Polygamy is practised among the Himba,
and Komané may have sexual relations with whoever she wants,
provided she asks her husband for permission.
But it is important for a woman to be the first wife,
as this confers certain privileges, such as the care of the sacred fire,
which give her a more dignified status.
In Himba culture, image and appearance are all-important.
Almost their only art is the decoration of their own bodies.
They have no paintings or sculptures,
but they do spend a considerable amount of time enhancing their appearance.
The most precious ornament, worn only by the most privileged women,
is the Ohumba,
a sea shell which they obtain through exchange with the neighbouring tribes,
the Zemba, the Tuwa, or the Hakaona.
A good, conical-shaped shell can cost the price of an ox.
Their hairstyle not only fulfils an aesthetic function,
enhancing the elongated shape of the head,
but also serves to express their sex and social position.
An adult woman will keep this hairstyle until she dies.
From time to time, the braids are undone, and then plaited again.
This generally takes about two days,
and they wash it not with water, but with ash.
But the truly distinctive feature of these people is the reddish colour of their bodies.
This comes from a dye which the women regularly apply to their bodies.
It is made by crushing very valuable stones, which contain a ferrous component
they call Okid Maui.
The fine ochre powder is mixed with fat, and the result is a thick, reddish cream,
which they not only find attractive, but also provides efficient protection against the sun and insect bites.
As a final touch, Wazindi Kiruá adds some aromatic herbs to the cream
the most prized herb of all is the Kaokoland myrrh.