Himba Otjize Paste: The Red Beauty

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Makeup has been a top activity for females long before the modern age. It is no secret that the ancient pharaohs appeared in makeup, reinforcing their political and divine statuses. However, according to history, the people of Egypt are not the only tribe to use makeup in Africa. 

So, what tribes take up the other spots? The Himba people of Namibia.

Himba Otjize red paste is the name given to the form of makeup used by Himba females for beautification. Part skincare routine and part cultural ritual, the use of this rich blend of ochre soil and butterfat is not just about beauty, but a living sign of female power and strength, their connection to the earth.

Unlike various global beauty companies searching across continents for the next natural skincare solution, the Himba have silently mastered the art of applying otjize for generations past and present, proving that, once again, true beauty and radiance largely stem from culture and tradition. 

Who are the Himba people?

The Himba people originate from the arid Kunene region of Namibia, a country in the western part of Southern Africa. Despite being bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean, it is known as the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa. The Himba people are renowned for their steadfastness to ancient traditions, such as little clothing and the application of otjize.

The Himba (OvaHimba) are a semi-nomadic pastoralist tribe, as they build and live in homesteads near their cultivations and farmsteads, and also move due to rainfall and access to water. They speak a variety of Herero called OtjiHimba and are considered the last semi-nomadic Namibian tribe.

Ochre face by Kamili Safaris

What Is Otjize?

Otijze serves as a timely reminder of the tribe’s practical, cultural, and symbolic significance, as it is their most distinctive practice. Members of the tribe make otijze by mixing butterfat with finely ground pigment of ochre, along with some aromatic resins, one of which is the Omuzumba shrub, which enhances the functions of the paste.

Butterfat is simply animal fat, and the ochre pigment refers to the natural clay pigment of the soil on which the Himba live. The ochre pigment is obtained by pounding the soil or its stones (hematite) into a fine powder, which makes it easy to mix.

This mixture is meticulously prepared and stored by the females to protect their precious skin from the harsh and unforgiving sunrays in the Namibian desert. It also helps keep the skin cool and prevents evaporation and sweating in a land where access to water is limited. The paste is applied generously until it is almost one with the skin.

Other than the protective quality of otjize, it also serves as an insect repellent, keeping the skin safe from the insects that seek to gorge themselves on rich Himba skin and blood.

What Does It Stand For?

More importantly, the otjize paste connotes deeper cultural meanings and contexts. The colour of the ochre represents the earth and blood, which are significant elements of the Himba culture and cosmology. They stand for fertility (soil) and life (blood), which signify their connection to the ancestral Himbas and their land. Otjize is applied differently in age groups, namely the young girl, the one getting ready to get married, the newly married, and the woman with children.

Mother and Child by William Matews/Flickr

While Otjize is generally applied, each stage comes with a specific approach to hairstyling and accessory wear. Instances abound – young girls not yet ready for marriage wear their ochre-infused hair to cover their faces, signifying that they are not prepared. The females ready for marriage wear their hair backward, exposing their faces.

Also, a married woman who has not given birth to children wears the Ornate Erembe, a headdress made of animal skin. After she puts to bed, she can then wear the Ohumba or cone shell, which signifies fertility.

All of these help maintain the Himba culture as it has been preserved from the days of old.

Conclusion

The Himba tell us that beauty goes beyond the face; it is a process that involves the entire body. By wearing otjize, we become one with the nature that we come from, signifying that there is life in the living and the dead. It also shows how, through fashion, one can embrace the present culture while keeping in touch with the past.