(Backup) 27 February, Tuesday - Day 56

Visiting a Himba village was for Bente, Jens and me the highlight of the day.    Driver Tom, himseld a Himba, was a very helpful go-between.

First he goes to ask every single adult for permission to visit the village.   The men being in town, only children and women are present.

Crawl for a few cows.

The Himbas live mostly from goat meet and goat milk together with corn which they will buy outside and pay with a goat.

We sat with this lady’ who is the mother of 10 children.   Nine of them are going to school.  The oldest is a teacher himself.

Her youngest daugher is still at home - with one child.

Both of them - from the back.  They cover themselves with a paste made with red stone and oil.  Not to protect against sun or insects - just for beauty.

The Mother - with the headset forming a crown (made from goat skin)

Me and the daughter, who was frightfully shy.    She had banana leaf anklets.   When she is ready to get married, they will be replaced by metal ones.

Very young mother with child - inside a traditional hut constructed with wooden sticks and clay made, in this case, of cowdung and water.

The holy place (for ceremonies) and the holy fire (for funeral services).  The chiefs hut is the only one to face these holy places.

There is so much kind- and tenderness between these people - even between the babies.