The adornment of Himba women is a system of communication as specific and legible as any written language. Every piece of jewellery, every hairstyle, and the application of otjize itself carries meaning that can be read by members of the community. For visitors, understanding what they are looking at changes the encounter from visual tourism to cultural literacy.
The Hairstyles
The most immediately readable aspect of Himba adornment is the hairstyle, which changes at each major life stage:
Young girls (pre-puberty): Two braids (ozondato) extending forward from the crown. The braids are separated with a forward pointing orientation.
Adolescent girls: The braids are extended and a partial head covering of leather may be added.
Married women: The erembe, a headdress made from tanned goat skin, is worn continuously. Its specific form indicates the clan affiliation of the woman’s husband.
Post-menopausal women: The hairstyle changes again; some visual indicators of elder status are adopted.
Jewellery
Omakipa (shell necklaces): Ostrich eggshell beads strung with other materials; worn in multiple strands. The number and type of strands convey information about the wearer’s status and family wealth.
Iron anklets (oihe): Wound tightly around the lower legs; their weight is considerable. They are put on at marriage and worn permanently; the sound they make when walking is characteristic.
Copper coils: Worn on the arms and as head ornaments; copper is both decorative and a store of value.
Leather aprons: The front apron and the back apron indicate marital status; the quality of the leather and the beadwork on it indicate family wealth.
Where to Buy Crafts
Craft purchases should be made directly from community members rather than from curio shops in Windhoek or Swakopmund. The Opuwo market is the most direct point of contact; community operators in the Marienfluss Valley provide access to craft sales that benefit specific families.
The most commonly available craft items: ostrich eggshell bead necklaces; leather bags; wooden milk containers (onganda); and jewellery replicas in copper and iron.