Mbiri Skincare Uplifts Kunene Communities

The Kunene region in north western Namibia is known for its dry climate, mountainous geography and beautiful scenery.

It is also home to the Commiphora wildii plant, traditionally known as Omumbiri. It is this plant that is the core ingredient the Mbiri Skincare products which one enterprising Namibian produces with the help of communities in Opuwo.

A video editor by profession, Tammy Nott is part of a new generation of Namibian entrepreneurs who are turning natural resources into products that create value in the form of sustainable livelihoods for local communities. These community members are involved from the start to the end of production.

During the dry seasons, the Omumbiri exudes a golden coloured resin that Ovahimba women have been using for centuries as an ingredient in their traditional perfume. Today, the women commercially harvest this resin and get paid for what they collect. ‘The resin is then sent to the community owned Opuwo Processing facility where it is processed to extract an essential oil known as Namibian myrrh,’ says Tammy.

‘Growing up with parents who were involved in conservation set the backdrop for who I am today,’ says Tammy. This background perhaps serving as inspiration for involvement of communities in Opuwo in the making of a product from ingredients that have been a part of their cultural heritage for generations. Tammy’s mother had been extensively involved in conservation in Namibia and most specifically plant resources. Tammy inevitably followed in her footsteps as she grew up spending time in the Kunene Region, attending community meetings in the area, doing plant transects with locals and helping with harvesting.

‘Mbiri supports and uplifts communities by purchasing the natural products that they produce,’ Tammy says. The more Mbiri is sold, the higher the demand for the oil which means harvesters need to collect more raw produce. ‘Through the Omumbiri project there is now a way for women to earn an income from something they have been doing for centuries,’ she says.

Karen Knott from the community factory in Opuwo says that harvesters are also given a glimpse into the operation of the factory. ‘We have also arranged for many of the harvesters to travel to Opuwo and see the factory where the resin they collect is processed and the essential oil extracted. We have witnessed amazing responses from the harvesters – especially when they see examples of the finished products on supermarket shelves. A great sense of pride in the ingredients coming from their resources and traditional knowledge,’ she says.

The processing facility is owned by the Kunene Conservancies Indigenous Natural Products Trust with trustees from the Orupembe, Sanitatas, Okondjombo, Marienfluss and Puros conservancies. Mbiri buys the oil directly from the factory and then uses it in every product. All the profits are channelled back to the harvesters and their communities.

Before laying the foundations that led to the creation of the Mbiri Skincare products, Tammy used the skills she gained from a soap producing course and spent time exploring the use of Namibian myrrh essential oil in different ways. Although she started the project in 2004, it only really became a solid business venture by 2012. Tammy entered the 2013 Namibia’s Essential Oil Challenge Fund Competition which was aimed at encouraging innovative cosmetic use of Omumbiri. She won N$35 000 to start her initiative which helped her establish her Rare Scent Cosmetics venture. This line was later upscaled to meet international regulations, eventually evolving and getting a brand facelift to become Mbiri Skincare products.

‘Mbiri doesn’t just offer a skincare range, it offers a story about people and plants, and of course a story of Namibia,’ Tammy says. She adds that Mbiri is not only unique because it supports community projects but also for the ethical considerations that go into its production. ‘Mbiri allows people to be a part of something bigger where they can buy a high end effective product but at the same time make a difference. People are becoming more conscious of what they are buying and Mbiri offers them a 100% natural and ethical product.’

The product is not tested on animals and ingredients are harvested sustainably. ‘Mbiri products contain no harmful chemicals and the product is biodegradable. All the ingredients are listed on the packaging and the packaging is fully recyclable,’ Tammy says. Its active ingredients are Namibian myrrh, Marula oil and Kalahari melon seed sourced from the Eudafano Women’s Co Operative in Ondangwa. Other active ingredients are sourced from various other African countries. With limited manufacturing resources in Namibia, Mbiri is currently being manufactured in South Africa.

With the market for skincare products being highly competitive, Mbiri stands out as a proudly Namibian product. As Jackey Kasaona, manager of the Opuwo Processing facility, says, ‘this product is contributing a lot to the upliftment of local communities’.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.