The Himba People

The morning after Swapokmund, we stopped in a Himba village located between Uis and Etosha National Park. The Himba are a traditional people that cover their skin and hair with reddish mud to protect from sun and as ornamentation. Their clothing is very minimal, but their appearance speaks volumes about their life situation. The pre-pubescent children wear their hair braided forwards until they hit puberty, when their hair is braided backwards. Their jewelry is also indicative of how many kids they have, whether they are married, and whether their mother/father is alive. It was an interesting, if not an entirely authentic, cultural experience.