When it comes to the enchanting continent of Africa, many people are eager to visit due to its vast wildlife and numerous rare plant species, alongside the many mysterious tribes waiting to be discovered.
In fact, primitive tribes have become a prominent feature of Africa. Most of them live in dense forests and have never had contact with the outside world, allowing them to develop unique customs and languages.
Of course, the most notable characteristic of many tribes is their barbarism, not only towards outsiders but also in various aspects of life, such as nudity for aesthetics or inflicting bodily harm to complete inheritance and coming-of-age rituals. Among these, there is a strange condition where each foot has only two toes. They are referred to as “ostrich people” living in Zimbabwe.
Despite understanding the cause of their foot deformity, the people of this tribe still do not wish to step into the outside world.
In the Zambezi River basin in Zimbabwe and Botswana, there is a tribe called Vadoma, which had been forgotten until it was recently discovered.
The biggest difference between the Vadoma tribe and other tribes lies in their physical appearance. At first glance, the Vadoma people appear normal until you look down at their feet. Normally, feet have 5 toes, but they only have 2, which is very peculiar and likened to the feet of an ostrich. Therefore, the Vadoma are also called “ostrich people.”
This unique foot structure does not cause any issues for the Vadoma people; in fact, they are very skilled at climbing trees. Naturally, due to these special feet, they cannot wear shoes and are always barefoot, regardless of the weather.
Many are curious about why the feet of the Vadoma tribe are like this. Some believe that their ancestors were not from Earth but from another planet, resembling birds. After arriving on Earth, they interbred with humans and produced offspring with feet resembling the claws of ostriches.
Of course, no one believes in this legend; they trust science more. Scientists believe this is a form of mutation. Some studies indicate that this condition is due to inbreeding within the tribe. Those who are related, if marrying and interbreeding closely, can give birth to a deformed child, and this condition is hereditary, so almost all members of the tribe have ostrich-like feet.
Additionally, ostrich feet are not the only condition found in the Vadoma tribe; it has appeared in various places around the world and is referred to as “lobster claw syndrome.” Those who named this condition at that time believed that the deformed heel resembled a lobster’s claw.
As long as the people of these tribes leave their tribes and enter the outside world, this condition will disappear after a few generations. However, for the Vadoma tribe, they do not consider it a disease but rather a gift from heaven and choose not to leave their tribe.
Reports indicate that although this rare condition makes it difficult for many to move, for the Vadoma tribe, it is not seen as a disability. Instead, they celebrate it because those with these special feet can climb trees faster than normal people.
Climbing is a useful skill for tribe members as they practice a traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle.
An ancient legend of the Doma people tells that originally, they had normal feet, but when a woman in the village gave birth to a boy with two odd toes, it frightened everyone. They believed that the child was cursed by the gods. The tribe decided to kill the boy to avoid misfortune.
A year later, that woman gave birth to another child with the same peculiar feet, but this time the tribe’s attitude changed completely.
They believed this was a gift from the gods, so they joyfully celebrated, offering the most precious gifts to the gods in gratitude. Those with normal feet were no longer valued by the tribe.
They even expressed disappointment and frustration whenever a child was born with five normal toes.
For decades, the indigenous Vadoma have refused to integrate with other communities.
The Vadoma live in the western part of Zimbabwe, primarily in the Urungwe and Sipolilo districts along the Zambezi River valley. They speak Chikunda (a form of Turkish) and Kore Kore – the dialect of the Mkorekore tribe, primarily relying on hunting, trapping wild animals, fishing, foraging for fruits, and collecting honey…
Their traditional attire is almost minimal, consisting of a small piece of cloth covering their genitals. Women often carry their children on their backs, while men wear only a thin loincloth. Later, when they came into contact with human civilization, the Vadoma began to wear clothes and acquire some accessories to assist in their daily lives.
However, for many decades, the indigenous Vadoma have still refused to integrate with other minority communities in Zimbabwe, despite many opportunities provided by the local government.
Isolated from human civilization, lacking schools and healthcare services, the Vadoma people seem to be quite content with their current lives. Perhaps this is why the Ostrich Tribe has remained intact to this day.
This refusal to connect with the outside world, like the Vadoma tribe, may lead to even worse consequences, as inbreeding can cause greater damage in the future and other deformities may arise, leading to the tribe’s collapse. For this reason, local authorities are also encouraging the Vadoma tribe to engage more with the outside world.
