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User:Pgallert/Ovahimba verification

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The following snippets from Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons were presented in February 2021 to a group of Ovahimba elders from Kunene Region. I present Wikipedia's voice, and the elders' comments, together with a verdict whether the image should be used in an article on the Ovahimba ("accepted") or not ("rejected").

Not an Omuhimba (rejected):

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Wikipedia's voice (from Himba people): Young Himba woman and child, the woman wearing a headpiece and beaded anklets or omohanga Elders' comments: Not an Omuhimba. Probably some other tribe in southern Angola.

Too little detail (undecided):

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Wikipedia's voice (from Himba people):A traditional regional Leader or Headman of the OvaHimba - Chief Kapuka Thom († 2009) of the Vita (Thom) Royal House with his grandson Elders' comments: Could, or could not, be Kapuka Thom. I don't recognise him on this picture.

Correct (accepted):

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Wikipedia's voice (from Himba people): Names of colors in the himba language Elders' comments: Correct. However, there is another group of color names that apply only to soil. These are not included.

Too many mistakes (rejected):

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Wikipedia's voice (from Himba people): Himba woman and some of her family standing in her father's homestead in Otutati, Kunene Region, Namibia. Elders' comments: The woman wears no crown (headpiece) and no shell. Those are major ornaments. The boy to the woman's right wears his loincloth the wrong way. The hut should be covered with dung, not reed.

Correct (accepted):

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Wikipedia's voice (from Himba people): Pubescent Himba girl with hair headdress styled to veil her face. Elders' comments: Perfect. Also the purpose of the hairdress is explained well.

Not good enough (rejected):

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Wikipedia's voice (from Wikimedia Commons): Himba doll (Otjikandero, Namibia) Elders' comments: Insufficient detail and craftsmanship. A better one could be found everywhere. The place is called Omukandero, not Otjikandero.

Not a traditional outfit (rejected):

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Wikipedia's voice (from Wikimedia Commons): Male hairstyle: Young Omuhimba walking to Opuwo Elders' comments: His necklace is missing. A boy this age and status shouldn't wear a T-shirt.

Almost correct (accepted):

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Wikipedia's voice (from Wikimedia Commons): Young female Omuhimba Elders' comments: One item missing but still acceptable

Wrongly staged picture (rejected):

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Wikipedia's voice (from Wikimedia Commons): Traditional instrument Elders' comments: The instrument is authentic, the clothes are not

Irrelevant - wrong tribe (rejected):

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Wikipedia's voice (from Wikimedia Commons): Chief Jonas Kanakemwe Tjikulya of Ovadhimba (in category: Himba men) Elders' comments: The chief is Zemba, not Himba. The Ovazemba should decide what to do with this picture

Not typical (rejected):

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Wikipedia's voice (from Himba people): Temporary Himba homestead near Uis in Namibia (2014) Elders' comments: Not typical. Building material cannot be tents. If they have cows it will be cow dung, if they don't they'll take leaves. Questionable if there even are Avahimba so far south of Kaokoland.

Correct (accepted):

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Wikipedia's voice (from Himba people): Young Himba girls. The Erembe headdress indicates both are married. Elders' comments: Attire is perfect. Their hairdress only indicates that they are no longer girls, not that they are married.

Correct (accepted):

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Customary practices (from Himba people)

The OvaHimba are polygamous, with the average Himba man being husband to two wives at the same time. They also practice early arranged marriages. Young Himba girls are married to male partners chosen by their fathers. This happens from the onset of puberty,[1] which may mean that girls aged 10 or below are married off. This practice is illegal in Namibia, and even some OvaHimba contest it, but it is nevertheless widespread.[2]

Elders' comments: This description is correct.

Explanation missing (undecided):

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Human rights (from Himba people)

Groups of the last remaining hunters and gatherers Ovatwa are held in secured camps in the northern part of Namibia's Kunene region, despite complaints by the traditional Himba chiefs that the Ovatwa are held there without their consent and against their wishes.[3]

Elders' comments: An explanation is missing: The Ovatwa don't have a structure of chieftaincy, that's why the Ovahimba chiefs took charge of the situation.

Correct (accepted):

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Human rights (from Himba people)

On October 14, 2013, Himba chief Kapika, on behalf of his region Epupa and the community which was featured in German RTL reality TV show Wild Girls condemned the misuse of Himba people, individuals and villagers in the show, and demanded the halt of broadcasting any further episodes as they would mock the culture and way of being of the Himba people.[4]

Elders' comments: This description is correct.

Correct (accepted):

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Religion (from Himba people)

The OvaHimba are a monotheistic people who worship the god Mukuru, as well as their clan's ancestors (ancestor reverence). Mukuru only blesses, while the ancestors can bless and curse.[5] Each family has its own sacred ancestral fire, which is kept by the fire-keeper. The fire-keeper approaches the sacred ancestral fire every seven to eight days in order to communicate with Mukuru and the ancestors on behalf of his family.[6] Often, because Mukuru is busy in a distant realm, the ancestors act as Mukuru's representatives.[6]

Elders' comments: This description is correct.

References

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  1. ^ Kamaku Consultancy Services cc., Commissioned by: Country Pilot Partnership (CPP) Programme Namibia (2011). Strategies That Integrate Environmental Sustainability Into National Development Planning Process to Address Livelihood Concerns of the OvaHimba Tribe in Namibia - A Summary (PDF). Windhoek, Namibia: The Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Republic of Namibia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-08-04.
  2. ^ Kangootui, Nomhle (26 May 2016). "Opuwo's lonely voice against child marriages". The Namibian. p. 1.
  3. ^ Cupido, Delme (28 February 2012). "Indigenous coalition opposed to new dam". OSISA. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-28.
  4. ^ "Indigenous peoples Himba community condemn RTL TV series Wild Girls, asking Earth Peoples co-founder Rebecca Sommer for help to intervene on their behalf and stop it". Earth Peoples. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
  5. ^ Crandall 2000, p. 188.
  6. ^ a b Crandall 2000, p. 47.