The beautiful people of Namibia's slums

 

Photos and text by Jacob Holdt

Click on photos for enlargements and stories

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
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
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 butter fat Older Himba woman
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
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
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
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
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 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 see me Himba children with barrel Himba children with cup
Himba mother
and child at fire
My friend comes
to visit me
Himba children
with barrel
Himba children
with cup
My host with the cows Himba village meeting Himba boy carrying child I am helping children to clear ground for their school
My host with
the cows
Himba village
 meeting
Himba boy
carrying child
I help the Himba children
out of the stone age :-)
Himba girl trading with tourists in town Himba woman and child on a drive in my car Himba woman in super market in the big city Himba woman in super market
Himba girl trading with
tourists in town
Himba woman and child
on a drive in my car
Himba woman in super
market in the big city
Himba woman in super market

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