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28 November 2025
In the far north of Namibia, beyond the quiet desert roads and the copper heat, lives a tradition that the Himba people wear with deep, unbroken pride — otjize, the red ochre paste. It is not merely a cosmetic ritual; it is history carried on the skin.
Women mix butterfat and crushed red stone to create the ochre coating that protects them from the harsh desert sun. But there is something more — a sense of belonging. The earthy red becomes a symbol of identity, beauty, and continuity in a world that changes too quickly for most cultures to hold their centre.
Visitors often stare in admiration, but for the Himba, this is not a performance — it is a living archive. A message that some traditions are too sacred to dilute.
In a world running toward sameness, Namibia stands steady, coloured in resilience.
Rajat Chandra Sarmah
Guwahati, Assam, India
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