 Image of Douna Ge, Makeup Artist SudanFrom as long as I can remember I have always been intrigued with learning about other cultures, their natural remedies, and their beauty secrets. I am thankful to be able to have friends and family originally from countries all over the world. We all have so much to learn from one another. This is why I chose to create a blog series I call, Ancient Beauty Secrets from Around the World. Our first stop, Sudan. Let us get started!  Location of Sudan on a globe Brief History Sudan in Arabic means, “Land of the Black”. It was the home of the great kingdoms of Kush and Nubia. Located in the northeast region of Africa, it was once one of the largest countries in Africa. After politics and war ravaged in the land of Sudan the southern half of Sudan decided to split from the north. South Sudan was officially formed in July of 2011; it became the youngest nation in the world. In this blog, we will refer to North and South Sudan as simply “Sudan”.  Smoke Dukhan – Smoking Out What is it? Dukhan, which means smoke, is one of the most popular beauty treatments done in Sudan. This traditional beauty treatment is usually given to a bride-to-be before marriage. The woman is first massaged with several types of aromatic oils; she then sits in a chair with a hole in it or just a stool, underneath a clay pot of burning acacia (talih) wood and sandalwood. The woman is covered only with a thick blanket, usually made out of wool. This treatment is sometimes performed twice a day for 40 days for a bride-to-be. The woman does not bathe during this period. During this time, a thick sooty layer is formed on the skin. On day 40, this layer is peeled and removed revealing beautiful glowing skin. The woman will have a lingering scent on her skin that stays on her for days. After the marriage, women continue to get the dukhan treatment to detoxify their skin, keep their skin smooth, for the sweet musk smell, and to tighten the private area of a woman (especially after giving birth). Dukhan may also be used as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis or any joint pain you may have.  Dilka dough Dilka – Exfoliating Body Scrub Dilka is a Sudanese body scrub that leaves the body soft and perfumed. It is made by mixing whole-wheat flour, tea made of cloves and mahleb cherry seed, and occasionally orange peel, into soft dough. Women may also add finely ground sandalwood powder or acacia wood powder. Traditionally the dilka dough is wrapped in a cloth and smoked with the dukhan treatment, this gives a nice fragrant scent and it preserves the dilka dough. Women typically use this body scrub at least twice a week. This scrub helps to remove dead skin, promotes blood circulation, and nourishes and re-hydrates the skin. Sounds exciting, right? Well, I hope you enjoyed this quick and intriguing read. If you plan to use some of these beauty regimens, remember to do more research and be careful. Are you from Sudan or have friends and family from there? Have you ever visited Sudan and performed any of these beauty regimens? We would love to hear from you. Leave a comment below. Sources BBC World Africa. “South Sudan Country Profile.” (Accessed 1/30/19) https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14069082 Wikipedia. “Dukhan (traditional medicine).” (Accessed 1/29/19) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dukhan_(traditional_medicine) Diab, Ola. “The Art of Beauty for Sudanese Women.” (Accessed 1/27/19) https://oladiab.com/2014/08/02/the-art-of-beauty-for-sudanese-women/ African Aromatics. “Sudan’s Aromatic Culture.” (Accessed 1/27/19) http://africanaromatics.com/sudans-aromatic-culture/
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Can you believe it’s been a little over a month since the National Folk Festival (NFF) was here in Greensboro? It’s amazing how time flies. Well, as promised I wanted to share with you the experience I had meeting with all of you at the NFF and I also wanted to share an experience of meeting little ones fascinated by the art of soap making. From the process, to the herbs and then the smells, oh what fun we had. At the NFF I saw some familiar faces from around Greensboro as well as many new faces. Among these faces were families that were traveling from all across the US to spend the weekend in town enjoying the festivities that the NFF had to offer. Greensboro, being home to several colleges and universities, meant many college students visited our booth at the NFF. One young lady in particular that stopped by was a student originally from New Zealand. She was very interested in working in rural Uganda with needy children and families and I’ll always remember her determination and selflessness. Wishing her all the best! Check out the picture below of a familiar face you may have seen around town too.  This is off topic a bit but I just have to tell you. Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to share the art of soap making with some elementary school kids (500 of them). The school celebrated their own "State Fair" and I was asked to be an exhibitor. Of course I couldn't make soap for all of them. However, I shared the process of soap making with them. The children were ecstatic! They enjoyed hearing about the process and smelling the herbs that I brought with me (rosemary, mint leaves, lemongrass, and lavender). They learned about Shea Butter and where the Shea nut comes from. The children had the opportunity to touch and use the Shea Butter. They held a real coconut! They also left with a piece of soap from a soap maker. LOL :-) I couldn't stop smiling after I was given “Thank You” cards from the students. Just reading them made me feel so happy that I had the opportunity to spend the day with them and share with them my passion. Scroll down to see the cards that they created for me.  What's your passion? Share your thoughts below.
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Camilia Z. Majette, MHSACamilia, Founder and CEO of Nailah's Shea, LLC is a mom, wife, global traveler, humanitarian, and entrepreneur. She loves to share her knowledge and passion about natural living and wellness with everyone she meets. Archives
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