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Himba Girl
Red Ocher
Mixture
The beautiful Himba girl
in the above picture is married as she is wearing ornaments on top of her
braided hair. These ornaments, which young unmarried girls do not wear,
identify her as being married. Note also the ornaments around her neck and
the conch shell that hangs above her breasts. The conch shell is only worn
by married women and is a symbol of fertility. In addition, they often wear
a leather plate with metal studs that hangs down their backs. Every morning,
Himba girls start the day by covering themselves with a cream made out of
butter fat, herbs, ash, and red ocher. The mixture offers some protection
against the harsh desert sun, but its primary function is to tint the body a
reddish-brown color which Himba girls and women find appealing. In contrast
to Himba girls and women, Himba men do not use the red ocher mixture and
often wear western clothes.
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