Himba village - otjize paste
We visited one of the Himba villages in Kunene, and had the opportunity to learn a little bit about their culture.
Himba women use a red paste called otjize to protect their skin from the harsh sun. They also use the paste on their hair and jewelry.
We visited one of the Himba villages in Kunene, and had the opportunity to learn a little bit about their culture.
Himba women use a red paste called otjize to protect their skin from the harsh sun. They also use the paste on their hair and jewelry.
They make the paste from ochre powder and fat (or vaseline).
The ground ochre was very, very soft and smelled very nice!
The fat, and sometimes resins, are mixed with the ocre powder
in a horn jar, and the paste is then ready to use.
The leftover paste is stored in the horn jars.
