Authentic & colorful tribes
For years they were cut off from the outside world by the Portuguese and then by the civil war. To this day, dozens of authentic tribes in southwestern Angola have been able to safeguard centuries-old traditions and customs.
The Muila live in the lubango area and are recognizable by the beautiful clay hairstyles and exuberantly colourful beaded toes. An unforgettable experience is attending a fico,a traditional 'rite de passsage' that forms the transition from girl to woman. In addition to the Muila, thousands of Khoisan, descendants of the Bushmen , also live in this special region.
Further south, near the border of Namibia and the Cunener river, meet the Himba's. Dressed in goat leather skirts and adorned with a wide-fanned head of hair, they smear themselves with otjize, a mixture of goat fat, herbs and ochre. Meet the Hakaona,recognizable by a heavy bun on the forehead, who live on livestock farming and recognize unmarried Dimbagirls on the turf symbolizing virginity.
The southwestern part of Angola is also home to the Nguedelengo, which is distinguished by geisha-like hairstyles, and the nomadic Cubal,where women wrap a rope around the breastpart. Colourful tribes with their own identity, Where the world can't find you...
