Scattered and excluded: Mumuila Tribe Ladies - Outstanding Meetings With Sofonie Dala

Dispersed and excluded: Mumuila Tribe Ladies

This article takes as its starting point an understanding of challenges and adapting processes faced by indigenous people of Angola, scattered in Luanda city.

Mwila or Mumuila people are a cluster of semi-nomadic ethnic group living in southern Angola, in the area of Huila. Mwila people actually belongs to the larger Nyaneka-Khumbi (Nhaneka-Humbe) amalgamated ethnic inhabiting the Haumpata Plateau and along the headwaters of Rio Caculovar in South Western Angola in Huila Planato or Huila Province, the province that takes it name from the people.

Mumuílas are hardworking and charming women, who as a natural aesthetic expose their breasts, and use very colorful necklaces and  fabrics.

These women are cattle breeders and it is from them that they get their source of income, where in addition to this business, they are also known for marketing natural teas, mupeke oil and ngundi to nourish the hair (oil manufactured by them manually), a dark oil, with a strong burning odor, which is extracted by adult women from a fruit of a typical shrub of the region (the Mupeque) of Namibe, which is used in the treatment of hair and also skin. 

The Mumuilas generally do not bathe with water, for them the ritual of bathing with cow's milk and manure is normal, ingredients that they use to iron their hair so that they have an exotic appearance, which for them is summarized in the conquest of their man. With imposing naked breasts, necklaces and colorful fabrics, this is how mumuíla women show themselves, whether in their tribe or in the middle of the metropolis.

INTERVIEW - A CHANCE ENCOUNTER

For how much did you sell me the oil?

I sold you for 200 kwanzas.

I want for 250 kwanzas, add a little more.

All right.

Now it's your turn, also put 250 kwanzas.

Alright.

What is the name of your province?

We are from Bibala and Lubango.

Did you come to Luanda to sell oil?

Yep.

How's the sale going? Is it hard?

Yes, it is very difficult, we are not profiting anything, people do not buy oil from us.

Where do you live here in Luanda?

In Bem-fica (well-stays)

Can I look for you at Bem-fica any day? Yes, you can visit us. OK. You said you're expecting a baby? Yes, I'm pregnant. How many months? I am 3 months pregnant. Okay, thank you very much. Thank you. What's your name again? My name is Cristina.

Nice to meet you.

Kisses, bye!

Poverty, food shortages, wars, political conflicts and natural disasters force Mumuilas to migrate to the country's capital.

Among Angolans, many are unaware of their real culture and especially their history and this people are often rejected by society, because it is seen as a tribe with habits that do not match life in more modern societies. In Luanda, these women attract a lot of attention when they walk the streets. Many still react strangely, but there are also those who praise them.

 Nowadays and as a way of adapting to the cities, some mummies choose to wear a blouse or dress and thus avoid harassment, sexual abuse and unpleasant comments, regarding their semi-nudity.

Urgent action needed 

Lately, we have been reading and listening to several complaints about sexual harassment, rape and other negative acts committed by tourists against the Mwilas.

They are usually young adolescents who due to poverty end up receiving money from tourists who transmit the HIV virus to them through temporary sexual involvement or even through sexual rape against their will.

Recently a group of Mumuila women were taken to a hospital, and unfortunately all of them tested positive for HIV. And the virus has been spreading little by little in those communities. Alerts and urgent actions must be taken to prevent the spread of the virus that could wipe out the tribe.