Beauty has always existed in Africa. Long before the creation of the many scientifically modified and manufactured products we see today. Indigenous tribes used a plethora of natural ingredients and substances as beauty and holistic health treatments. Today we analyse how traditional clay soils were used by Southern African men, women and traditional healers as a medium for beauty and cultural practices.
Since the dawn of time, beyond ceramics, farming, pottery and beading, natural clays and soils were used to treat minor ailments like food poisoning, infections, body pains and mineral deficiencies. Clay soils have also been used as a beauty treatment to remedy skin conditions.
Ibomvu, a red ochre African clay, has been used by many Southern African people to treat all kinds of beauty and skin ailments. Found in many parts of Southern Africa, including the low-altitude areas of KwaZulu-Natal, a province in South Africa, Ibomvu (also known as Letsoku, Imbola, Luvhundi and Tsumani) is a pigmented iron oxide powdered clay that often varies between light yellow to intense oranges and deep reds. This traditional skin treatment promotes cell regeneration and for centuries has been used to treat acne, fade scars, hyperpigmentation and stretch marks. As a truly holistic ingredient, for centuries men and women have used Ibomvu as a natural hair treatment mask.
The wonder of it comes from clay soils, which are soft mineral substances that are products of weathered volcanic ash. Because clay is an organic material, the composition of the clay is dependent on the physical and chemical environmental factors it was exposed to over a period of time. This means that just like how there are no two identical fingerprints, it is impossible to find two identical clays. Clay comes from different sources, meaning each source with its own unique mineral compositions. According to the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports Volume 47, February 2023, 103690, despite the having unique compositions, natural clays like Ibomvu typically contain minerals like quartz, biotites, sulphates, carbonates, iron, feldspars and aluminium. As an Iron oxides with naturally occurring minerals Ibomvu is known to be safe, gentle, non-toxic on the surface of the skin, and often helps with protecting the skin from visible light and ultraviolet radiation.
Dating back to approximately 400,000–500,000 years ago, Ibomvu which is the Zulu word for "red clay", has been used by San hunter-gatherers, Tswana, Zulu, Xhosa, Khoe-Khoe, Nama, and Himba tribes of southern Africa. In addition to its symbolic and traditional uses, Ibomvu has also been used as a natural sunscreen by both men and women in South Africa. To date many women in South Africa still use Ibomvu as a natural beauty treatment, mixing the powder with water and applying the paste to their faces or body to remedy whatever skin ailments they may be dealing with.
