Himbacracy Philosophy and the Gendered Realities of Value, Marriage, and Silent Struggles
Introduction
The Himbacracy Philosophy
emerges as a critical lens through which to examine social inequalities,
cultural traditions, and the lived realities of men and women in contemporary
society. At its core, Himbacracy is concerned with justice, dignity, and the
recognition of value beyond material or superficial measures. It highlights how
unfair structures have historically dictated whose voice is heard, whose
struggles are acknowledged, and whose dreams are validated.
This essay explores the paradoxes
of gender roles within relationships, love, and marriage, using the insights
shared by Mr. Musengua Abubakar Given Tjijeura as an anchor. It reflects on how
women and men are differently perceived and valued in society, how cultural
traditions intersect with modern expectations of marriage, and how these
realities can be understood through the guiding principles of Himbacracy.
The Unfairness of Dreams and Love
In many communities, women are
encouraged to dream of princes, fairy-tale weddings, and romantic fulfillment.
Yet, for some women, especially those from disadvantaged or “broken”
backgrounds, life conditions deny even the possibility of dreaming about love.
Poverty, social inequality, and patriarchal structures impose barriers that
suffocate such aspirations. The Himbacracy Philosophy recognizes this as a
fundamental injustice: the denial of the right to dream freely.
Men, on the other hand, are often
excluded from sympathy. Society expects them to remain silent in their
suffering, only granting recognition once they have achieved material success.
Rarely does anyone ask a struggling man if he is well. Instead, men are valued
for what they can provide rather than for who they are as human beings. Within
the Himbacracy framework, this silence surrounding men’s struggles is
understood as a destructive cultural norm, one that erases vulnerability and
enforces a performance of strength at all costs.
Beauty, Value, and the Silent
Hustle
A further gendered imbalance lies
in the criteria by which men and women are valued. Women are often admired for
their beauty, while men are measured by their value, productivity, or wealth.
Such asymmetry distorts human relationships by reducing them to transactions of
appearance and worth.
Himbacracy critiques this imbalance
by insisting on the recognition of the soul, the inner humanity that
transcends beauty and material value. Yet, the prevailing order drives men to
hustle in silence, because they know that until they “win” materially, society
will not care for them. The philosophy here calls for a re-evaluation: men’s
silent struggles must not be ignored, and women’s dreams must not be dismissed.
To live in accordance with Himbacracy is to honor both beauty and value, but
more importantly, to recognize the dignity of the soul itself.
Marriage as a Site of Cultural and
Economic Tension
Mr. Musengua Abubakar Given
Tjijeura highlights another dimension of unfairness: the institution of
marriage. In Otjihimba tradition, marriage can take a modest form, symbolized by
one sheep and a crate of alcohol worth about N$1,500. This form affirms the
union without excessive financial strain, prioritizing communal recognition
over wealth.
By contrast, modernized marriage
practices have become highly commercialized. To marry in this manner, a man may
be required to provide three cattle valued at around N$40,000, along with food
and celebrations costing N$30,000 for a single weekend. What was once a
communal bond has become an economic burden, draining resources in pursuit of
societal validation.
The Himbacracy Philosophy
challenges this wastefulness. It argues that love and union should not be
measured by the extravagance of the ceremony, but by the strength of the bond
and the commitment between partners. In this sense, marriage becomes a lens through
which cultural values are tested: do we uphold traditions that sustain
community dignity, or do we embrace practices that privilege status and
consumption over true partnership?
Power, Choice, and Responsibility
in Men’s Hands
Mr. Tjijeura notes that marriage
ultimately rests in men’s power: they choose whether to marry in a simple,
traditional way or in a lavish, modern one. This power underscores the broader
patriarchal structure that gives men the final say, even though the financial
strain and cultural performance often overshadow the actual relationship.
From a Himbacracy perspective, this
power is not neutral. It comes with responsibility. Men must exercise choice
not only for personal pride or public approval but for the sustainability of
families and communities. The philosophy calls for wisdom: a recognition that
wasting resources to prove manhood undermines both the individual and the
society. Instead, men should be guided by justice, sustainability, and respect
for cultural heritage.
Himbacracy’s Call for Balance and
Justice
The Himbacracy Philosophy insists
that societies cannot flourish when women are denied the right to dream, when
men are silenced in their pain, and when marriage is transformed into an
economic contest. It advocates for:
- Restoring
dignity in human relationships
– recognizing people for their inner worth rather than their external
beauty or material value.
- Validating
silent struggles
– acknowledging men’s vulnerabilities and creating spaces for them to be
heard without stigma.
- Protecting
women’s dreams
– ensuring that even the most marginalized women are free to dream of
love, dignity, and self-fulfillment.
- Redefining
marriage –
choosing sustainable cultural practices that affirm community bonds
without depleting family resources.
In this way, Himbacracy envisions a
future where fairness is not a privilege but a shared reality.
Conclusion
The reflections on love, value, and
marriage shared by Mr. Musengua Abubakar Given Tjijeura reveal much about the
current struggles within society. Women face limitations in their ability to
dream, men are forced into silent endurance, and marriage has become a costly
spectacle rather than a sacred union.
Through the Himbacracy Philosophy,
these injustices are not only critiqued but reframed as opportunities for
transformation. By embracing fairness, recognizing dignity, and resisting
wasteful practices, societies can move toward a more balanced and humane order.
In this vision, men and women alike are free to dream, to struggle openly, and
to unite in marriage without the burden of unnecessary economic display.
Himbacracy thus stands as a
philosophy of justice, reminding us that the value of life cannot be reduced to
beauty, wealth, or ceremony. It is found in the soul, the dream, and the shared
commitment to fairness and dignity for all.
What concrete steps can be taken to dismantle the societal norms that dictate how men and women should express vulnerability and strength?
ReplyDeleteThank you for that insightful question. Dismantling the societal norms that dictate how men and women should express vulnerability and strength requires both cultural introspection and structural transformation. Within the framework of Himbacracy, this process begins with restoring human dignity and redefining what it means to be strong or weak.
ReplyDelete1. Re-educating Cultural Perceptions
Societies must intentionally challenge the cultural scripts that equate masculinity with emotional silence and femininity with dependence. This can be done through community dialogues, storytelling, and educational programmes that promote emotional intelligence for both boys and girls from an early age. Schools, churches, and media platforms should highlight that vulnerability is not weakness, but a sign of humanity and connection.
2. Encouraging Inclusive Conversations
Public and private spaces should provide room for men and women to share their emotional realities without stigma. Men’s groups, support circles, and mentorship initiatives can help redefine male identity in a more compassionate light, while women’s platforms should also promote the strength in resilience without glorifying suffering.
3. Policy and Institutional Support
Workplaces, educational institutions, and religious organisations must actively create safe environments for expression. Mental health advocacy, counselling accessibility, and awareness campaigns are crucial steps in normalising emotional openness for everyone.
4. Restoring Cultural Balance through Himbacracy
From the Himbacratic perspective, both strength and vulnerability are sacred states of the human condition. The philosophy calls for a balance, where men can cry without shame, and women can lead without being labelled as unfeminine. Dismantling these norms therefore means returning to the recognition of Ubuntu-like humanity, the idea that dignity lies not in domination or endurance, but in shared compassion and justice.
In essence, concrete steps must address both mindsets and systems: changing what we teach, how we communicate, and the spaces we create. Only then can vulnerability and strength coexist as complementary virtues rather than opposites.