The blue planet is rich in diversity not only about animals or plants but also due to the culture followed in different parts of the world. Having such variations, there are multiple tribes and groups of people that have some unique customs and traditions to fascinate you. Himba women take baths only once
One such tribe is the Himba. The major point of concern is that the women from this tribe take bath only once a year and stay unbathed throughout their lives. In this article, we would learn some interesting facts about this tribe.
About the Himba women.
Himba is a famous tribe lying in Namibia. It is a beautiful country sitting in the southern part of Africa. Being the glorious place to reside, the country has certain breathtaking sites and landscapes to captivate you. There are many mountains, fish ponds (mainly the Canyon), some golden grass plain areas located at the Kalahari. The wildlife in the region is another factor to attracts you to this place. Apart from all such tourist destinations of Namibia, the main point of charm is the people residing there i.e, the Himbas. Some of the characteristics of the women belonging to this tribe are as follows:
- These women follow the tradition of not taking baths throughout their lives. The exception is only when these women do get married.
- This peculiar custom of the Himba tribe has carried them to the limelight on international terms. It is not just the custom of not taking bath but also their clothes, way of living, and economic conditions that make them different from other tribes living in different regions of the world.
- The people of this tribe are also known as the Omuhimba or Ovahimba individuals. This designation is specifically for the ones living in the northern area of Namibia in the Kunene region.
What about the body’s health?
Apart from the people thinking the tradition is unique, there are many gossiping about the health of Himbas. To take care of their health, the Himbas do make use of a special type of lotion that keeps them germ-free. Moreover, these people are considered to bid sed for open and embellish infants with bejeweled necklaces.
Even though the Himbas do engage cooperatively with other tribes residing in nearby locations, they prefer to be in their own tribe. They choose to live isolated and away from any outsiders and external contacts. Apart from this behavior, the Himbas are known to be one of the earnest tribes existing in the world.
They know the way to resist contamination to their culture and tradition. They are polite to visitors, tourists, and strangers. However, things become intolerable once crossing the limits of their culture, traditions, and beliefs. Himba women take baths only once
lifestyle of Himba Community.
The Himba community comprises predominantly farmers. They are efficient in raising the breeds of livestock of animals like sheep, goats, cattle, etc. On the other hand, the Himba women have the main work of collecting firewood, cooking, and serving the meals.
Another reason for not taking a bath.
Apart from the cultural aspects, the less availability of potable water is another reason for Himbas not taking baths regularly. Since the Himbas survive in one of the harsh desert climates over the globe, the women take baths only on the day of their marriage.
