Smearing the Bride in Butterfat, Namibia

Like the Czech people, people from the Namibian Himba tribe kidnap their bride. Except they do so to pamper her. They dress her in a leather headdress and expensive jewelry. They put herbs and butterfat on her skin and in her hair. After the ceremony, the groom’s family also puts butterfat ointment on her. This signals her acceptance into the family.