The Himba people

In the Kaokofeld, in the north-west of Namibia, the Himba people are living as semi-nomadic pastors. This group seperated from the Herero people more than 200 years ago. The Himba are living in the very rocky, hilly and dry area of Kaokofeld that prevents from too much contact and exchange with the modern world. They keep the same life and traditional culture like two centuries ago. To survive, they plant a little bit of mais and keep cattle and goats that provide them with milk and meat. They are living in families in small villages and move away as soon as the area gets to dry for their lifestock.

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The appearence of himba men and women is very interesting: the haircut, the jewellery and the clothes - everything has a special meaning. For example, the young men are wearing a plait that goes backwards. As soon as they can marry, they have to cover this plait with a special "plait hat".
The young girls are wearing two plaits that go forwards. When they become a woman, they have to wear plenty of plaits like their mother. They also have to coat their body with a cream mixture made of fat (from their goats or cattle), red stone powder and herbs. This gives the himba women a red appearence that is their particularity.
We have been often to the land of the Himba and everytime it is a very nice moment to share the time with these lovely people.