The Himba Tribe

The first settlements of the Himba people can be traced back to the early 16th century when they crossed the Angolan border and chose Kaokoland (nowadays called Kunene region) as their new homeland. At that time, the word Himba did not exist because they had not yet separated themselves from the Herero tribe.
At the end of the 19th century, Namibia was plagued by a relentless bovine epidemic. Most of the cattle that the Herero depended on perished, and the tribe faced a great crisis. Subsequently, the tribe moved south and started to explore different regions to enhance their chances of survival. Still, some members decided to stay and rather struggle for survival in familiar territories. Then and there, the schism between the two tribes became a reality, and the Himba identity came into being.

Episode Transcript

(00:03):
They are from the second largest andsecond most populous continent seven point sixteen trillion
dollars in measurable wealth, one billionpeople, over three thousand tribes, fifty
four sovereign states, one people.This is dear story. These are the

(00:33):
tribes of Africa la the Himbur tribe. The first settlements of the Himber people

(01:17):
can be traced back to the earlysixteenth century, when they crossed the and
Golan Bader and chose kau Ko landnowadays called Canadian Region as the new homeland.
At that time, the word Himberdid not exist because they had not
yet separated themselves from the Hirero tribe. At the end of the nineteenth century,

(01:37):
Namibia was plagued by relentless both inepidemic. Most of the cattle that
the Hirero depended on perished, andthe tribe faced a great crisis. Subsequently,
the tribe moved south and started toexplore different regions to enhance the chances
of survival. Still, some membersdecided to stay and rather struggle for survival
in familiar territories. Then and thenthe shooting between two tribes became a reality,

(02:01):
and the Himba identity came into beingfreely translated from the Ojiherero language,
the word Himba means beggar. Whydid they inherit the somewhat derograty name.
Well After the chism, many ofthose remained roamed the vast Coco land in
search of cattle and crops, askingfellow or other tribe members for help.

(02:24):
The red Archer cream that the himbera famous voice made by pounding the archer
stone hematite into small pieces. Afterthat, the fragments are mixed with butter,
slightly hidden using smoke, and appliedon the skin. After many conversations
with the elders of the tribe,it is concluded that the main reason for
the red Archer is to establish adifference between men and women. Moreover,

(02:49):
the red layer seems to help againsta scotch and sun ragation while keeping the
skin clean and moist, and tosome accent, it block's hair growth on
the body. Until of the woman'shead and the picture you'll find the Himber
crown near Rymbi. This crown ismade of cow or gold's leather and is
placed on the head when the girlbridges poverty. The red Archer, however,

(03:12):
is applied with the girls old enoughto look after themselves hygienically. The
tribesmen do not apply this on theirskin. The Himba people stick to porridge
every morning and evening the heat somewater, wait until it boils and put
some fly in it, maybe atomoil and food is served the flies,
mostly from maize, but from timeto time might find some mahungu flower as

(03:37):
well. Mahungu is another name forpale minute. It is a prevailing crop
in Namibia since it performs well insoils with low fertility. On real occasions,
such as weddings, the Himba doeat meat, but this is more
an exception than a rule. Himbasare animists and the supreme bean is called
mukuru. They weigh the communicate withtheir gardens through the holy fire. The

(04:00):
smoke of the holy fire rises toits heaven, which enables them to communicate
to the ancestors, who stand indirect contact with the supreme pain. In
every village you will find the holyfire small, droning while next or had
some lots of wood and put ina sacred stone to feed the fire when
needed. You are not allowed tocross the holy line if you are an
outsider or you have not been invitedinto the village. The holy line starts

(04:25):
from the main entrance of the cheeseHeart and goes straight, passing the holy
fire to the entrance of the cattleenclosure. One of the most remarkable Himber
traits is that women are not allowedto use water for washing. This implies
themselves and also your clothes. Again, according to the elderly, the dates
back to the great droughts where waterwas scarce, and only men will allowed

(04:47):
access to water for washing purposes.Apart from apply and redd or chair and
your skin. Himber women do takea daily smoke bad to maintain personal hygiene.
They will put some small ch calledinto a little bowl of herbs,
mostly leaves and little branches of comebefore our trees, and wait for the
smoke to ascend. After that theywould bow over the smoking bowl, and

(05:10):
due to the heat there was darkerspurring for a full body wash. They
covered themselves with a blanket so thatthe smoke gets trapped underneath the fabric.