Faces of Namibia - # - Rosemary Walden's Photos

The OvaHimba are a group of pastoralists who live in the Kunene region of Namibia. Their lifestyle has changed little for centuries and for the most-part they cling to their traditional way of life. The women are noted for the beautiful handmade jewellery they wear and, of course, the scant leather clothing and the otjize, a mixture of butter fat and ochre which is applied to their skin giving it a characteristic red glow.

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Rosemary Walden > Headman

The man pictured here is the headman of the small OvaHimba village we visited. The men are quite plainly dressed in comparison to the highly decorative style of the women. You can see that he is married as his hair is covered by a type of turban; this is only removed at times of mourning. The brass spoon-like item is multi functional; it is used as adornment, as a ‘sweat-scraper’ and as a snuff spoon.
The headman (usually the oldest male in the village), of the clan, sits by the sacred fire during the day and talks to the ancestors about problems facing the family. He is responsible for residence, religious aspects of life embodied by the sacred fire and ensuring that the rules of tradition and the specific rules of the clan are obeyed. His authority is identified by an erenge bracelet. He oversees births, marriages and coming of age ceremonies. He performs the various ceremonies at the sacred fire, involving the spirits of the ancestors in the daily life of the village. He is also responsible for the rules of the tribe. If a crime is committed or a property dispute arises, he will be called to give judgement. If his judgement is not accepted, a number of headmen will meet to discuss the matter.

Rosemary Walden > Mother and Child

Visiting the Ovahimba people was both a delight and a priviledge, I have rarely met such warm and open-hearted people.
This lady is the headman's first wife (the marriage was arranged by his parents) and here she is pictured with her small child. Her eldest daughter has a child of her own and is visiting the family from Angola where she now lives. The mother has no idea how old the baby is, or indeed, how old she herself is, the OvaHimba mark the passing of time by the seasons not the calendar.

Babies are born outside the fence which encloses the village. The expectant mother will be helped by other women and after the birth they escort her and the new born infant back into the village to a shelter of Mopane wood branches which is built at the side of the main hut. This is a special area where mother and child will remain for a week. It is believed that here they will enjoy special protection by the spirits.
The child is then introduced to the ancestral spirits round the sacred fire by the headman. The child may receive several names from both the maternal and paternal lines and is introduced to the rest of the village. The Himba keeps no formal written records and this is a way of making sure information about the birth of the child is remembered.

Rosemary Walden > Headman 2

The man pictured here is the headman of the small OvaHimba village we visited. The men are quite plainly dressed in comparison to the highly decorative style of the women. You can see that he is married as his hair is covered by a type of turban; this is only removed at times of mourning. The brass spoon-like item is multi functional; it is used as adornment, as a ‘sweat-scraper’ and as a snuff spoon.
The headman (usually the oldest male in the village), of the clan, sits by the sacred fire during the day and talks to the ancestors about problems facing the family. He is responsible for residence, religious aspects of life embodied by the sacred fire and ensuring that the rules of tradition and the specific rules of the clan are obeyed. His authority is identified by an erenge bracelet. He oversees births, marriages and coming of age ceremonies. He performs the various ceremonies at the sacred fire, involving the spirits of the ancestors in the daily life of the village. He is also responsible for the rules of the tribe. If a crime is committed or a property dispute arises, he will be called to give judgement. If his judgement is not accepted, a number of headmen will meet to discuss the matter.

Rosemary Walden > The Girl with the Almond Shaped Eyes

Driving along the Kunene River towards Epupa we stopped to 'chat' to this young woman. She was sat under a shady tree with her friend and two small children. She was gracious enough to let me take a photograph of her, perhaps not the greatest portrait with uneven, dappled light and shadows under her nose and mouth. I like her eyes though, they are such a pretty shape.

Rosemary Walden > OvaHimba Woman

This lady was walking along the road which leads from Ruacana to the Angolan border. Dressed in traditional clothes and carrying all her possessions in a large piece of cloth, she looked healthy, strong and proud.

