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THE OSTRICH PEOPLE OF THE DOMA TRIBE, ZIMBABWE 
They only have two toes on each foot.
So their feet are V-shaped, like those of an ostrich
They only have two toes on each foot.
So their feet are V-shaped, like those of an ostrich
AKA
The "Ostrich" people are members of the Doma tribe also known as the:
Dema Tribe
Bantwana Tribe (children/descendants)
Two-toed Tribe
Ostrich people
vaDoma
LANGUAGES: Chikunda (Portuguese) and KoreKore.
The "Ostrich" people are members of the Doma tribe also known as the:
Dema Tribe
Bantwana Tribe (children/descendants)
Two-toed Tribe
Ostrich people
vaDoma
LANGUAGES: Chikunda (Portuguese) and KoreKore.
LOCATION
They live in the Kanyemba region, north of Zimbabwe
They are commonly found in the Urungwe and Sipolilo districts close to Mwazamutanda River, on the Zambezi River Valley
They live in the Kanyemba region, north of Zimbabwe
They are commonly found in the Urungwe and Sipolilo districts close to Mwazamutanda River, on the Zambezi River Valley
QUICK FACTS 
They canāt wear shoes because of the shape of their feet.
They donāt have middle toes and the two outer ones are turned in.
Itās hard for them to walk and damn near impossible for them to run.
They canāt wear shoes because of the shape of their feet.
They donāt have middle toes and the two outer ones are turned in.
Itās hard for them to walk and damn near impossible for them to run.
LIFESTYLE
They are hunters and gatherers. So they rely on hunting, fishing, honey and gathering wild fruits and roots
They make beer from wild fruits
RECIPE: They boil the fruits continuously for seven days.
[I know youāre getting ideas so I won't say which fruits!
]
![LIFESTYLEThey are hunters and gatherers. So they rely on hunting, fishing, honey and gathering wild fruits and rootsThey make beer from wild fruitsRECIPE: They boil the fruits continuously for seven days.[I know youāre getting ideas so I won't say which fruits! ]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EZSwZ92X0AEpnDG.jpg "LIFESTYLEThey are hunters and gatherers. So they rely on hunting, fishing, honey and gathering wild fruits and rootsThey make beer from wild fruitsRECIPE: They boil the fruits continuously for seven days.[I know youāre getting ideas so I won't say which fruits! ]")
They are hunters and gatherers. So they rely on hunting, fishing, honey and gathering wild fruits and roots
They make beer from wild fruits
RECIPE: They boil the fruits continuously for seven days.
[I know youāre getting ideas so I won't say which fruits!
]
SADLY...
... because of civilisation, itās hard for the whole tribe to do that now
Hunting is now called poaching if one doesn't have a hunting license. Picking fruits beyond the fence is called trespassing
Plus they have little access to fertile land
... because of civilisation, itās hard for the whole tribe to do that now
Hunting is now called poaching if one doesn't have a hunting license. Picking fruits beyond the fence is called trespassing
Plus they have little access to fertile land
One article said: āThey live on rich land so if they learnt to use the right skills and equipment they could farm. But due to their dislike for change, their future is bleakā
Boo
Iām sure a govt official wrote that! On a āLetās call them lazy instead of helping them" tip
Boo
Iām sure a govt official wrote that! On a āLetās call them lazy instead of helping them" tip
ORIGINS
āThe elders of the people say their ancestors were bird-like beings who came from the stars & mixed their DNA with women to produce offspring. The say their ancestors came from the star, Sirius, and settled on a planet within our solar system that they call Liitolafisiā
āThe elders of the people say their ancestors were bird-like beings who came from the stars & mixed their DNA with women to produce offspring. The say their ancestors came from the star, Sirius, and settled on a planet within our solar system that they call Liitolafisiā
Another tale says their ancestors came out of a Baobab tree fully grown and as soon as they got out they immediately moved on to their routine of hunting and gathering
It's rumoured that the vaDoma people are capable of disappearing in the forest and can perform
magic
It's rumoured that the vaDoma people are capable of disappearing in the forest and can perform
magic
They hate fabric clothes and prefer 'bushmen' type dressing
Children under 10 donāt wear any clothes at all
Because of the high temperatures in the Zambezi basin, the Doma donāt roof their house, only thatching them when the rain comes and this is how they sleep on an open roof
Children under 10 donāt wear any clothes at all
Because of the high temperatures in the Zambezi basin, the Doma donāt roof their house, only thatching them when the rain comes and this is how they sleep on an open roof
BIOLOGY
The two-toe condition is known as ectrodactyly. Itās caused by a mutation of chromosome 7. Itās an inherited dominant genetic mutation
