Mysterious Hartmann Valley
In rainy years, the Hartmann's valleys become grassy expanses, but generally their flat topographies are covered by sand broken only by a few tough grasses, shrubs and the mysterious 'fairy circles'.
The Himba homestead is a family unit, overseen by the headman who is normally a grandfather and the oldest male in the village. He is responsible for residence, religious aspects of life embodied by the sacred fire and ensuring that the rules of tradition and the specific rules of the clan are
obeyed. The matrilineal aspect is responsible for movable property and economic matters such as handling of money and property.
The Himba headman’s authority is identified by an erenge bracelet. He oversees births, marriages and coming-of-age ceremonies. He performs the various ceremonies at the sacred fire, involving the spirits of the ancestors in the daily life of the village. The headman is also responsible for the rules of the group.