Nomadic Tribe

These people are characterized by a bilateral lineage where each Himba belongs to two clans at the same time. This way, they can rely on two families if ever in need. Polygamy is permitted and a man can marry more than one woman as long as all the spouses agree.

The Himba are animists, meaning they believe that objects, places and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence. To them, fire is sacred and must be kept lit at all times to protect the inhabitants from demons. You’ll also find that this remote society believes in witchcraft, omiti and the dark powers of “black magic”.

The Himba follow many different traditions. The most noticeable is how the women cover their bodies and hair in a mixture of butter and red soil, and develop intricate hairstyles to indicate their age and social status.

The Himba count their years from the day that the child was a first thought in his mother’s mind.  
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Himba women are not allowed to use water for washing. According to the elderly this dates back to the great droughts where water was scarce. They do take a daily smoke bath in order to maintain personal hygiene. 

As descendants of the Herero, a Bantu group who arrived in Namibia in the middle of the 16th century, the Himba speak a dialect of the Herero language, called Otjihimba.

Jewellery is the most common art form among the Himba. Adorned with traditional jewels, both men and women wear a large number of necklaces, leg bracelets and arm bracelets.

The Himba people commemorate every time a member of the community passes away. After their death, the body is buried in a plain hole in the ground and their funeral is followed by the slaughter of cattle and various celebrations.