11The Himba People of Namibia: Red Ochre and Ancestral Connection

The Himba people of northern Namibia are renowned for their distinctive appearance and deep connection to their ancestral lands. Known as the “Red People,” the Himba women cover their skin and hair with a mixture of red ochre and butterfat, giving them a striking red hue.

This practice is both aesthetic and protective, shielding them from the harsh desert sun. The Himba maintain a semi-nomadic lifestyle, raising livestock and living in close-knit communities. Ancestral worship plays a central role in their spiritual lives, with sacred fires connecting the living to the spirits of their forebears.

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