African Tribe Collection (#2)

A Himba youth with his hair styled in a long plait, known as ondatu. Once married, he will split the ondatu into two plaits and keep them covered

Two happy Himba girls ride a donkey to market. Their bodies gleam from a mixture of red ochre, butterfat and herbs. Their long hair is styled in the traditional Himba way

A Himba woman milks a cow in the stock enclosure close to her home. Traditional milk containers made from hollowed wood are preferred to their modern equivalents

A Himba woman in traditional attire. Her body gleams from a mixture of red ochre, butterfat and herbs. Her long hair is styled in the traditional Himba way

An attractive !Kung woman. The !Kung are San hunter-gatherers, often referred to as Bushmen. They differ in appearance from the rest of black Africa having yellowish skin and being lightly boned

A Pokomo drummer from the Tana River district of Kenya

A Msai warrior with his long braids and body coated with red ochre mixed with animal fat. He has put ochre dust round his eyes to enhance his appearance ready for a dance

A Msai warrior in full battle cry, his long-bladed spear at the ready

Two Msai warriors in full regalia. The headdress of the man on the left is made from the mane of a lion while the one on the right is fringed with black ostrich feathers

The traditional weaponry of the Turkana warriors consisted of a long-shafted spear with a narrow blade, a small rectangular shield made of giraffe or buffalo hide

The Turkana spear-fish in the shallow waters of Lake Turkana. The wooden shaft has a detachable metal tip with a sharp barb, which is secured to the end of a long piece of rope

An Ethiopian man wears a headdress made from the skin of a gelada, a unique baboon-like primate that lives at high altitudes in northern Ethiopia

The contrasting leather aprons or skirts of two Nyag atom girls. The skirt on the left is richly decorated with metal and copper beads; the one on the right is embellished with thousands of small

Warriors of the nomadic Afar tribe wear their hair long and carry large curved daggers, known as jile, strapped to their waists

Two Mursi men with singular hairstyles play a game of bau as a young boy watches them. Most men possess rifles to protect their families from hostile neighbours

A Mursi man smears his body with a mixture of local chalk and water and then draws designs with his fingertips to enhance his physical appearance.The Mursi speak a Nilotic language

A Mursi woman wearing a large clay lip plate. Shortly before marriage, a girls lower lip will be pierced and progressively stretched over a year or so

Hadza youth sings to the accompaniment of his two-stringed musical instrument
Sitting on a Greater Kudu skin, a Hadza youth wearing a baboon skin cape sings to the accompaniment of his two-stringed musical instrument.The Hadzabe are a thousand-strong community of

Msai warriors draw water for livestock from a well
Msai draw water for livestock from a well

A young Msai herdsboy controls his familys cattle at the Sanjan River to prevent too many animals watering at the same time

Three Msai girls at Shimu la Mungu
Three Msai girls sit on the edge of Shimu la Mungu (a volcanic blow hole known as Gods hole ) with the extinct volcano, Kerimasi, in the distance

A Wa-Arusha warrior carries home a yoke. His brown necklace is made from aromatic wood. The Wa-Arusha are closely related to the Msai and speak the same _maa language

A Hadza hunter fledges an arrow shaft
A Hadza hunter wearing a baboon skin fledges an arrow shaft with guinea fowl feathers using the sinews of an antelope.The Hadzabe are a thousand-strong community of hunter-gatherers who have lived in

A Turkana woman, typically wearing many layers of bead necklaces and a series of hooped earrings with an pair of leaf-shaped earrrings at the front, sits in the entrance to her hut

Two Msai women in traditional attire chat to each other

A back view of a Msai warrior resplendent with long ochred braids tied in a pigtail. This singular hairstyle sets him apart from other members of his society

The extinct volcano at Chew Bet in southern Ethiopia has a dark, seasonal lake at the bottom of its deep, steep-sided crater. Borana tribesmen harvest salt there for their livestock

An old Himba woman, upright despite her years, rides her donkey through harsh land where mid-day temperatures rise to 400C. Her body gleams from a mixture of red ochre, butterfat and herbs

A band of !Kung hunter-gatherers makes a stealthy approach towards an antelope, their bows & arrows at the ready. The !Kung are a part of the San of Southern Africa who are often referred to as

