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63-647: Opuwo is the capital of the Kunene Region in north-western Namibia . The town is situated about 720 km north-northwest of the capital Windhoek , and has a population of around 12,300 (2023). It is the commercial hub of the Kunene Region. Opuwo is situated at the intersection of the C41 and C43 . There is a small airfield in town, the Opuwo Airport . Putuavanga Senior Secondary School in town

126-407: A kraal for the sacred livestock. Both the fire and the livestock are closely tied to their veneration of the dead , the sacred fire representing ancestral protection and the sacred livestock allowing "proper relations between human and ancestor". The OvaHimba use a heterogeneous pasture system that includes both rainy-season pastures and dry-season pastures. Dry-season pastures are rested during

189-440: A monotheistic people who worship the god Mukuru , as well as their clan's ancestors ( ancestor reverence ). Mukuru only blesses, while the ancestors can bless and curse. Each family has its own sacred ancestral fire , which is kept by the fire-keeper. The fire-keeper approaches the sacred ancestral fire every seven to eight days in order to communicate with Mukuru and the ancestors on behalf of his family. Often, because Mukuru

252-467: A Christian church. Opuwo is governed by a town council that has seven seats. The name Opuwo was given by the commissioner of Ondangwa , Hugo Hahn , who came in search of land to build an office. Upon his arrival, he asked local headmen to give him land where he could build an office. The headmen gave him a small plot, and when the headmen tried to give him more land, Mr. Hahn responded saying " Opuwo (it’s enough for me). I don’t want any more land". That

315-527: A distinctive texture, style, and orange or red tinge, and is often perfumed with the aromatic resin of the omuzumba shrub . Otjize is considered foremost a highly desirable aesthetic beauty cosmetic, symbolizing earth's rich red color and blood, the essence of life, and is consistent with the OvaHimba ideal of beauty . From pubescence, boys continue to have one braided plait, while girls will have many otjize -textured hair plaits, some arranged to veil

378-402: A female head of house, while 60% had a male. For those 15 years and older, 52% had never married, 12% married with certificate, 17% married traditionally, 12% married consensually, 2% were divorced or separated, and 4% were widowed. The most commonly spoken languages at home were Otjiherero languages (42% of households) and Nama / Damara (36%). For those 15 years and older, the literacy rate

441-651: A few groups left of the OvaTwa , who the OvaHimba consider to be part of their tribe, but are hunter-gatherers . Culturally distinguishable from the Herero people , the OvaHimba are a semi- nomadic , pastoralist people and speak OtjiHimba, a variety of Herero , which belongs to the Bantu family within Niger–Congo . The OvaHimba are semi-nomadic as they have base homesteads where crops are cultivated, but may have to move within

504-718: A lack of recognition of the minority indigenous tribes' communal lands. November 23, 2012, hundreds of Himba and Zemba from Omuhonga and Epupa region protested in Okanguati against Namibia’s plans to construct a dam in the Kunene River in the Baynes Mountains , against increasing mining operations on their traditional land and human rights violations against them. March 25, 2013, over thousand Himba and Zemba people marched in protest again, this time in Opuwo, against

567-601: A lack of recognition of the minority indigenous tribes' communal lands. On November 23, 2012, hundreds of OvaHimba and Zemba from Omuhonga and Epupa region protested in Okanguati against Namibia's plans to construct a dam in the Kunene River in the Baynes Mountains, against increasing mining operations on their traditional land and human rights violations against them. On March 25, 2013, over 1,000 Himba people marched in protest again, this time in Opuwo, against

630-569: A people. Groups of the last remaining hunters and gatherers Ovatwa are held in secured camps in the northern part of Namibia's Kunene region, despite complaints by the traditional Himba chiefs that the Ovatwa are held there without their consent and against their wishes. In February 2012, traditional Himba chiefs issued two separate declarations to the African Union and to the OHCHR of

