There are many fascinating traditions in Africa but the offering of free sex to guests among the Himba tribe beats them all. Popularly known as the Ovahimba or Omhimba, the Himba people live in the Kunene region of Namibia. They are wary of external contacts and mostly live in isolation.
The men of this tribe practice farming and livestock breeding while the women cook, fetch firewood and freshwater. Polygamy is accepted in this community with the girls getting married at a very tender age. The father of the girl chooses whom she marries.
This Community Does Not Bath With Water
The Himba community lives in one of the harshest environments on earth. Getting water here is a problem. Because of this, the Himba tribe has over the decades decided to use red ochre on their skins and daily smoke bath as a way of maintaining hygiene.
They do this by dropping a shouldering charcoal into a bowl filled with herbs where the people bow over the ascending smoke bowl which perspires the body and helps in washing.
The Okujepisa Omukazendu Treatment
Okujepisa Omukazendu refers to a situation where the man of the house offers his wife to sleep with the guest as a way of showing gratitude and appreciation of the visit. During this particular night the husband will sleep in a different room or outside in case there is no extra room.
The woman is obliged to obey her husband and must sleep in the same room with the guest even if she does not offer him sex.
