Himbas in Kaokaland
The Himba (also called Ovahimba) live in the northwest of Namibia, in Kaokaland. The Himba are a semi-nomadic population that mainly live off their livestock. In the dry and inhospitable Kaokaland they manage to survive impressively. They live mostly as they used to. They travel through the country with their goats and cows and live in small settlements. Round huts made of branches and earth.
Striking appearance
The Himba stand out mainly because of their special appearance. The Himba women smear their bodies with a mixture of goat fat and ochre, giving them a typical red color. The hairs, the method of carrying which is adapted to the age, are also lubricated. Young girls wear their hair in two braids over their foreheads. Another striking feature of the Himba are the jewelry, mainly made of shells, leather and copper. The women wear a shell, the ohumba, on a chain around their necks. Both the men and the women wear only a few garments, made of animal skin.