693-462: A population of 86,856 (43,253 females and 43,603 males or 101 males for every 100 females) growing at an annual rate of 2.3%. The fertility rate was 4.9 children per woman. 26% lived in urban areas while 74% lived in rural areas, and with an area of 115,293 km , the population density was 0.8 persons per km . By age, 17% of the population was under 5 years old, 25% between 5–14 years, 51% between 15–59 years, and 7% 60 years and older. The population

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756-473: A reliability of 72 and 73% percent, tell which ones of their children were fathered by a man outside of the marriage. Among the Himba people, it is customary as a rite of passage to circumcise boys before puberty. Upon marriage, a Himba boy is considered a man. A Himba girl is not considered a fully-fledged woman until she bears a child. Marriage among the OvaHimba involves transactions of cattle, which are

819-470: A small backpack of skin attached to their traditional outfit. Himba people, especially women, are famous for covering themselves with otjize paste, a cosmetic mixture of butterfat and ochre pigment. Otjize cleanses the skin over long periods due to water scarcity and protects from the hot and dry climate of the Kaokoland , as well as from insect bites. It gives Himba people's skin and hair plaits

882-468: A very small portion of the OvaHimba livelihood, which is gained chiefly from their work in conservancies , old-age pensions , and drought relief aid from the government of Namibia . Women and girls tend to perform more labor-intensive work than men and boys do, such as carrying water to the village, earthen plastering the mopane wood homes with a traditional mixture of red clay soil and cow manure binding agent , collecting firewood, attending to

945-465: A wide area. The OvaHimba history is fraught with disasters, including severe droughts and guerrilla warfare, especially during Namibia's war of independence and as a result of the civil war in neighboring Angola . In the 1980s it appeared the OvaHimba way of life was coming to a close due to a climax in adverse climatic conditions and political conflicts. A severe drought killed 90% of their livestock, and many gave up their herds and became refugees in

1008-472: Is among the best government schools in the Kunene Region. There is also the Opuwo Primary School with 39 teachers and 1,200 learners. The following organizations and offices are situated in the town: Opuwo Police Station, Opuwo District Hospital, Ministry of Home Affairs (Department of Civic Affairs / Regional Civic Registration Office / Kunene Region ) and Opuwo Department of Works. There is

1071-405: Is busy in a distant realm, the ancestors act as Mukuru's representatives. The OvaHimba traditionally believe in omiti , which some translate to mean witchcraft but which others call " black magic " or "bad medicine". Some OvaHimba believe that death is caused by omiti , or rather, by someone using omiti for malicious purposes. Additionally, some believe that evil people who use omiti have

1134-468: Is especially true of those in proximity to the Kunene Region capital of Opuwo , who travel frequently to shop at the local town supermarkets for the convenience of commercial consumer products, market food produce and to acquire health care . Some Himba children attend Western schools, and some young people leave the homelands to live in towns. Because of the harsh desert climate in the region where they live and their seclusion from outside influences,

1197-513: Is how Opuwo got its name. The local residents of Opuwo called it Otjihinamaparero at the time, and some still call it that. Hugo Hahn called the land "Ohopoho Otjitopora" , which means "they see the bore hole and their water comes out". The name Otjihinamaparero was changed to Opuwo in 1974 due to orthographic reform. The first office to be established in the Kaokoland area was the colonial administrative office in Swartbooisdrift on

1260-778: Is the shores of the Atlantic Ocean . In the north, it borders Angola's Namibe Province, and in the far eastern part of its northern edge it borders Cunene Province. Domestically, it borders the following regions: The region comprises seven constituencies : Kunene is one of few regions that Namibia's ruling SWAPO party does not dominate. Previously the rivalry was mainly with the United Democratic Front (UDF), but recently other parties show good results in Kunene's constituencies. In November 2008, SWAPO activists and politicians called for organization to "destroy"

1323-407: Is wealthy and is capable of offering more. Despite the fact that a majority of OvaHimba live a distinct cultural lifestyle in their remote rural environment and homesteads, they are socially dynamic , and not all are isolated from the trends of local urban cultures . The OvaHimba coexist and interact with members of their country's other ethnic groups and the social trends of urban townsfolk. This

