What is your favorite Himba food, and least-favorite?
What food do you most miss from South Africa?
What industrial/Western technology has made it into the Himba, and how has it changed things?
Do you have children, and if so what are their names?
In fact, I don't have any favorite and less favorite Himba food. Food is simple in Himba village. Our main meal is maize porridge made of maize flour and milk. Cattle or goat is slaughter when there are special events such as wedding or puberty ceremonies. Occasionally we have vegetable or eggs whenever these are collected.
I miss ice cream the most.
Because there is no electricity there is rarely any industrial/western technology made in the Himba village, save as modern medicine. Traditionally the Himba depends on herbs medicine but we now increasingly depend on western modern medicine.
Yes, I have gave birth to 5 children, 3 sons and 2 daughter. 4 of them survives and 1 died when it was only a year old.
Thank you for taking the time to answer!
Fascinating about the maize, given that it's a new world food. I've often posed the question "can you ponder Italian food without tomatoes?" because tomatoes are also a new world food that did not exist to the Italians 500 years ago. So I will nose pose this question to you!
Can you imagine the Himba without maize? What is the Himba staple food in this world? What do the historian-equivalents/elders say everyone would eat if not for maize (I guess you must navigate not being condescending when you inform them at maize did not exist in their part of the world 500 years ago, which I'm sure you're good at...)?
> Because there is no electricity there is rarely any industrial/western technology made in the Himba village, save as modern medicine.
Hm. What would happen if someone used a lighter to start a fire?
> Yes, I have gave birth to 5 children, 3 sons and 2 daughter. 4 of them survives and 1 died when it was only a year old.
I'm sorry for your loss. How is everyone reacting to the different appearance of your children? Have they met your parents?
Haha, I really cannot imagine what will be the Himba staple food if it is not maize.
There is from time to time Himba men and women going out to towns and cities or even has work or education in cities of Namibia or South Africa. Therefore, we are not really a closed society and many Himba people do know there are modern things. However, it is a tradition here try not to bring the modernity in the village so as to keep the culture. I would say to some degree living in primitive is our choice.
Don't need to say sorry for my loss, it was gone.
Indeed my children's appearance with other Himba children are not such great. 2 of them have skin colour as dark as others and 2 of them are a bit lighter than the others. May be it is because I am mixed (my grandmother is black).
They have never met my parents.
I am now not in the village.
I regularly go back to South Africa to visit my mother every two to three years.
My family is ok with that and respect my choice. Anyway they did not care much about me since I was very young.
Hi , your lifestyle is so interesting to me so I have many questions for you, if you don't mind taking the time to answer.
* What attracted you to the Himba tribe versus any of the other tribes in South Africa? Would you want to join any other tribes instead?
* you mentioned that men have multiple wives and women can have more than one lover, is that the same for you? Does your husband have multiple wives?
* can you explain more about the red makeup. Is that how other people present themselves or something that you do since you're not black?
* Do you speak the local language? What is it called? Was it hard to learn? What about your children? Do you want them to stay in the tribe or go back to "modern" life?
* Since you have been living there for quite some time, what is the best and worst part of your everyday life?
* what is a smoke bath? Do you actually just surround yourself with smoke? Is there additional bathing in water beyond this?
* what was your wedding like?
* *What attracted you to the Himba tribe versus any of the other tribes in South Africa? Would you want to join any other tribes instead?*
Himba tribe is one of the most isolated and tradition tribes in Southern Africa. Their primitive, simple and natural lifestyle is very attractive to me. As I have a friend who is Himba, I had some understanding with their culture and lifestyle before I join the Himba tribe.
* *you mentioned that men have multiple wives and women can have more than one lover, is that the same for you? Does your husband have multiple wives*
My husband has 4 wives and I am the third. He is 12 years older than me. He is the third son of the headman of the village and his father and brothers all have multiple wives.
I have relationships with a number of other men, but not really a lover.
* *can you explain more about the red makeup. Is that how other people present themselves or something that you do since you're not black?*
The red makeup is made by pounding the red ochre stone into small pieces and then the fragments are mixed with butter. We have to get the cream slightly heated by means of smoke before applying on the skin. We call the red cream "otjize".
