Himba People Research Paper

The Himba people, who are living in Opuwo, Namibia are an indigenous, semi- nomadic, pastoral people who sustain themselves predominantly breeding livestock. As depicted in the documentary movie "Babies" by Thomas Balmes( 2010), they move from place to place following their livestock consisting of sheep, goats and occasionally small breed horses, looking for new pastures. Occasionally they grow rain- fed crops such as corn and millet. It provides an important supplement to their diet, consisting mainly of milk and meat provided by the livestock they herd. Occasionally some of them might grow chickens. Chickens provide them with a valuable source of nutrition such as eggs. Men spend a large portion of their time away from home herding the animals. Only occasionally the animals are sold for cash. Women stay home, cook and rare children.
They live in the vast steps of Mongolia, following their livestock. Here, similarly, to the Himba people they herd goats, cows, and horses, that are the main source of nutrition, providing milk, meat, and skin used to create clothing as well as providing material for building their homes called jurta. Jurta is a portable home usually consisting of one room where all the family members live. Its walls are covered with the skins of the livestock they grow, providing warmth and protection from rain and the wind. The animals are the primary source of sustenance as their nomadic lifestyle does not allow them time to grow grains, potatoes or other vegetables. Here, unlike in the Himba tribe, women in addition to taking care of the children and food preparation, work alongside the men outside taking care of the