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1386-705: The 2014 elections and SWAPO's win in Kunene, Angelika Muharukua was appointed governor, and after her death in 2017, Marius Sheya was appointed. Cholera is a major concern in Kunene Region, particularly near the border with Angola. In December 2008, while the Zimbabwean cholera outbreak caused the deaths of hundreds of Zimbabweans, a similar but separate outbreak occurred in the northern Kunene Region constituency of Epupa . As 19 December, 3 people had died and 29 had become sick. In May 2008, approximately 15 people died of cholera as well. February 2012, traditional Himba chiefs issued two separate Declarations to

1449-693: The African Union and to the OHCHR of the United Nations . The first, titled "Declaration of the most affected Ovahimba , Ovatwa, Ovatjimba and Ovazemba against the Orokawe Dam in the Baynes Mountains" outlines the objections from regional Himba chiefs and communities that reside near the Kunene River. The second, titled "Declaration by the traditional Himba leaders of Kaokoland in Namibia " lists violations of civil, cultural, economic, environmental, social and political rights perpetrated by

1512-465: The United Nations .The first, titled "Declaration of the most affected Ovahimba, Ovatwa, Ovatjimba and Ovazemba against the Orokawe Dam in the Baynes Mountains" outlines the objections from regional Himba chiefs and communities that reside near the Kunene River. The second, titled "Declaration by the traditional Himba leaders of Kaokoland in Namibia " lists violations of civil, cultural, economic, environmental, social and political rights perpetrated by

1575-416: The calabash vines used for producing and ensuring a secure supply of soured milk , cooking and serving meals, as well as artisans making handicrafts , clothing and jewelry . The responsibility for milking the cows and goats also lies with the women and girls. Women and girls take care of the children, and one woman or girl will take care of another woman's children. The men's main tasks are tending to

1638-425: The livestock farming, herding where the men will often be away from the family home for extended periods, animal slaughtering , construction , and holding council with village tribal chiefs . Members of a single extended family typically dwell in a homestead ( onganda ), a small family-village, consisting of a circular hamlet of huts and work shelters that surround an okuruwo ( sacred ancestral fire ) and

1701-567: The omiti . The OvaHimba have been successful in maintaining their culture and traditional way of life. As such, the OvaHimba have worked with international activists to block a proposed hydroelectric dam along the Kunene River that would have flooded their ancestral lands. In 2011, when Namibia announced its new plan to build a dam in Orokawe, in the Baynes Mountains . The OvaHimba submitted in February 2012 their protest declaration against

1764-453: The 2012 Namibia Labour Force Survey, unemployment in the Kunene Region stood at 27.0%. The two studies are methodologically not comparable. Himba people The Himba (singular: OmuHimba , plural: OvaHimba ) are an ethnic group with an estimated population of about 50,000 people living in northern Namibia , in the Kunene Region (formerly Kaokoland ) and on the other side of the Kunene River in southern Angola . There are also

1827-592: The 2012 Namibia Labour Force Survey, unemployment in the Kunene Region stood at 27.0%. The two studies are methodologically not comparable. Among households, 73% had safe water , 66% no toilet facility, 22% electricity for lighting, 72% access to radio , and 81% had wood or charcoal for cooking. In terms of household's main sources of income, 35% derived it from farming, 37% from wages and salaries, 7% cash remittances, 7% from business or non-farming, and 10% from pension. For every 1,000 live births there were 49 female infant deaths and 61 male. The life expectancy at birth

1890-600: The Government of Namibia (GoN). September 2012, the United Nations special rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples visited the Himba, and heard their concerns that they do not have recognized traditional authorities, and that they are placed under the jurisdictions of chiefs of neighboring dominant tribes, who make decisions on behalf of the minority communities. In his view, the lack of recognition of traditional chiefs is, in accordance with Namibian law, relates to

1953-502: The Kunene region discovering enough a deposit of 2.37 billion tons of iron ore, enough for the next 100 years. A cobalt deposit is being developed by Gecko Opuwo Cobal. Kunene has 60 schools with a total of 20,332 pupils. According to the Namibia 2001 Population and Housing Census, Kunene had a population of 68,735 (34,237 females and 34,487 males or 101 males for every 100 females) growing at an annual rate of 1.9%. The fertility rate

