The Himba people
The Himba live in Northern Namibia. They predominantly breed cattle and goats and lead a nomadic life. Clothes, hairstyle and jewelry are all of particular significance to the Himba. They traditionally
cover their bodies from head to foot with butterfat tinted with ochre to protect their skin from the severe sun and desert climate. They were extremely hospitable to me, but unfortunately my stay with them was cut short by the
September 11 events in New York - just when I was starting to reach a deeper intimacy with them.
Mother playing with
daughter all evening
Motherly love
My hostess reach for
dried corn on the roof
Two Himba
women chatting
Himba girl writing
Himba woman
milking cow
Himba woman
catching kids
My wonderful
hostess
Woman living next
to my hostess
Woman chatting
with neighbor
Boy covered
with butterfat
Older Himba
woman
Woman chasing goats
out in the morning
Young women grinding
maize in evening sun
Early morning
breakfast
Neighbor visits
my hostess' son
Early morning flirting
and milking of cows
Himba boy fetching
water on a donkey
Buried on
September 11th
My hostess with
her youngest child
Woman in sunset
Himba girl
in the fields
Mother and child
Young woman
My hostess
grinding corn
Woman grinding
flower at sunrise
Upstairs
downstairs
Himba woman
making jewelry
Himba family
cooking supper
Two neighbors
grinding flower
Non-Himba girl
visits our village
Milking cows
at night
Himba mother
and child at fire
My friend comes
to visit me
Himba children
with barrel
Himba children
with cup
Ihelp the Himba out of the stone age :-)
My host with
the cows
Himba village
meeting
Himba boy
carrying child
The Herero people
Hereros used to be as naked as the Himba whom they are closely related to.
However, European missionaries were appalled by nudity and forced them to wear long, flowing Victorian gowns with multiple layers of petticoats made from over 12 m of material. The Hereros internalized this oppression and
today wear the dress with pride - though they admit that it is too hot. They also seem to have internalized the inhospitality of the Germans. At least I didn't find them as friendly as the Himba.