Rosemary Walden > Himba Beauty

This young woman had come from across the Kunene river in Angola, where she now lives, to visit her Namibian family. Probably unused to being in the company of strangers she was quire demure and a little reserved.

For all Himba women the day starts when they cover themselves completely with a mixture of ground red rock called ochre and butter fat. This gives them their characteristic deep red colour. The mixture is not only smeared on to their skin and hair but also their clothes and jewellery. As a result of this they have the most beautiful skin. Himba women are fiercely proud of their traditional dress and it is mainly through them that many of the traditions have and will survive.
A lot of time is spent making sure clothes and jewellery is perfect and plaiting the hair can take up to 5 or 6 hours. They sleep on a neck rest to make sure that all the work in not spoiled in the night.
They adorn themselves with intricate necklaces, collars and anklets made of metal, beads and shells. Their short skirts made of the softest goats skin add to the striking appearance

Rosemary Walden > Adorned

The Himba child pictured here is probably around two tears old and a female. Much like The English dress girls in pink and boys in blue, the Himba mothers dress their babies according to sex. This little girl has her head shaved in a specific pattern that paves the way for the two, forward-facing, horn-like plaits that she will wear when her hair grows and before she is married. Boys have their hair shaved in a different pattern. Jewellery is significant in Himba society, each piece telling something about the wearer and is worn by both sexes. From birth babies wear beaded anklets and necklaces. Girl children who are 'betrothed' will wear different necklaces to those not yet promised. Women who have given birth wear articles to denote their status as mothers. A fascinating culture!

Rosemary Walden > Mother and Child 2

A universal theme - mother and child. I apologise for the quality, it was taken in a small mud hut with very low ambient light and no tripod. I prefer not to use flash in situations like this as it deadens the atmosphere. I softened the focus a touch in PP and here I think it suits the subject (or perhaps it is a little too romanticised?) What I do like is the light and that is why I chose to post the image.

Rosemary Walden > Free-wheeling

Watching these OvaHimba women walking from Ruacana towards the Kunene River and Angola was, for me, a wistful experience. We were travelling with a 4X4 packed to overflowing, they were travelling with all their worldly goods tied up in a blanket. We stopped and 'chatted' (for chatted read a mixture of pointing, hand-signals and Afrikaans). The ladies showed me the contents of their luggage. Skin preparations for the all important daily ablutions, special sticks for teeth cleaning, headdresses and jewellery, cooking utensils (dried gourds) etc. They were cheerful and delighted with the oranges and apples I gave them. We were travelling back to our lodge for supper and sleep. I wonder where they were walking to with such purpose and haste. The sun was setting in the sky and they were free-wheeling towards it.

Rosemary Walden > Share Your Pride

Khorixas is a small town, once the administrative capital of Damaraland, but today little more than a quick refuelling stop on the Etosha to Swakopmund road. Heat and dust, poverty and hopelessness are the words, that to me, best describe it. As in many small towns in Namibia development seems to have passed it by. Young and old alike sit around looking dejected. For many the boredom, lack of employment and marginalisation is briefly forgotten through the magical elixir alcohol.

Headman

The man pictured here is the headman of the small OvaHimba village we visited. The men are quite plainly dressed in comparison to the highly decorative style of the women. You can see that he is married as his hair is covered by a type of turban; this is only removed at times of mourning. The brass spoon-like item is multi functional; it is used as adornment, as a ‘sweat-scraper’ and as a snuff spoon.
The headman (usually the oldest male in the village), of the clan, sits by the sacred fire during the day and talks to the ancestors about problems facing the family. He is responsible for residence, religious aspects of life embodied by the sacred fire and ensuring that the rules of tradition and the specific rules of the clan are obeyed. His authority is identified by an erenge bracelet. He oversees births, marriages and coming of age ceremonies. He performs the various ceremonies at the sacred fire, involving the spirits of the ancestors in the daily life of the village. He is also responsible for the rules of the tribe. If a crime is committed or a property dispute arises, he will be called to give judgement. If his judgement is not accepted, a number of headmen will meet to discuss the matter.