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2016-438: The OvaHimba have managed to maintain and preserve much of their traditional lifestyle. Members live under a tribal structure based on bilateral descent that helps them live in one of the most extreme environments on earth. Under bilateral descent, every tribe member belongs to two clans: one through the father (a patriclan, called oruzo ) and another through the mother (a matriclan, called eanda ). Himba clans are led by

2079-412: The OvaHimba. Their main diet is sour milk and maize porridge ( oruhere ruomaere ) and sometimes plain hard porridge only, due to milk and meat scarcity. Their diet is also supplemented by cornmeal , chicken eggs, wild herbs and honey . Only occasionally, and opportunistically, are the livestock sold for cash . Non-farming businesses, wages and salaries, pensions, and other cash remittances make up

2142-635: The UDF government in Kunene. SWAPO also claimed that UDF and Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA) were "sabotaging" local government initiatives in the region due to incompetence. Central to the politics of Kunene Region is the battle over the proposed Epupa Dam in Epupa Constituency near the border with Angola . Business leaders based in Opuwo, who are mostly Ovambo people , formed the Kaoko Development League which supports

2205-661: The banks of the Kunene River . This was the administrative centre of the area from 1925 to 1939. Afterwards, administrative control of the area shifted to Ohopoho, later called Opuwo. The police station in Swartbooisdrift was run by Sergeant Herbert, and his aim was to receive the Angola Boers who had trekked to Angola out of refusal to accept the British government in South Africa . Sergeant Basson took over

2268-405: The eldest male in the clan. Sons live with their father's clan, and when daughters marry, they go to live with the clan of their husband. However, inheritance of wealth does not follow the patriclan but is determined by the matriclan, that is, a son does not inherit his father's cattle but his maternal uncle's instead. Along with the inheritance of wealth, moral obligations are also important within

2331-456: The girl's face. In daily practice the plaits are often tied together and held parted back from the face. Women who have been married for about a year or have had a child wear an ornate headpiece called the Erembe , sculptured from sheepskin , with many streams of braided hair coloured and put in shape with otjize paste. Unmarried young men continue to wear one braided plait extending to the rear of

2394-489: The government of Namibia (GoN). In September 2012, the United Nations special rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples visited the OvaHimba and heard their concerns that they do not have recognized traditional authorities and that they are placed under the jurisdictions of chiefs of neighboring dominant tribes, who make decisions on behalf of the minority communities. In his view, the lack of recognition of traditional chiefs, in accordance with Namibian law, relates to

2457-496: The head, while married men wear a cap or head-wrap and un-braided hair beneath. Widowed men will remove their cap or head-wrap and expose un-braided hair. The OvaHimba are also accustomed to use wood ash for hair cleansing due to water scarcity. The OvaHimba are polygamous , with the average Himba man being husband to two wives at the same time. They also practice early arranged marriages . Young Himba girls are married to male partners chosen by their fathers. This happens from

2520-590: The hydroelectric dam to the United Nations, the African Union and to the Government of Namibia. The governments of Norway and Iceland funded mobile schools for Himba children, but since Namibia took them over in 2010, they have been converted to permanent schools and are no longer mobile. The Himba leaders complain in their declaration about the culturally inappropriate school system, that they say would threaten their culture, identity and way of life as

2583-548: The illegal fencing of parts of their traditional land, the lack of land rights to the territory that they have lived upon for centuries, and against the implementation of the Communal Land Reform Act of 2002. Compared to the rest of Namibia, Kunene is relatively underdeveloped. This is due to the mountainous inaccessible geography and the dryness that significantly hinders agriculture. In 2012, Chinese company Namibia East China Non- Ferrous Investments explored

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2646-458: The illegal fencing of parts of their traditional land; and their lack of property rights to the territory that they have lived upon for centuries. They also protested against the implementation of the Communal Land Reform Act of 2002. On October 14, 2013, Himba chief Kapika, on behalf of his region Epupa and the community which was featured in German RTL reality TV show Wild Girls condemned

