There is this adage that says “Give honor to whom it is due”. This saying is differently applied in these tribes. When a visitor comes knocking, a man shows his approval and pleasure of seeing his guest by giving him the Okujepisa Omukazendu treatment. This practice literally means that his wife is given to his guest to spend the night while the husband sleeps in another room. In a case where there is no available room, her husband will sleep outside.
The people of Ovahimba and Ovazimba tribes in the Kunene and Omusati regions in Northern Namibia have this upheld culture that has defied western influence and agitation. However, it has its “benefits” in the community:
It reduces jealousy and fosters relationships. The woman has little or no opinion in the decision making. Submission to her husband’s demands come first. She has an option of refusing to sleep with him but has to sleep in the same room as the guest.
The woman is also entitled to give her friends to her husband when they visit but this rarely happens.
This practice keeps them United as they visit themselves often. Even people from different tribe or countries wish to go on vacations in this country because of this kind gesture.
I guess you will soon spend your holidays in Namibia isn’t it? But is it right??
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