• Uleanu Adina Marilena

• Cls a-IX-a A

African tribes

One of the African tribes that this website focuses on in the Himba tribe which comes from the north Namibia area in Africa, in the arid Kunene province (formerly called Kaokoland) of the Namib Desert.

Similar to many African tribes living in arid environments, the Himba people are primarily pastoralists, breeding animals such as goats and cattle.

The Himba are nomads, and speak a

tongue called Dhimba and are related to

the Herero African tribe

Perhaps surprisingly, the Himba people are thought to have arrived rather recently in southwestern Africa, as

they speak a language in the Bantu linguistic family of

African tribes which has its geographic center (and

probably its origin) in central Africa.

• The incredible thing about the Himba tribe, is the appearance of the Himba women; they change the color of their skin to a reddish-brown color by using a red-colored ointment that is made from butter, ash, red ochre and herbs

• This ointment is said to protect the Himba women from the intense desert sun, but its primary function is esthetic as the women believe this makes them more attractive.

• Some say that the brownish color that the ointment produces represents the earth while the reddish tinge symbolizes blood.

• This same earthy ointment is applied to their braided hair, making Himba women some of the most exotic women of all the African tribes. Similar to many African tribes, Himba woman perform the least desirable chores, many of which are very laborious such as building homes, hauling firewood, milking animals, tending livestock, and taking care of young children. Himba women often have to share their husband with others, as theirs is a polygamous society which is a common pattern among numerous African tribes.

• Probably the most unique aspect of Himba society is their “bilateral descent” kinship system. Normally all cultures are either matrilineal (tracing ones lineage and inheritance from the mother) or patrilineal (descending from the father). The Himba are unique among almost all other African tribes in that they practice bilateral descent and this has been interpreted as an adaptation to the inhospitable desert environment in which they live. During difficult times, a member of the Himba tribe can rely upon an extended family for support.

• Interestingly, most of the more ancient African tribes practice pastoralism and live in the more arid or desert lands.

• The explanation of why African natives inhabiting desert lands have been able to remain traditional is because their territory is not that valuable and consequently, less likely to be desired and confiscated by outsiders and agriculturalists who seek more productive soils.

•THE END