2709-491: The literacy rate was 65%. In terms of education, 51% of girls and 49% of boys between the ages of 6-15 were attending school, and of those older than 15, 50% had left school, 9% were currently at school, and 37% had never attended. In 2011 the employment rate for the labor force (67% of those 15+) was 64% employed and 36% unemployed. For those 15+ years old and not in the labor force (24%), 31% were students, 30% homemakers, and 31% retired, too old, or other categories. According to

2772-399: The misuse of Himba people, individuals and villagers in the show, and demanded the halt of broadcasting any further episodes as they would mock the culture and way of being of the Himba people. In March 2014, OvaHimba from both countries, Angola and Namibia, marched again in protest against the dam's construction plans and against the government attempt to bribe their regional Himba chief. In

2835-440: The office at Swartbooisdrift, and excavated Opuwo's first bore hole. Basson had the nickname “ Katjiriamakaja ” (a person who eats tobacco). The Opuwo Town Council hosts the annual Opuwo Trade Fair, which was launched in 2012. The festival combines a modern business exhibition with cultural performances, live shows and entertainment. The Opuwo Trade Fair takes place in the month of May. Kunene Region Kunene's western edge

2898-408: The ongoing human rights violations that they endure in Namibia. They expressed their frustration over the lack of recognition of their traditional chiefs as "Traditional Authorities" by the government; Namibia's plans to build the Orokawe dam in the Baynes Mountains at the Kunene River without consulting with the OvaHimba, who do not consent to the construction plans; culturally inappropriate education;

2961-472: The ongoing human rights violations that they endure in Namibia. They expressed their frustration over their traditional chiefs not being recognized as "Traditional Authorities" by the Government of Namibia, Namibia's plans to build the Orokawe dam in the Baynes Mountains at the Cunene River without consulting with the Himba that do not consent to the construction plans, culturally inappropriate education,

3024-505: The only ones the DTA won throughout Namibia. In the 2020 regional election SWAPO obtained 34% of the total votes and won only Outjo Constituency . The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM, the new name of the DTA) and the UDF won three constituencies each. Themistokles Dudu Murorua , a UDF member, was appointed governor of Kunene Region in 2005. He was later replaced by Joshua ǁHoebeb . Following

3087-559: The onset of puberty, which may mean that girls aged 10 or below are married off. This practice is illegal in Namibia, and even some OvaHimba contest it, but it is nevertheless widespread. Genetic testing was used in a 2020 study of a semi-nomadic group near the Angolan border. It showed that 48% of all children were conceived by a father outside of the marriage; and that more than 70% of the couples had at least one child from an extra-pair father. Furthermore, parents of both sexes could, with

3150-611: The party's national vote total in the region. In the first regional elections in 1992 for the National Assembly of Namibia , SWAPO won in Kamanjab and Outjo. The UDF won in Sesfontein and Khorixas, Opuwo was won by the DTA. In the 2004 regional election for the National Assembly of Namibia , SWAPO won only one constituency in Kunene. Consequently, the only members of the 3rd National Council of Namibia , which

3213-399: The power to place bad thoughts into another's mind or cause extraordinary events to happen (such as when a common illness becomes life-threatening). But users of omiti do not always attack their victim directly; sometimes they target a relative or loved one. Some OvaHimba will consult a traditional African diviner-healer to reveal the reason behind an extraordinary event, or the source of

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3276-533: The proposed dam. The dam would bring in economic development to much of the Region but would interfere with the traditional way of life of the Himba people who reside in the area. A longtime rivalry exists between SWAPO and the Himba people. In the 2004 election for the National Assembly of Namibia , voters in Kunene Region supported numerous parties. The UDF earned the party's single highest vote total and 22.19% of

