Growing Up Sexually

 

 

BAHIMA, HIMA (HAMITES, Uganda)

 

Index Africa Uganda Hima

 

Featured: Ik, Gisu, Acholi, Sebei, Bahima/Bahuma [Hima, Bahuma Bajoro], Bachiga, Lango, Nkole, Ganda, Kiziba, Lugbara, Jie, Iteso, Bwamba, Baamba, So, Guang


 

According to Roscoe (1907:p104)[1], both sexes of the Bahima tribe are betrothed “whilst they are quite young; the mother has the care of the girls and keeps strict watch over them so that they may grow up pure. Girls are therefore in constant attendance upon their mother; is she goes away from home to visit relations, the daughter goes too”. Consummation occurs three days after marriage, the date of which is not elaborated upon (p105).

Hima girls are kept very strictly chaste until marriage […]”, although until age six the sexes are free to mix (Elam, 1973:p54, 84-7)[2], and “[…] from her first infant steps a Hima girl is oriented toward marriage”.

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

Janssen, D. F., Growing Up Sexually. VolumeI. World Reference Atlas. 0.2 ed. 2004. Berlin: Magnus Hirschfeld Archive for Sexology

Last revised: Sept 2004

 



[1] Roscoe, J. (1907) The Bahima: A Cow Tribe of Enkole in the Uganda Protectorate, J Anthropol Instit Great Britain & Ireland 37:93-118

[2]Elam, Y. (1973) The Social and Sexual Roles of Hima Women: A Study of Nomadic Cattle Breeders in NyabushoziCounty, Ankole, Uganda. Manchester