Mucubal people are a subgroup of the Herero ethnic group, which means
they are bantu speaking, and are supposed to have come from Kenya and
to be related with Massais. They are semi nomadic pastoralists living
of cattle raising and agriculture. They live in a large area between
the slopes of Chela Mounts in the north, and River Cunene to the
south, where they are believed to have stopped during the Herero
migration, about 300 years ago.
Mucubal people have some very specific customs and traditions. They
don't know their own age and only are interested in cattle and do not
care of the rest of the world outside of the bush. Mucubals are not
allowed to mention people’s name in public, except their parent’s one,
and children’s name in general. A married couple is not allowed to
talk to each other in public, as long as the wife hasn’t had children.
They only can speak to each other in private.
Men and women have specific and separated roles in Mucubal society.
Boys are circumcised when they are very young, before becoming
herdsmen and cattle raider warriors once they are adult. Girls go to
get water while boys don’t have to do anything. Women are in charge of
household and food. Later they have their upper teeth sharpened and
lower ones removed. In order to convince young girls to have their
lower teeth removed, old men make them believe, that their teeth leave
their mouth during the night, to go in a hole, dug to relieve
themselves, and return in their mouth covered with excrement.
The family structure and organization is also very specific. The
father has the authority and is the head of the family, although the
matrilineal descent is considered more important, as they inherit
through the mother's family. For example the son of the Soba
(chieftain of the village)’s sister is the heir of the Soba. It is
possible to be disowned by their father's family but not by their
mother's because for them this link is sacred. The maternal uncle has
to provide his nephew with an ox, called Remussungo. However a father
provides his son with an ox, called Hupa.
Mucubal can only get married with an outsider of the clan, although it
cannot be with a member of another tribe like a Himba for example.
Marriages of convenience are the rule most of the time. The fiancée is
presented to her future husband during the Fico ceremony, when she is
fourteen. This ceremony consists in a party with the two families
during which presents are offered. The couple has to wait a few more
years before consummating the marriage in the centre of the village.
Mucubal men can have several wives and are also allowed to sell their
wife, if they don’t get along with her or even if they want to earn
money by selling her. A woman can be worth two cows, which is about
2000 euros and represents a lot of money. For a first marriage a woman
can even be worth 3 or 4 cows.
© Eric Lafforgue www.ericlafforgue.com
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Ismael Barrera - DIGISNAPSTUDIO 10 months ago | reply
Great image. Amazing how many different cultural differences. Same planet different worlds. Thanks for sharing. Love learning from other cultures.