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The Himba People (Namibia) - 2004
The Himba People (Namibia) - 2004
Jacek Pałkiewicz2006-06-25 14:17:39
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more and more tourists are keen to visit the Himba. That is not to say that the Himba are a relic of the past, no tribe on earth lives in a time capsule. But rather, they have held on to their traditions and adapted to outside influences in their own way. The Himba are a strong, self-sufficient people living in Namibia's dry Kaokaland. But how are they coping in the 90's?
Back to the Future
The Himba are a strong, self-sufficient people living in Namibia's dry Kaokaland. But how are they coping with life in the '90's? The Himba see time as a river flowing by. The future lies behind them, as yet unseen, while the past lies ahead, in full view. The experience gained as the river flows by becomes part of the present, retaining traditional values and ethics, cautioning against repetition of the mistakes of the past.
The popular perception that the Himba are the most "traditional" of Namibia's people relates to their adherence to a socio-economy that predates the cash economy. Not as widely acknowledged is that economically the Himba are the most self-sufficient and independent of all Namibia's indigenous rural people. Throughout their history they have shown an extraordinary ability to adapt to change, responding with creativity and resourcefulness to adversity as well as new opportunities, including the incursion of Western technology and materialism.
The Himba are a tall, slender people with smooth and finely chiselled features, possessed of a proud bearing and an innate dignity. The women are noted for their unusual beauty, intricate hairstyles and intriguing array of body adornments. To protect their skin against the harsh desert climate, they anoint themselves with a mixture of red ochre, butterfat and aromatic herbs and barks. Older Himba males wear calfskin aprons and head coverings and a variety of body ornaments made from leather, metal buttons and beaten wire beads. They are rarely seen without
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See photographs from:
Namibia Gallery