!Kung women sing and clap their hands to the rhythm of their menfolk. The !Kung are San hunter-gatherers, often referred to as Bushmen

An old !Kung man. The !Kung are San hunter-gatherers, often referred to as Bushmen. They differ in appearance from the rest of black Africa having yellowish skin and being lightly boned

A !Kung hunter-gatherer stands ready to accompany his friends on a hunt. His bow and arrows are kept in a soft leather pouch slung over his shoulder

Kenya, South Horr, Kurungu. A Samburu youth after his circumcision. The day after he has been circumcised, the initiate must hang in his pierced earlobes copper ear ornaments that are normally worn

Dressed in his black goatskin cloak, a Samburu boy puts his bundle of sticks, staves and gum on the roof of his mothers house

In the weeks leading up to their circumcision, Samburu boys gather frequently to sing the lebarta, a circumcision song with a slow, haunting melody whose words are ad-libbed to suit the occasion

Laikipiak Msai

Detail of a Msai warriors ear ornaments and other beaded or metal adornments. The Msai practice of piercing ears in adolescence and gradually elongating the lobes is gradually dying out

During an eunoto ceremony when Msai warriors become junior elders, their heads are shaved and they daub themselves with white clay

A young Turkana man with a braided hairstyle

A Dassanech man with a shock of hair.; The Omo Delta of southwest Ethiopia is one of the least accessible and least developed parts of East Africa

Nyangatom men their faces and bodies with stylised patterns using natural pigments obtained from chalk, ochre and crushed rock prior to a dance

A Dorze man sits outside his home smoking locally-grown tobacco using a traditional long-stemmed pipe. Living in highlands west of the Abyssinian Rift Valley

A Borana man at Mega in southern Ethiopia wears a phallic Kallaacha on his forehead. Made of cast aluminium and ivory or bone

Ethiopia, Southwest Ethiopia, Omo River. Sunset on the banks of the Omo River near a Dassanech village. Two dome-shaped granaries are just visible in the trees

Africa, Namibia, Opuwo. Goats and hut in a Himba village
Goats and hut in Himba village, Opuwo, Namibia. Credit as: Wendy Kaveney / Jaynes Gallery / DanitaDelimont

Illustration of nomad and camel packed with goods

Two Msai men silhouetted on a hill at sunset

Towards the conclusion of a Ngetunogh ceremony, an initiate must put on his mothers jewellery for a day before removing the wild sisal face mask he has worn for 2-3 months

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"Exploring the Rich Cultural Tapestry of African Tribes: From Samburu Warriors to Himba Women" Immerse yourself in the captivating world of African tribes as a Samburu warrior gazes across the vast eastern scarp, his eyes filled with wisdom and strength. In Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve, a Masai warrior stands tall, embodying the resilience and grace that define his tribe. Witness the vibrant traditions as young Masai girls adorn their faces with ochre, an ancient practice passed down through generations. Meanwhile, a Hadza hunter indulges in cannabis from a crude stone pipe, connecting with nature's rhythms in pursuit of sustenance. Marvel at the beauty of a Himba woman dressed in traditional attire, her body gleaming from red ochre—a symbol of cultural identity and pride. Journey back to the 1960s when an old Kikuyu lady carefully picks coffee beans, showcasing age-old agricultural practices that have sustained communities for centuries. Observe two Masai warriors gazing up at a hot air balloon floating gracefully over Masai Mara—an enchanting blend of tradition and modernity. Transport yourself to historical battles like Omdurman where brave soldiers charged fearlessly into battle under colorful banners. Discover unique tribal customs such as Pokot men adorning themselves with beaded ornaments while wearing cheetah skin—a celebration during Atelo ceremonies surrounded by joyous women. Experience the rhythmic beats resonating from kalungu drums—a vital part of African oral traditions. Notice how almost every Himba woman proudly wears anklets—symbols of femininity and cultural heritage intertwined. Delve deeper into Africa's rich tapestry as you explore these diverse tribes' languages, rituals, beliefs, and art forms that shape their identities. In this journey through time and culture, we are reminded that Africa's tribes hold invaluable knowledge about coexistence with nature and preserving ancestral legacies for future generations.