Global InformationOtjize information
Otjize is a mixture of butterfat and ochre pigment used by the Himba people of Namibia to protect themselves from the harsh desert climate. The paste is often perfumed with the aromatic resin of Commiphora multijuga (omuzumba).[1][2] The Himba apply otjize to their skin and hair, which is long and plaited into intricate designs.[3][4][5] Himba women start designing their hair from puberty using the red clay as well as adding on the hair of goats for stylistic purposes.[3] Other documented uses of otjize include initiation ceremonies, the burial of human corpses, and as a mosquito repellent.[5] The use of otjize by both men and women has been documented, with the decline in use by men beginning in the 1960s and attributed to "the presence of the South African Defence Force in the region and the subsequent employment of many men as trackers and soldiers".[5]
Otjize is also used for hygienic purposes due to water scarcity. Over time, otjize flakes off, removing dirt and dead skin. Wood ash is used to wash the hair.[citation needed]
- ^ Crandall, David P. (2004). "Himba Flora Taxonomy and Herbal Medicines". Anthropos. 99 (1): 206. ISSN 0257-9774. JSTOR 40466314.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:0was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Barnett, Errol; Hume, Tim. "The Himba: Namibia's iconic red women". CNN. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
- ^ Wärnlöf, Christofer (2000). "The 'Discovery' of the Himba: The Politics of Ethnographic Film Making". Africa. 70 (2): 176. doi:10.3366/afr.2000.70.2.175. ISSN 0001-9720.
- ^ a b c Rifkin, Riaan F. (2015). "Ethnographic and Experimental Perspectives on the Efficacy of Ochre as a Mosquito Repellent". The South African Archaeological Bulletin. 70 (201): 66. ISSN 0038-1969. JSTOR 24643609.