A Closer Look at the Incredible Vision of the Himba Tribe
In the animal kingdom, senses such as vision adapt naturally to the environments we live in. Of course, evolutionary adaptations can only happen so fast, and, in contrast, there appears to be no limit to the speed the world around us is changing.
In just a few hundred years, the average person’s day has changed beyond all recognition. From spending hours each day outdoors in open spaces, exposed to natural light, colours, and contrasts, and tracking objects at a range of distances, to sitting in an office, staring at a screen all day, it’s no surprise we are experiencing an uptick in some visual problems, such as myopia.
Of course, being immersed in our day-to-day activities and commitments, we are unlikely to notice the effects of these changes. That is, until we consider the experiences of individuals from other societies. Take the Himba tribe, for example.
Meet the Himba Tribe
A traditional, semi-nomadic people numbering around 50,000, the Himba occupy parts of Namibia, where they continue ancient traditions in the face of the modern world.
They are often known for their striking appearance, which for married women includes the application of otijze, a paste made from butter, fat, and red ochre, to their hair. But their way of life may be just as distinctive as their fashions.
In fact, the Himba are one of the few tribes remaining around the world who have managed to avoid many of the developments of modern societies. Limited contact with the outside world means that the Himba are living in much the same way as their ancestors have for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.
This preservation of lifestyle and culture may offer some meaningful insights into how modern life may be altering our vision. In particular, some research has made some striking findings in relation to our focus.
A society designed for undistracted focus
The life of the Himba tribe is largely built around rearing cattle, goats, and sheep. While the men may leave the village for days at a time to direct the livestock to the best grazing grounds, the women remain to raise the children, perform domestic tasks and build and maintain the homes. Oftentimes, if there are no good grazing grounds nearby, it is not uncommon for the whole village to relocate.
Over the years, researchers have found that the Himba are able to see fine details and ignore distractions much more effectively than most people.
In one study, members of the tribe were asked to focus on certain objects on a screen. It was found that they were less easily distracted by the movements of other objects on the same screen – less so than any groups previously studied!
The researchers came up with several theories as to why the Himba have such exceptional vision.
One potential explanation may be related to the act of rearing animals. While spending the majority of their time outdoors, and the absence of large buildings blocking the horizon, the Himba can easily focus across a range of distances. Moreover, identifying their livestock by their markings can be essential to daily life. The various daily practices of herding could potentially train them with a focus and attention that is lacking in many modern societies.
Another explanation may simply be a lack of distractions. After all, in modern settings, there are countless distractions to draw our attention and affect our concentration. As one researcher pointed out, urban environments are more cluttered and filled with stimuli all vying for our attention.
And then there are the stressors of urban life. While the Himba certainly have to work hard to make a living, there are very few distractions, such as those seen in the hustle and bustle of city life. The constant movement of objects and people can put us on high alert, priming our nervous and visual systems to stay on guard against potential threats.
This last theory supports the idea that other aspects of our lives may affect our vision.
For example, psychologist Richard Nesbitt, from the University of Michigan, has conducted research into how our vision may be influenced by our social lives. During his study, he found that people who live in more interdependent, collectivist societies, who focus on the context of a social situation, also tend to have more contextual visual focus.
This means they are able to take a wider view of a scene, pay more attention to the backgrounds in pictures, and are less analytical and more holistic. In comparison, individuals from more independence-focused societies tend to have a narrower and content-oriented view as well as less stable focus.
The Himba may have preserved many aspects of their traditional culture and lifestyle – perhaps to the benefit of their vision; however, like the rest of the world, the Himba are changing. Younger generations are increasingly turning to more modern societies for a more prosperous life, while interactions with outsiders are on the rise. As this shift takes hold, researchers have found that tribe members who have left their village for modern societies have experienced a deterioration in vision and perception. Interestingly, even short day trips into nearby towns have been found to have an impact on individuals’ perception.
Research into the vision of the Himba tribe provides compelling evidence that our vision and perception are not simply hardwired. Rather, they appear to be shaped by our experiences and perhaps even our culture. As such, the visual abilities of the Himba may change as their lives do.
Laser Eye Surgery may not be able to promise you the vision of the Himba, but it could help you ditch those pesky glasses and contact lenses. To learn more, get in touch with one of our friendly clinic coordinators or Book a Consultation today.
