Home of the Himba.
Trip Start
Sep 21, 2006
1
101
Trip End
Ongoing
Outjo, Namibia
Sunday, November 22, 2009
They're now established into northwestern Namibia, in a very inhospitable and hard to reach area, where they can live according to their ancestral traditions, in peace.
One of the things that makes them unique is the natural make up that women cover their entire body with. It's made of a mixture of soil, animal fat and herbs and has a thick and greasy feel to it.
As water is scarce, no water is ever used in the body cleaning process. The women burn a different mixture of hay, natural herbs and animal fat. It then produces a thick smoke. They litteraly stay right on top of the smoking mixture, holding a blanket over themselves to try and capture as much smoke as they can. Eventually their body temperature raises and when they start sweating, they consider themselves clean.
This being said, I feel compelled to say that men, an the other hand, can use water as much as they need. Apparently the water problem doesn't affect both genders equally...
Andre.
Comments
Wow... that sounds so unfair... I hope the women at least get to drink as much water as they like...
Louise