All Himba women covered themselves with the red cream. Every morning we spend nearly or over 2 hours in the red makeup and the smoking bath. That is a type of sunblock cream to prevent being hurt by the heat of the hot semi-desert environment. The cream also keeps the moist and makes our skin smooth. It also helps to prevent bites and insects.
* *Do you speak the local language? What is it called? Was it hard to learn? What about your children? Do you want them to stay in the tribe or go back to "modern" life?*
I have learned Herero language in the university. The Himba language is very similar to Herero language but even that it took me some times to learn the Himba language before I can thoroughly communicate with them. It is called otjihimba.
My children have never gone to school. I teach them English and they are able to speak and write some basic English. Needless to say their mother tougue is still otjihimba.
I have no preference on their future but their father prefers them to stay in the tribe.
* *Since you have been living there for quite some time, what is the best and worst part of your everyday life?*
The dry weather and the hygiene problem are the worst part of everyday life. We have no toilet paper, no tampon, no soap and no water to bath. However, that is solely a matter of adaptation.
The best part of everyday life is that life is simple and easy. I don't have to worry anything serious.
* *what is a smoke bath? Do you actually just surround yourself with smoke? Is there additional bathing in water beyond this?*
Himba men bath in river when they go hunting or leading the cattle and goat for pasture. Himba women do not bath and are not allowed to bath in water as water is very valuable. Instead we take a daily smoke bath in order to maintain personal hygiene. We put some charcoal into a little bowl of aromatic herbs and wait for the smoke to ascend. Then we squat over the smoke bowl to allow the aromatic smoke to rise up to clean our genitals and the whole body.
I haven't bath in or clean up my body with water for over 15 years. Even when I am not in the Himba village I am keeping the practice.
* *What was your wedding like?*
It was a traditional wedding ceremony. In the morning the elder women in the village gathered in the hut I was living (I was living with my friend's hut together with her mother and young sisters and brothers at that time). They told what my responsibilities as a wife would be and how to be a good wife. After that I was dressed up with a heavy copper necklace decorated with shell and beads. Then they made my hair and dressed up my head with a leather headdress called ekori which I had to keep wearing for the first month of marriage. All these took a very long time, may be up to 2 to 3 hours.
After being dressed up the women and girls in the village and I began to parade around the village in a snakelike formation.
The mother of my husband joined in and headed the parade. We approached each of the huts and the other villagers asking for blessings.
After the parade I was led to my husband's hut and being handed over to my husband. Then my husband led me to the holy fire for the worship ritual. I crossed the holy line (the line between the Headman's hut and the holy fire) to signify I was admitted into the family and the tribe.
After that all the villagers gathered around and the Ondjongo dance began. Girls twirled round and round one by one in honour of me, the bride.
The singing and dancing continued to the evening until dinner. For dinner a cattle was slaughtered by my husband's family and the meat was shared by all the villagers.
Thank you for your very detailed answers!!
I have a few more follow up questions if you don't mind answering them:
* Do you miss having a water bath after not bathing in water for more than 15 years? I hope this doesn't come across as mean, but how good is smoke for cleaning? I'm assuming everyone is at a fairly good hygiene level but do you notice any smells ? My skin gets very grimey if I don't wash my self regularly, I can't imagine cleaning with smoke. Does your skin ever feel grimey / oily after not washing with water? What do you do during your period?
* Since your husband has multiple wives, how often do you see him? In the Himba culture, other than for procreation, is there additional values attached to marriage? Does he support you financially or emotionally? Do you ever feel jealous of his other wives? What kind of a relationship do you have with his other wives? What is your relationship with some of the men like , since they are not of a sexual nature?
* I don't mean to pry but I want to get a better understanding of what you mean when you refer to preferring a simple life. What were some aspects of "modern" life that bothered you? Was it the pace, the business or maybe the financial aspects? Speaking of, how does money and finance work in your tribe? Does everyone use paper money or do you do a barter?
* What is the general life expectancy like in the village? Given that you guys are in a more isolated community, are there more common diseases/ conditions that show up ? Where do you seek medical help if you need it?Do you feel accepted by your community, given that you're obviously an outsider who learned to speak their language?
As there is not much entertainment, sex becomes one of the main entertainment. Sex is rather casual and loose. Men usually have more than one wives and at the same time it is not uncommon for women to have other lovers.
