20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Muhacaona Woman

The Mucawana (Muhacaona) are indigenous or aboriginal nomadic agriculturalist people living in Cunene (Kunene) province of remote South Angola. They occupy a southern land isolated by deserts and mountains from the rest of the country and have kept their ethnic individuality and culture in their seclusion. They have fashionable hairstyles made with a mix of cow dungs, fat, and herbs for the fragrance and decorated with beads and braids. Aluminum tubes from cans are also used to decorate a leather headers that many women wear as part of their fashion.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 06.2022
Date Uploaded: 11.2022
Photo Location: Angola
Camera: ILCE-7RM4
Copyright: © Beverly Houwing