous.

African tribe of himba - David Siu

The red ochre body paint of the Himba – called otijze – is made from butter, animal fat and a naturally occurring earth pigment that contains iron oxide. The Himba women apply this mixture to their skin to protect them from the harsh sun and insect bites, lock in moisture and to beautify themselves. Because of the striking appearance that this red paste creates, the Himba tribe of Namibia has become known the “Red People of Africa”.

WIFE EXCHANGE SYSTEM

In modern times like this, Africans and blacks all over the world are working hard at changing the perception of Africa by other continents who see Africa as a dark continent with barbaric cultures, by telling their own stories and celebrating its diverse cultures, making the perception of Africa slowly chang around the world.
few African cultures and traditional practices have been greatly frowned upon and stopped while others continue to stir up controversies. One of such cultural practices is the “Okujepusa Omukazenda” among the Ovahimba and Ovazemba tribes in northern Namibia
The Ovahimba and Ovazemba tribes are indigenous Africans who have remained true to their culture even after westernization and colonization of Africa. The Ovahimba migrated from Angola to Namibia around the 16th century and settled with the Ovazemba. Through socialization, their cultures have become the same and it is hard to determine which of the two introduced the Okujepusa Omukazenda, a wife-swapping traditional practice that has existed for many centuries, to the other.

The two tribes are very popular for their red skin which is achieved by using red clay mixed with special scents and herbs as a decoration. It is more popular among women and newlyweds.   They are also noted for their distinctive and significant hairstyles and jewelry.
Among these two tribes, the men are the head of the family and have more rights than women. While the women are seen as responsible for procreating, keeping the home and feeding their family, the men make decisions for their wives and daughters and give instructions that can’t be broken. Thus decisions like this wife swapping can be done without the concern of the wife.
In the Okujepusa Omukazenda tradition, a husband offers his wife to a male visitor, allowing him to spend the night in his house. The male visitor is allowed to have sexual relationship with the woman in case the male visitor comes with his own wife, the two men can decide to exchange the women for the night.
The tradition is considered a show of kindness and openness and the women are obliged not to act or speak against it. Instead, they are encouraged to give their best to gain more respect for their husbands.
On the night of the swapping, the husband is not expected to sleep in his house. He can either sleep in one of his other huts, if he has them, or sleeps outside.
Many Namibians and Africans have shunned the tradition, claiming that wives who do not like the agreement are unable to speak against it as the final decision rests with their husbands. Okujepusa Omukazenda has been largely described as rape since women are forced to sleep with the strangers against their will.
The tradition has also been criticized in light of HIV/AIDS, in a country where 18.2 per cent of the population lives with the condition.
In 2014, Kazeongere Tjeundo a Namibian legislator called for a wife-swapping law saying that “It’s a culture that gives the people unity and friendship and it is up to you to choose [among] your mates who you like the most…to allow him to sleep with your wife.
Many traditionalists supported him, saying that the tradition also allows women to choose partners for their husband- although this rarely happens.
So what’s your view on this?

Fulani Marriage

Beating to earn a wife - Fulani

The Fulani tribes of Nigeria practise what they call Sharo before getting married to a particular maiden in their community. Here the groom is beaten by the older members of the community so as to earn a wife and respect. If the man is not strong enough to bare the pain, the wedding is called off.

Other than flogging, the bride family can pick Koowgal, which is a dowry payment option or the Kabbal, an Islamic ceremony similar to marriage but in the absence of the bride and groom. To our young

men of non Fulani indigens be informed.

The Wodaabe’s wife stealing night dance

The Wodaabe ethnic group can be found in the northern parts of Nigeria, northeastern Cameroon, the western region of Central Africa Republic and southwestern Chad. It’s a subgroup of the Fulani ethnic group.

In their customary festivity, members of the community go dancing at night. There is nothing strange with the dance, but one thing is for sure, the whole night is not all about dancing. In the stillness of the night, men are also allowed to steal women from their tribe. It doesn’t matter if the woman is married or not, the man is allowed to keep her unless the woman refuses or her husband catches the man in the process of stealing the woman.