Indeed, Himba men are good lovers and sex with them are usually great.
How did you find out about reddit without access to much internet? Do you have many old friends you talk to in South Africa?
Edit: now I see your old post from 4 years ago haha
Not really have any connection with old friends in South Africa.
Each time I go back to South Africa I only stay for a week or more and seldom meet or communicate with my old friends.
I would say it is culture and tradition for all Himba boys and girls to have circumcision when they reached puberty. It is sometimes hardly any good reason for following the tradition and culture but that is there.
In fact, the female circumcision in Himba villages only involved tiny cut of the clitoral hood and that do not much harm to the girls.
I think that I am bound to follow the culture and tradition and allow it to be done to my daughter.
I go back to visit my family in South Africa every two to three years in the last 10 years.
It is a matter of adaptation and give and take. One needs not always rely on modern amenities to live a comfortable life, though I agree it is much easier for a living with modern amenities.
Why would you as a white women start interbreeding with the Himba people? Leave them alone. If you look at history that is how native cultures start dying out.
Take South America for example The Spanish colonized South America and interbreeded with the natives. So then the Mayan, Inca, Aztec, Olmec cultures died out and now every Latin American speaks and embraces European Spanish culture INSTEAD of their native culture.
What you are doing as a white women by interbreeding is destroying native African culture and replacing it with European culture. Look at African countries, since Europeans colonized it now they have English and French as a OFFICIAL LANGUAGE. Tell me I'm wrong. Leave the Africans alone you fucking colonizer.
Yes, I have gave birth to 5 children, 4 of them survives and 1 died when it was only a year old.
I always think that technological advances are not really good at all the times and that with further technological advances the relationship between men and the nature become more alienated.
What is your favorite Himba food, and least-favorite? What food do you most miss from South Africa? What industrial/Western technology has made it into the Himba, and how has it changed things? Do you have children, and if so what are their names?
In fact, I don't have any favorite and less favorite Himba food. Food is simple in Himba village. Our main meal is maize porridge made of maize flour and milk. Cattle or goat is slaughter when there are special events such as wedding or puberty ceremonies. Occasionally we have vegetable or eggs whenever these are collected. I miss ice cream the most. Because there is no electricity there is rarely any industrial/western technology made in the Himba village, save as modern medicine. Traditionally the Himba depends on herbs medicine but we now increasingly depend on western modern medicine. Yes, I have gave birth to 5 children, 3 sons and 2 daughter. 4 of them survives and 1 died when it was only a year old.
Thank you for taking the time to answer! Fascinating about the maize, given that it's a new world food. I've often posed the question "can you ponder Italian food without tomatoes?" because tomatoes are also a new world food that did not exist to the Italians 500 years ago. So I will nose pose this question to you! Can you imagine the Himba without maize? What is the Himba staple food in this world? What do the historian-equivalents/elders say everyone would eat if not for maize (I guess you must navigate not being condescending when you inform them at maize did not exist in their part of the world 500 years ago, which I'm sure you're good at...)? > Because there is no electricity there is rarely any industrial/western technology made in the Himba village, save as modern medicine. Hm. What would happen if someone used a lighter to start a fire? > Yes, I have gave birth to 5 children, 3 sons and 2 daughter. 4 of them survives and 1 died when it was only a year old. I'm sorry for your loss. How is everyone reacting to the different appearance of your children? Have they met your parents?
Haha, I really cannot imagine what will be the Himba staple food if it is not maize. There is from time to time Himba men and women going out to towns and cities or even has work or education in cities of Namibia or South Africa. Therefore, we are not really a closed society and many Himba people do know there are modern things. However, it is a tradition here try not to bring the modernity in the village so as to keep the culture. I would say to some degree living in primitive is our choice. Don't need to say sorry for my loss, it was gone. Indeed my children's appearance with other Himba children are not such great. 2 of them have skin colour as dark as others and 2 of them are a bit lighter than the others. May be it is because I am mixed (my grandmother is black). They have never met my parents.
Through what means are you doing the AMA given the lack of electricity? How does your family feel about your home with the Himba tribe?
I am now not in the village. I regularly go back to South Africa to visit my mother every two to three years. My family is ok with that and respect my choice. Anyway they did not care much about me since I was very young.
