The Himba people who live in the Kunene region of Namibia are a unique set of humans whose culture has a twist that most of people will frown upon.
The Himba tribe often called the Ovahimba are indigenous people with an estimated population of about 20,000 to 50,000 in northern Namibia.
The tribe over the years have defiled western influence, they have work hard to ensure that their beliefs and culture are not contaminated in any form by outsiders.
Sex for the Himbia tribe, is offered as a show of warm welcome and hospitality.
The men of the Himba Tribe have several women and as a courtesy will sometimes make a wife available to visiting guests, so she can provide sexual pleasure. This is called the Okujepisa Omukazendu treatment.
, “When a visitor comes knocking, a man shows his approval and pleasure of seeing his guest by giving him the Okujepisa Omukazendu treatment — the wife is given to his guest to spend the night while the husband sleeps in another room. In a case where there is no available room, her husband will sleep outside.”
This, apparently, reduces jealousy and fosters relationships.
Another tradition that has stood the test of time is the “bathing is forbidden” rule.
Rather than take their baths, the women take a smoke bath and apply aromatic resins on their skin.
A shouldering charcoal is dropped into a bowl filled with herbs and the smoke is allowed to ascend and the people bow over this smoking bowl and because of heat, the body perspires and helps in washing the body.
They are also guided by the belief that the colour red signifies “Earth and blood”. Their red skin is one of the things that make them extremely unique. The red colour is from the otjize paste (a combination of butterfat, omuzumba scrub and ochre) and its function is to protect their skin from the harsh desert sun and insect bites.
Their lack of bath routine doesn’t mean that they look less pretty. When you find them on their traditional attire, they look great while some have their bodies exposed like the women.
The Himba people live in one of the most extreme environments; the harsh desert climate and the lack of potable water are the reasons why this tribe have difficulty getting a bath.
As if these are not enough, the tribe lives in isolation and is wary of external contacts.
The Himba people are predominately livestock breeders and farmers while their women are preoccupied with gathering firewood, cooking and serving meals and sourcing for freshwater.
Some of the villagers are socially inclined and very religious, reversing and worshiping their ancient gods.
Polygamy is welcome and young girls are married off at their early ages.
Credit: Google
