How the Himba Prepare Otjize, Namibia's Iconic Red Ochre Paste

Otjize is one of the most recognizable features of Himba culture. It is the famous red paste worn on the skin and hair by many Himba women in northern Namibia and southern Angola.

But otjize is not just “makeup.” Academic sources describe it as part of dress, beauty, identity, skin care, and cultural belonging. Austin Sterling Cameron describes otjize as “a mixture of animal fat and red ochre” (Cameron, 2013, p. 24), while Gregor Borg and Margaret Jacobsohn describe it more specifically as “powdered mineral haematite, butterfat and an aromatic resin” (Borg & Jacobsohn, 2013, p. 46).

What Is Otjize Made From?

The main ingredients are:

• Red ochre or haematite pigment

• Animal fat or butterfat

• Aromatic resin, often linked to the omuzumba shrub

• Sometimes goat-butterfat, according to scientific research

A scientific article in Scientific Reports describes Himba otjize as a cosmetic mixture of “goat-butterfat and ochre pigment” (Havenga et al., 2022, p. 2). The same study discusses its protective properties, including UV-blocking and antibacterial effects.

Further Reading

Havenga et al. (2022)

From Himba Indigenous Knowledge to Engineered Fe2O3 UV-Blocking Green Nanocosmetics

Relevant pages: 1–2

Read the study

Step 1: Collect Red Ochre or Haematite

The red color of otjize comes from haematite, a mineral rich in iron oxide. Borg and Jacobsohn document a source known as Otjize or Ovihende, located between Sesfontein and Opuwo in northwestern Namibia.

Hematite (Fe₂O₃), this red ochre formation is the natural source of the pigment that gives Himba otjize its distinctive color and cultural significance

In their research, Himba women are described as mining and carrying haematite ore. This gives the paste its deep red color.

Step 2: Break the Ochre Into Smaller Pieces

After the haematite is collected, it must be broken down. Borg and Jacobsohn describe the pigment source as ore that is removed in chunks before being prepared for use.

This step matters because otjize cannot be made from large stones. The mineral must first be reduced into smaller pieces that can be ground into powder.

Step 3: Grind the Ochre Into Powder

The next step is grinding. The red haematite is turned into a fine powder. Borg and Jacobsohn describe the ingredient as “powdered mineral haematite” (2013, p. 46).

This powdered ochre is the base of otjize. Without this stage, the paste would not spread smoothly across the skin and hair.

Further Reading

Borg, Gregor, and Margaret Jacobsohn (2013)

“Ladies in Red: Mining and Use of Red Pigment by Himba Women in Northwestern Namibia”

Relevant pages: 44–51

See bibliographic record

Step 4: Mix the Powder With Butterfat

Once the ochre is powdered, it is mixed with fat. Cameron gives the broad description as “animal fat and red ochre” (2013, p. 24). Other sources specify butterfat or goat-butterfat.

This fat helps turn the powder into a paste. It also helps the otjize stick to the skin and hair.

Step 5: Add Aromatic Resin

The paste may also include aromatic resin. Borg and Jacobsohn describe otjize as containing “an aromatic resin” (2013, p. 46). Havenga et al. connect this resin to omuzumba, identified as Commiphora multijuga (2022, p. 2).

This resin gives otjize scent and may also be part of its traditional body-care role.

Step 6: Store the Finished Paste

Borg and Jacobsohn note that otjize may be stored and carried in a small container known as ozonja, traditionally made from cattle horn and covered with leather.

This detail shows that otjize is not only prepared once for display. It is part of everyday grooming and traditional adornment.

Step 7: Apply Otjize to Skin, Hair, and Adornment

Otjize is applied to the body and hair. Borg and Jacobsohn also mention its use on leather clothing and jewelry. Cameron writes that fully covering the body in otjize is considered part of the ideal traditional appearance for Himba females (2013, p. 24).

In Cameron’s interviews, one Himba respondent said girls in the village “must always wear the traditional [clothes] and otjize” (Cameron, 2013, p. 50). Another said Himba women “must always wear otjize” (Cameron, 2013, p. 54).

Himba otjize is prepared by collecting red haematite, breaking and grinding it into powder, mixing it with butterfat, adding aromatic resin, storing it, and applying it to the skin, hair, clothing, or adornment.

Its fame comes from its vivid red color, but its importance is cultural as much as cosmetic. Otjize is a living tradition connected to Himba beauty, identity, and daily life.

Source Transparency

This article relies on a university thesis, academic publication records, and a peer-reviewed scientific journal article. The strongest evidence covers ingredients, preparation sequence, cultural use, and scientific properties. Evidence is thinner for exact household measurements and regional recipe variation.

Sources and reference

Cameron, Austin Sterling. The Influence of Media on Himba Conceptions of Dress, Ancestral and Cattle Worship, and the Implications for Culture Change. Brigham Young University, 2013. BYU ScholarsArchive

Borg, Gregor, and Margaret Jacobsohn. “Ladies in Red: Mining and Use of Red Pigment by Himba Women in Northwestern Namibia.” 2013. Bibliographic record

Havenga, D., et al. “From Himba Indigenous Knowledge to Engineered Fe2O3 UV-Blocking Green Nanocosmetics.” Scientific Reports, 2022. Nature / Scientific Reports

Molefe, Ontibile. Physico-Chemical Characterization of African Traditional Cosmetics Produced by the Ovahimba Tribes of Northern Namibia. University of the Witwatersrand, 2015. Thesis handle