Does your family from the tribe ever come with you to visit your family in South Africa? I'm happy you found a place where people care about you!
No, my family from the tribe never come with me to visit my family in South Africa.
Hi , your lifestyle is so interesting to me so I have many questions for you, if you don't mind taking the time to answer. * What attracted you to the Himba tribe versus any of the other tribes in South Africa? Would you want to join any other tribes instead? * you mentioned that men have multiple wives and women can have more than one lover, is that the same for you? Does your husband have multiple wives? * can you explain more about the red makeup. Is that how other people present themselves or something that you do since you're not black? * Do you speak the local language? What is it called? Was it hard to learn? What about your children? Do you want them to stay in the tribe or go back to "modern" life? * Since you have been living there for quite some time, what is the best and worst part of your everyday life? * what is a smoke bath? Do you actually just surround yourself with smoke? Is there additional bathing in water beyond this? * what was your wedding like?
* *What attracted you to the Himba tribe versus any of the other tribes in South Africa? Would you want to join any other tribes instead?* Himba tribe is one of the most isolated and tradition tribes in Southern Africa. Their primitive, simple and natural lifestyle is very attractive to me. As I have a friend who is Himba, I had some understanding with their culture and lifestyle before I join the Himba tribe. * *you mentioned that men have multiple wives and women can have more than one lover, is that the same for you? Does your husband have multiple wives* My husband has 4 wives and I am the third. He is 12 years older than me. He is the third son of the headman of the village and his father and brothers all have multiple wives. I have relationships with a number of other men, but not really a lover. * *can you explain more about the red makeup. Is that how other people present themselves or something that you do since you're not black?* The red makeup is made by pounding the red ochre stone into small pieces and then the fragments are mixed with butter. We have to get the cream slightly heated by means of smoke before applying on the skin. We call the red cream "otjize". All Himba women covered themselves with the red cream. Every morning we spend nearly or over 2 hours in the red makeup and the smoking bath. That is a type of sunblock cream to prevent being hurt by the heat of the hot semi-desert environment. The cream also keeps the moist and makes our skin smooth. It also helps to prevent bites and insects. * *Do you speak the local language? What is it called? Was it hard to learn? What about your children? Do you want them to stay in the tribe or go back to "modern" life?* I have learned Herero language in the university. The Himba language is very similar to Herero language but even that it took me some times to learn the Himba language before I can thoroughly communicate with them. It is called otjihimba. My children have never gone to school. I teach them English and they are able to speak and write some basic English. Needless to say their mother tougue is still otjihimba. I have no preference on their future but their father prefers them to stay in the tribe. * *Since you have been living there for quite some time, what is the best and worst part of your everyday life?* The dry weather and the hygiene problem are the worst part of everyday life. We have no toilet paper, no tampon, no soap and no water to bath. However, that is solely a matter of adaptation. The best part of everyday life is that life is simple and easy. I don't have to worry anything serious. * *what is a smoke bath? Do you actually just surround yourself with smoke? Is there additional bathing in water beyond this?* Himba men bath in river when they go hunting or leading the cattle and goat for pasture. Himba women do not bath and are not allowed to bath in water as water is very valuable. Instead we take a daily smoke bath in order to maintain personal hygiene. We put some charcoal into a little bowl of aromatic herbs and wait for the smoke to ascend. Then we squat over the smoke bowl to allow the aromatic smoke to rise up to clean our genitals and the whole body. I haven't bath in or clean up my body with water for over 15 years. Even when I am not in the Himba village I am keeping the practice.
* *What was your wedding like?* It was a traditional wedding ceremony. In the morning the elder women in the village gathered in the hut I was living (I was living with my friend's hut together with her mother and young sisters and brothers at that time). They told what my responsibilities as a wife would be and how to be a good wife. After that I was dressed up with a heavy copper necklace decorated with shell and beads. Then they made my hair and dressed up my head with a leather headdress called ekori which I had to keep wearing for the first month of marriage. All these took a very long time, may be up to 2 to 3 hours. After being dressed up the women and girls in the village and I began to parade around the village in a snakelike formation. The mother of my husband joined in and headed the parade. We approached each of the huts and the other villagers asking for blessings. After the parade I was led to my husband's hut and being handed over to my husband. Then my husband led me to the holy fire for the worship ritual. I crossed the holy line (the line between the Headman's hut and the holy fire) to signify I was admitted into the family and the tribe. After that all the villagers gathered around and the Ondjongo dance began. Girls twirled round and round one by one in honour of me, the bride. The singing and dancing continued to the evening until dinner. For dinner a cattle was slaughtered by my husband's family and the meat was shared by all the villagers.
