Strengthening the community

In most cases the container has some kind of handle or strings attached to it, so it is easy for the Himba women to carry around.

There seem to be two main reasons for the handle. On the one hand, the Himba lead a semi-nomadic life. They live in huts made of mud and other natural materials that are located around a pen in which the young animals are kept. The mature animals are left to graze around the settlement. Every single day, the young men leave the village with their livestock to lead them to fertile lands in the area. The Himba may also relocate their village, if there is nowhere left to graze.[Wärnlöf 2000, p 176] From time to time, the women therefore had to be able to carry their most important belongings around easily to continue their life in another settlement.

Secondly, hairstyles are very important within the Himba community, especially among the women. Braiding hair is a communal activity, and therefore close relatives spend hours helping each other with their hairstyles. [McGinty, accesses November 21, 2020] Carrying the ozonja around the village to connect with relatives is an integral part of this.