3339-604: The rainy season which results in higher biomass production in the soil compared to constantly grazing all pastures. Both the Himba men and women are accustomed to wearing traditional clothing that befits their living environment in the Kaokoland and the hot semi-arid climate of their area. In most occurrences this consists simply of skirt -like clothing made from calfskins and sheep skin or, increasingly, from more modern textiles, and occasionally sandals for footwear. Women's sandals are made from cows' skin while men's are made from old car tires. Women who have given birth wear

3402-434: The signed letter of the Himba community from Epupa, the region that would be directly affected by the dam, the traditional leaders explain that any consent form signed by a former chief as a result of bribery was not valid, as they remain opposed to the dam. Several researchers have studied the OvaHimba perception of colors. The OvaHimba use four color names: zuzu stands for dark shades of blue, red, green and purple; vapa

3465-403: The source of their economy. Bridewealth is involved in these transactions; this can be negotiable between the groom's family and the bride's father, depending on the relative poverty of the families involved. In order for the bride's family to accept the bridewealth, the cattle must appear of high quality. It is standard practice to offer an ox, but more cattle will be offered if the groom's father

3528-627: The town of Opuwo living in slums on international humanitarian aid , or joined Koevoet paramilitary units to cope with the livestock losses and widespread famine . OvaHimba living over the border in Angola were occasionally victims of kidnapping during the South African Border war, either taken as hostages or abducted to join the Angolan branch of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN, army of SWAPO ). The OvaHimba are

3591-563: The tribal structure. When a person dies, the OvaHimba evaluate the care of those who are left behind, such as orphans and widows. Access to water-points and pastures is another part of the OvaHimba inheritance structure. Bilateral descent is found among only a few groups in West Africa, India, Australia, Melanesia and Polynesia, and anthropologists consider the system advantageous for groups that live in extreme environments because it allows individuals to rely on two sets of kin dispersed over

3654-422: The year depending on rainfall and where there is access to water. The OvaHimba are considered the last (semi-) nomadic people of Namibia. The OvaHimba are predominantly livestock farmers who breed fat-tailed sheep and goats , but count their wealth in the number of their cattle . They also grow and farm rain-fed crops such as maize and millet . Livestock are the major source of milk and meat for

3717-409: Was 4.7 children per woman. 25% lived in urban areas while 75% lived in rural areas, and with an area of 115,293 km , the population density was 0.6 persons per km . By age, 15% of the population was under 5 years old, 26% between 5–14 years, 48% between 15–59 years, and 7% 60 years and older. The population was divided into 12,489 households, with an average size of 5.3 persons. 40% of households had

3780-399: Was 57 years for females and 50 for males. Among children younger than 15, 2% had lost a mother, 5% a father, and 1% were orphaned by both parents. 5% of the entire population had a disability, of which 18% were deaf, 35% blind, 16% had a speech disability, 18% hand disability, 27% leg disability, and 5% mental disability. According to the Namibia 2011 Population and Housing Census, Kunene had

3843-473: Was 57%. In terms of education, 51% of girls and 49% of boys between the ages of 6-15 were attending school, and of those older than 15, 45% had left school, 9% were currently at school, and 41% had never attended. In 2001 the employment rate for the labor force (56% of those 15+) was 77% employed and 23% unemployed. For those 15+ years old and not in the labor force (24%), 19% were students, 56% homemakers, and 25% retired, too old, or other categories. According to

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3906-522: Was created by appointments from every regional council, who were not members of SWAPO were chosen by the Kunene Regional Council. These Councillors were Sebastian Ignatius ǃGobs of the UDF and Ngohauvi Lydia Kavetu of the DTA. In the 2015 regional elections SWAPO obtained 46% of the total votes ( 2010 : 42%) and won in five of the seven constituencies while the DTA won two. The two Kunene constituencies Epupa and Opuwo Rural were

3969-478: Was divided into 18,495 households, with an average size of 4.6 persons. 40% of households had a female head of house, while 60% had a male. For those 15 years and older, 56% had never married, 13% married with certificate, 18% married traditionally, 8% married consensually, 2% were divorced or separated, and 3% were widowed. The most commonly spoken languages at home were Otjiherero languages (47% of households) and Nama / Damara (32%). For those 15 years and older,

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