Thank you for your very detailed answers!! I have a few more follow up questions if you don't mind answering them: * Do you miss having a water bath after not bathing in water for more than 15 years? I hope this doesn't come across as mean, but how good is smoke for cleaning? I'm assuming everyone is at a fairly good hygiene level but do you notice any smells ? My skin gets very grimey if I don't wash my self regularly, I can't imagine cleaning with smoke. Does your skin ever feel grimey / oily after not washing with water? What do you do during your period? * Since your husband has multiple wives, how often do you see him? In the Himba culture, other than for procreation, is there additional values attached to marriage? Does he support you financially or emotionally? Do you ever feel jealous of his other wives? What kind of a relationship do you have with his other wives? What is your relationship with some of the men like , since they are not of a sexual nature? * I don't mean to pry but I want to get a better understanding of what you mean when you refer to preferring a simple life. What were some aspects of "modern" life that bothered you? Was it the pace, the business or maybe the financial aspects? Speaking of, how does money and finance work in your tribe? Does everyone use paper money or do you do a barter? * What is the general life expectancy like in the village? Given that you guys are in a more isolated community, are there more common diseases/ conditions that show up ? Where do you seek medical help if you need it?Do you feel accepted by your community, given that you're obviously an outsider who learned to speak their language?
How is the sex?
As there is not much entertainment, sex becomes one of the main entertainment. Sex is rather casual and loose. Men usually have more than one wives and at the same time it is not uncommon for women to have other lovers. Indeed, Himba men are good lovers and sex with them are usually great.
How did you find out about reddit without access to much internet? Do you have many old friends you talk to in South Africa? Edit: now I see your old post from 4 years ago haha
Not really have any connection with old friends in South Africa. Each time I go back to South Africa I only stay for a week or more and seldom meet or communicate with my old friends.
What are the general reasons for female circumcision in your village? Will you allow it to be done to your children?
I would say it is culture and tradition for all Himba boys and girls to have circumcision when they reached puberty. It is sometimes hardly any good reason for following the tradition and culture but that is there. In fact, the female circumcision in Himba villages only involved tiny cut of the clitoral hood and that do not much harm to the girls. I think that I am bound to follow the culture and tradition and allow it to be done to my daughter.
Huh, that was a good response, thank you.
How often if ever do you leave? Where do you go? Is it hard to go back after have modern amenities?
I go back to visit my family in South Africa every two to three years in the last 10 years. It is a matter of adaptation and give and take. One needs not always rely on modern amenities to live a comfortable life, though I agree it is much easier for a living with modern amenities.
Why would you as a white women start interbreeding with the Himba people? Leave them alone. If you look at history that is how native cultures start dying out. Take South America for example The Spanish colonized South America and interbreeded with the natives. So then the Mayan, Inca, Aztec, Olmec cultures died out and now every Latin American speaks and embraces European Spanish culture INSTEAD of their native culture. What you are doing as a white women by interbreeding is destroying native African culture and replacing it with European culture. Look at African countries, since Europeans colonized it now they have English and French as a OFFICIAL LANGUAGE. Tell me I'm wrong. Leave the Africans alone you fucking colonizer.
lol, racial segregation is better...?
Sometimes yes
you should listen to yourself
So we should colonize and possibly wipe out with disease untouched tribes in South America and the pacific?
that's not what colonising is. The world isn't all about race.
So topless. You have any kids? Living outside the loop, do you get any future chocks regarding the changes in society / technology / etc?
Yes, I have gave birth to 5 children, 4 of them survives and 1 died when it was only a year old. I always think that technological advances are not really good at all the times and that with further technological advances the relationship between men and the nature become more alienated.
how many of them did you have sex with? you... know... for research
More than one, as you can imagine.
such a savage, such thorough researcher. Good work.