Rather than adopting the modern amenities of living, they would want to live according to the customs of their ancient predecessors. Few of them are eager to relocate from their home country to the city.
These people inhabit the northern desert region of the country. Contrary to popular belief, they do not truly lead a nomadic lifestyle. Their best description would be that of semi-nomadic people. Their traditional dwellings are modestly furnished. Thin wood trunks are used to construct a tall, cone-shaped tower. The structure is then covered with a combination of mud and manure. Once this coating is applied, the house is ready for your move-in.
As a rite of passage, males are traditionally circumcised before puberty. Once a boy marries, the tribe considers him a man, with all the responsibilities and rights that go along with that position.
No Himba goes without food. Their goats and cows provide them with plenty of fresh and fermented milk. The staple diets of the Himba consist of cottage cheese, sour cream, butter, and cheese.
If there is arable land nearby, they grow millet and maize. They eat whatever they can get their hands on, such as wild bird eggs, edible plants, and roots. They gather the mopane tree’s caterpillar larvae, which are incredibly nutrient-dense and over 50% protein.
Himba women would want to bathe, but water is quite valuable in their environment. Historically, only men were allowed to wash in the water. Still, the ladies have found a different route.
Women employ smoldering herb smoke in a customary cleaning ritual. They then cover their skin with an ochre mixture (an aromatic material derived from Commiphora plants) and animal fat. By cleaning their skin and protecting it from harmful environmental factors, this keeps their skin looking fresh well into old age.
This is a ritual that is occasionally carried out twice a day, particularly by young women. Contrary to popular belief, they are not filthy.
Due to their exquisite hairstyles and smooth, reddish-brown skin, Himba ladies were considered among the most beautiful women in the world when Europeans first met them.