[IMO: Their lifestyle required to climb trees so their feet changed to suit the purpose according to Darwinās Theory of Adaptation
]
![BIOLOGYThe two-toe condition is known as ectrodactyly. Itās caused by a mutation of chromosome 7. Itās an inherited dominant genetic mutation[IMO: Their lifestyle required to climb trees so their feet changed to suit the purpose according to Darwinās Theory of Adaptation ]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EZSwd0TWsAw-cQD.jpg "BIOLOGYThe two-toe condition is known as ectrodactyly. Itās caused by a mutation of chromosome 7. Itās an inherited dominant genetic mutation[IMO: Their lifestyle required to climb trees so their feet changed to suit the purpose according to Darwinās Theory of Adaptation ]")
The two-toe condition is known as ectrodactyly. Itās caused by a mutation of chromosome 7. Itās an inherited dominant genetic mutation
[IMO: Their lifestyle required to climb trees so their feet changed to suit the purpose according to Darwinās Theory of Adaptation
]
MARRIAGE
Marriage was/is between relatives. It's against tribal law to marry outside the group
They live in isolation so they marry one another and thatās how the shape of their feet has remained like that over the years.
Lobola was paid in the form of beads
Marriage was/is between relatives. It's against tribal law to marry outside the group
They live in isolation so they marry one another and thatās how the shape of their feet has remained like that over the years.
Lobola was paid in the form of beads
NOTA BENE (NB)
The two-toed people within vaDoma community are not looked down on or regarded as handicapped.
They are accepted and remain well-integrated into the tribe.
Not everyone in the tribe has two toes. Others have web-like toes and others have ānormalā feet
The two-toed people within vaDoma community are not looked down on or regarded as handicapped.
They are accepted and remain well-integrated into the tribe.
Not everyone in the tribe has two toes. Others have web-like toes and others have ānormalā feet
PRESENT DAY
After independence, the vaDoma had to be included in the government development plans.
But the vaDoma didnāt trust outsiders. So the government left food and clothes handouts at the bottom of the mountains. The vaDoma would take these without being seen.
After independence, the vaDoma had to be included in the government development plans.
But the vaDoma didnāt trust outsiders. So the government left food and clothes handouts at the bottom of the mountains. The vaDoma would take these without being seen.
So thatās how it went for a while; officials leaving handouts and the vaDoma taking them. Until some trust was established and the vaDoma resettled to lower grounds
The idea (by the government) was to integrate them into society and help them to gain access to schools etc
The idea (by the government) was to integrate them into society and help them to gain access to schools etc
WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT DOING?
Nothing
The majority of the people are very poor.
So the government lured them from the mountains, made them settle on lower ground, sold them promises and forgot about them?
I see.
Nothing
The majority of the people are very poor.
So the government lured them from the mountains, made them settle on lower ground, sold them promises and forgot about them?
I see.
Most children donāt go to school because they donāt have decent clothes, canāt afford fees/levies and have to cross the Mwazamutanda River which gets flooded.
So ya they just donāt go to school
So ya they just donāt go to school
Because of the high temperatures in the Zambezi basin, the Doma donāt roof their house.
They only thatch them when the rain comes
[The mosquitoes ke? Tsetse flies? Summer rains?
]
![Because of the high temperatures in the Zambezi basin, the Doma donāt roof their house.They only thatch them when the rain comes[The mosquitoes ke? Tsetse flies? Summer rains? ]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EZSwg1ZXYAI1_Mp.jpg "Because of the high temperatures in the Zambezi basin, the Doma donāt roof their house.They only thatch them when the rain comes[The mosquitoes ke? Tsetse flies? Summer rains? ]")
They only thatch them when the rain comes
[The mosquitoes ke? Tsetse flies? Summer rains?
]
Not much is written about them unfortunately.
Only a few people have encountered pure-bred members of the vaDoma.
There are a few documentaries on YouTube, thatās where I got most of the information
THE END
Only a few people have encountered pure-bred members of the vaDoma.
There are a few documentaries on YouTube, thatās where I got most of the information
THE END
PS: Someone told me that the Government doesn't want to improve their lifestyle or encourage them to travel so that they can stay there where they are to avoid having them date/marry other people and 'spreading' the two-toed condition.
I don't know how far true that is
I don't know how far true that is
