Himba Village | Northern Namibia
The Himba are an indigenous people that live predominately in northern Namibia, with a small proportion also residing in southern Angola. The Himba are considered the last semi-nomadic people group in Namibia. Himba women have some of the most remarkable hair you'll ever see! They use a paste called otjize to keep the their braided headdresses in place. Otjize is a mixture of fat and a natural red pigment that is also used on the skin, giving their skin the red tinge they are well known for. The otjize helps to repel mosquitoes, protect skin from the Namibian sun, and is usually scented to act as a perfume as well.
We were fortunate to spend a few hours in the village learning about some of their cultural practices, their religious belief in one god and ancestral worship, and the tribal structure by which they organize their communities. Given how far behind I am in updating posts at this point in time, I'll say more with pictures than words.
Check out these beautiful faces below:
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/11/world/africa/himba-namibia-inside-africa/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2607647/Incredible-photos-reveal-elaborate-hairdos-Himba-tribe-created-using-goat-hair-MUD.html