Namibia to meet Africa's oldest Zimbabweans

Namibia, 1990 is just independent, is Africa's most young country, but it has the most ancient tribe -- Zimbabweans, they, we came to Namibia the biggest reason, in Addisababa to wait for several days, just to buy a ticket to Uganda, finally before departure. To get a visa to South Africa, back to the hotel to pack up, buy a ticket, the very next day early in the morning the unable to hold oneself back was on the way to Namibia, Namibia, finally arrived.

In February, Namibia is the rainy season, the grass beauty, just back from the dusty Ethiopia we, have a strong visual divide, rich green, covered with a mesh can be full of joy and of the place, from the capital, Wen Dehe gram to the northern town of Opuwo, more than 1000 kilometers, in the green fields in two days we gallop, came to the city, the road is not bad, most are asphalt roads, speed basically can be maintained at the speed of 80 kilometers per hour, but feel a bit lonely, this road is sparsely populated, even pass by car can be counted on one's fingers, face is just another in an unbroken line of rain unwilling to remain out of the limelight, there are a few small wild boar, from the jungle Pidianpidian channeling to the roadside have a look lively, and fart Dian fart strolled home.

Gradually, a few houses in the windows on both sides, the customs, be not too good to be true, Opuwo, is Cunene Province, so, you know, here is developed and the modern concept of far, still has a large supermarket, restaurant, gas station, clothing stores and so on, to maintain the city life, but walking and active in the meantime, the dress dress Herero (Herero), half-naked Himba (Himba women), and as we wear black people, they are so frankly, that moment, we just feel that time rapid retreat empty, without a clear definition, or, you feel to a movie set.

Opuwo, is also Herero (Herero) human habitat

Opuwo, end of righteousness in the Simba dialect is the world, perhaps should thank the natural barrier of the end of the world, let the Simba tribes became Africa has preserved ancient tribal primitive way of life for a few, of course we thought the village to have a look of their lives, the rainy season, Namibia's tourism the off-season is included in Opuwo, hotel front desk to a wizard's phone number, call the past he even went to Wen Dehe gram to play, he introduced another wizard, however, have to wait a while to come join us, Namibia, all the shops including supermarkets are closed very early, so, we decided to first, take the time to Opuwo maximum OK the supermarket to buy some gifts for Zimbabweans: flour, tobacco, tea, milk, sugar, butter, bread...... , it seems everyone Opuwo, are familiar with the Zimbabweans preferences, the cashier we took a mint, want to give the children to eat, the cashier girl with up to look, NO, NO, NO, Zimbabweans, they don't like the taste of candy!

Bought the things, at the appointed time and place, see the wizard, the ornamental and the combined plain properties of amiable, sorry he explained, received a phone call, he was grazing on the mountain, so late, so this is a cultural cowboy ah, let us to him a somewhat more admiration.

On the way to the village, the wizard cramming teaching a few Simba language, so that we and the Zimbabweans can pass the time, Zimbabweans, did not we think of self, of course, if there is no such life flexibility, Zimbabweans cannot in this rain, drought, sometimes even nature it is forgotten place to survive, but also by the grazing cattle, goats and sheep, planting corn and exchange once prosperous and powerful. Now, in the Namibia government help, Zimbabweans participatory development community plan, also a little bit on the success, they not only self management of land, access to relevant profit, and regain the hunted animal rights.

Enter the Opuwo Town, beer advertising giant, stands a bare-chested red woman

They, on our curiosity, not inferior to us for their curiosity, we could ask, their problems have been off the reel of the left over, from China? Where, how far is it? "The plane, about ten hours!" They see a puzzled, the wizard said quickly, walk, if, you walk, how long will it take? My day, walk? If I walk, I'm going to die of old age estimates are not here? Think, we explained that, if the car, probably is several months. They more confusion, sat a few months car, what is this concept? At this time, over a person know, oh, that's far more than Angola's, um, Angola and Namibia border, is also the Zimbabweans nomadic region, "on, Angola is far than!" Zimbabweans are persistent, that Cameroon is still far from it, "far than Cameroon!" Estimation of Cameroon is know as far as them, so they jijigugu discussion, transferred to the next topic, the child, how many children do you have? "No children!" It cannot be? "Don't lie to you oh, so a child to a lot of money, want to consider to be clear about, dare to students!" Why, that your family who go home ah, we must have a lot of children, can go home, have more, to raise more cattle ah, can have more money, raise a child how to many money?

In the Himba people at the bottom of the world, in the modern era has begun to get in by every opening, learn how to deal with this habit and the myriads of changes in the world, perhaps, the traditional social structure will gradually decline, the state of their lives will change, but, belongs to the group of the kernel, will continue from generation to generation.

Opuwo, is also Herero (Herero) people live on the land, close to Opuwo Town, on both sides of the road gradually more scattered houses, Herero people lived in the low mud room, a grand dress and tall hat, as usual, working life, a little feeling they shot a medieval film.

Zimbabweans, we finally meet with them.

The shoe stall

The shoe stall, and never lose Simba woman, Simba woman, no habit of wearing shoes, feet only decoration, decoration circle is below the knee ankle over ten metal, Zimbabweans put the right foot is called the father of foot, left foot is mother.