A child stands by the door, and someone traces the child’s height with every notch on the door jamb. This is a story from every childhood, told through an integral part of the entryways of home.
The hamba, or jamb, is the frame that surrounds windows or doors, serving to support these so they stay firmly on the wall. The door relies on the framing or the jambs and other components such as the hinges so that it can hang on the wall, perpendicular to the floor.
Without the jamb, the door has the tendency to topple down or look crooked.
We can see the Hamba in all our doors, from our indigenous doors to our more present-day doors. Some Hamba are made of bamboo, lumber, or even concrete.
Thus, the hamba in most homes can tell each family’s story.
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