‘There was nothing more painful than being called Boesman in a derogatory manner’ — Gerry Elsdon

Gerry Elsdon has reflected on her experience when exploring the Himba culture while on vacation.  

The media personality took to her social media timeline recently to share images from her getaway. 

The experiences on the trip led her to reflect on how she was bullied as young girl over her physical appearance. 

"There was nothing worse or more painful than being called Boesman or Hottentot in a derogatory manner as a kid based on my physical features and my hair texture. Reciting 'sticks and stones' didn't always take the hurt away," she wrote.  

Gerry said she found sitting around the "holy fire" with a Himba family an eye-opening experience.

"The Himba are known for their red skin and red matted dreadlocks, painstakingly styled by mixing animal fat, ash and ground ochre, made and worn by the women. They were happy to demonstrate and that was a perfect segue to get out of the holy circle. My dreadlocks made very little impression on this crowd.

"The demonstration was amazing. The ochre paste t they ground on a stone acts as moisturiser and sun protection and it works. I had one light arm to prove it after I managed to scrub it off. Himba women begin to wear the paste from puberty," she said.

Gerry shared more escapades while on her getaway.