African Tribes: The Himba


Figure 1.-- The Himba people of Namibia are related to Herero herders and they speak the Herero language. They reserve their custom, including their traditional clothing. Some modern clothing have reached their villages. Notice their arid environment.

The Himba are nomadic pastoralists who live in the Kaokoland area of northwestern Namibia. The Himba are related to Herero herders and they still speak the Herero language. The Germans who colonized Southwest Africa (modern Nanibia) drove the Herero and Himba who supported them into the inhospitable, remote scrubland of the northwest after supressing their uprising -- the Herero War (1904). Many of the Herero perished as a result. They were displaced by the more compliant Nama. Some of the Himba managed to survive to survive even in the harsh arid savana, almost desert-like conditions. Notice the arid conditions in the image here (figure 1). The Himba herd sheep, goats, and some cattle. They move location several times each year as the livestock quickly deplete the poorr grazing land. Their houses are cone-shaped dwelings built from the brush available and covered with mud and livestock dung. The Himba have clung to their traditions into the modern era. The Himba women are noted for their intricate hairstyles and traditional jewellery. The Himba are technoloically primitive, never mastering weaving. Traditionally men and woman wear few clothes apart from a loin cloth or goat skinned skirt, although now one sees some Western clothing. They use red ochre and fat to protect themselves from the sun. This gives their bodies a red color.

Culture

The Himba are nomadic pastoralists who live in the Kaokoland area of northwestern Namibia. There are African tribes who respect and follow the traditions of their ancestors. Some are well known, including the Maasai tribe (Kenya), the Pygmies (Congo), several tribes (the Dogon Valley in Mali), and many others. The Himba are one of these tribes.

History

The first known settlements of who are now the Himba people were noted when they moved south, crossing what is now the Angolan border (16th century). They settled Kaokoland (modern Namibian Kunene region). They were not yet the Himb as they were part of the Herero people. nomadic hearders. Southwest Africa in the late-19th century was being colonized by the Germans. Southwest Africa was suffering from a bovine epidemic killing heir cattle. The Hinba/Herero people faced disaster. It is at this time the tribe split. Some stayed put and became the Himba people. Others movd further south into better watered areas in which the epidemic was less pronounced. These prople became the Herero. Separate identities developed, but the both spoke the Herero language, Himba in the Otjiherero language means beggar. It probably reflects the narginal land in which they lived and the fact that other tribes living in more ferile areaswere more afluent. The Germans who colonized Southwest Africa (modern Nanibia) drove the Herero and Himba who supported them into the inhospitable, remote scrubland of the northwest after supressing their uprising -- the Herero War (1904). Many of the Herero perished as a result. Water holes were guarded by the Germans and Herero shot who tried to get water. They were displaced by the more compliant Nama. Some managed to survive with the Himba people in the harsh arid savana, almost desert-like conditions. Notice the arid conditions in the image here (figure 1).

Economy

The Himba herd sheep, goats, and some cattle. The smaller animals dominate because the marginal arid scrubland does not support cattle very well. They move location several times each year as the livestock quickly deplete the poor grazing land. Their houses are cone-shaped dwelings built from the brush available and covered with mud and livestock dung. The Himba have clung to their traditions into the modern era. They have attracted tourust interest. The Himba women are noted for their intricate hairstyles and traditional jewelery. The jewellery is made from iron or shell. The intricate designs are popular with western tourists. Traditional Himba homesteads are cone shaped structures made from palm leaves, mud and cattle dung. Drought and war struck Namibia (1980s). For a time the economy and very existence of the Himba people was threatened. Thy reportedly lost 90 percent of their livestock. But the Himba survived.

Clothing

The Himba are technoloically primitive, never mastering weaving. Traditionally men and woman wear few clothes apart from a loin cloth or goat skinned skirt, although now one sees some Western clothing. They use red ochre and fat to protect themselves from the sun. This gives their bodies a red color. The boys here have a red tinge. More fashion concious women might be bright red.








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Created: 7:22 PM 6/18/2011
Last updated: 8:16 AM 9/13/2017