Ochre is a deep golden yellow color and is one off my favorite colors. Banana Republic is famous for using it on many apparels.
The new thing for world travelers is Namibia — an oxymoron of old Africa vs globalization and modernization of post colonial Africa.
I read an article last week on the New York Times; showing the Lure of Namibia ending with:
Go soon to Namibia. The rhinos will always be there, but Banana Republic might be as well.
Apparently a juxtaposition of sheep herding nomads and the street designs of Munich. I have always been fascinated by the cultures of nomadic tribe’s people of Africa, from the Hamer people of the Lower Omo Valley to the Bushmen of Botswana.
Although I traveled when I was young, I haven’t since. I have not seen these people so maybe I shouldn’t talk. I live through picture of the coffee table book or the different articles I read over the web.
Not Enough, Well so be it for now!
The Himba are a nomadic, pastoral ethnic people of about 30,000 living in northern Namibia.
And the Himba women paint themselves with Ochre and Butter – it gives them the reddish shine against the chocolate color of their skin- apparently a natural form of sunscreen against the heavy sun of the Namibian dessert.
They almost died off in the eighties after a major drought but now they are back.
Today’s newspaper in Namibia wrote a story in which a Himba woman traveled 12 miles with her kids to an urban city to sell her crafts.
Published by August 29th, 2008 in African, Social and Thoughts.Send this post to a friend
B.e.a.u.t.i.ful! I wonder how often they paint themselves.
our hamer women love ochre too
Lol Yonas- that is amazing- its amazing that the Hamer probably a two thousand miles away but do something very unique
thanks for that link
“its amazing that the Hamer probably are two thousand miles away but do something very unique”
Could they be from same origin?? and since they are nomadic..they travel across the continent..just a thought.
> I live through picture of the coffee table book or the different articles I read over the web.
There’s nothing wrong with that. There’s a lot of places I’d love to visit but have never managed to get to. I’ve been lucky enough to meet some Himba in Northern Namibia on various ocasions, and if you’re looking for a coffee table book on them you could do a lot worse than this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Heat-Dust-Dreams-Exploration-Environment/dp/1868726320
Tsedey: I can’t find any connection etween Himba and Hamer in the literature I’ve got. The general opinion is that they came down from Angola in the 16th century, but I can’t find anything before that. It does seem like the same mixture though. Is the Hamer ochre really “fragrant” as well?
Great site by the way. I stumbled across it yesterday and am slowly working my way through it.
this my fav link ..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_unKt5-E8Rk
i visited 4yrs ago
amazing people
A chum recommended me to read this website, great post, interesting read… keep up the cool work!