Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
central lateau. Until the colonial period, they remained as seminomadic pastoralists in this
relatively rich grassland, herding and grazing cattle and sheep.
However, bloody clashes with the northwards migrating Nama, as well as with German
colonial troops and settlers, led to a violent uprising in the late 19th century, which cul-
minated in the devastating Battle of Waterberg in August 1904. In the aftermath, 80% of
the country's Herero population was wiped out, and the remainder were dispersed around
the country, terrified and demoralised. Large numbers fled into neighbouring Botswana,
where they settled down to a life of subsistence agriculture (although they have since
prospered to become the country's richest herders).
The characteristic Herero women's dress is derived from Victorian-era German mis-
sionaries. It consists of an enormous crinoline worn over a series of petticoats, with a
horn-shaped hat or headdress. If you happen to be in Okahandja on the nearest weekend to
23 August, you can witness the gathering of thousands of Hereros immaculately turned
out in their traditional dress who come to honour their fallen chiefs on Maherero Day.
The Himba, a tribal group numbering not more than 50,000 people, are a seminomadic
pastoral people that are closely related to the Herero, yet continue to live much as they
have for generations on end. The women in particular are famous for smearing themselves
with a fragrant mixture of ochre, butter and bush herbs, which dyes their skin a burnt or-
ange hue, and serves as a natural sunblock and insect repellent. As if this wasn't striking
enough, they also use the mixture to cover their braided hair, which has an effect similar
to dreadlocking. Instead of wearing Western clothes, they prefer to dress traditionally,
bare-breasted, with little more than a pleated animal-skin skirt in the way of clothing.
Similar to the Masai of Kenya and Tanzania, the Himba breed and care for herds of
cattle in addition to goats and sheep. Unlike the East African savannah, Himba homelands
are among the most extreme environments in the world, and their survival is ultimately
dependent on maintaining strong community alliances. It was this very climactic harsh-
ness and resulting seclusion from outside influences that enabled the Himba to maintain
their cultural heritage over the centuries.
During the 1980s and early 1990s, the Himba were severely threatened by war and
drought, though they have experienced a tremendous resurgence in past years. At present,
the population as a whole has succeeded in gaining control of their homelands, and in ex-
erting real political power on the national stage.
