ECOVISION MAGAZINE JAN - MARCH 2021

PHOTO CREDIT PIET FLOUR
A HIMBA WOMAN TAKING A SMOKE BATH
SMOKE BATH
AN ANCIENT BEAUTY
RITUAL
A smoke bath, is a an ancient
beauty tradition observed in
various parts of Africa. This
article focuses, on the smoke
bath tradition of the Himba
women.
The Himba are a semi-nomadic
tribe found in Northern Namibia.
They herd and breed livestock
as a way of life.They also farm
grain crops like maize and millet.
Himba women, are forbidden to
use water for bathing. Instead
they have daily smoke baths to
maintain hygiene. The smoke
bath is taken, by adding leaves
and branches of Commiphora
trees( myrrh) to a bowl of
burning charcoal .
Women of the Himba tribe, are
also well known for rubbing
their bodies with otjize, Otjize is
a mixture of butter fat and
ochre, This cosmetic mixture,
not only gives their skin a
distinctive red glow, but is
believed to also, protect their
skin against the harsh climate.
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