Memories of Himbaland
Namibia is a land of diversity. Colourful cultures scatter between landscapes of seemingly endless dunes, misty cold coastal mornings, granite boulder gardens and vast open country. The Himba people of the remote north-west are among the few nomadic groups left in the world. I was fortunate enough to live around them in 2008 through nature conservation work.
I was so blessed with the many photo opportunities in this beautiful landscape that I found myself becoming blasé. No longer did a herd of desert elephant crossing my path make me stop and gawk in awe; no longer did a bare-footed shepherd boy walking his cattle at sunset make me change lenses in an instant; no longer did the sight of open space make me thankful for not seeing concrete structures and no longer did the silence make me realise that I never used to listen.
All these memories come rushing back now as I sit behind my laptop, three years later, uploading the photos which follow. It is a world far removed from ours “¦ reading text online about people who have never opened a book and viewing images of people thousands of kilometres away who have never seen a computer. How about this one: sitting comfortably (or probably not so) in our designer outfits chosen daily, compared to those who are content in their all-year-round goat skin.
So, as you glance at these people who you will possibly never see, except in 2D, try and smell the grass, feel the warm breeze and hear the soft chattering of village life. Its as much an escape as a holiday!
