Haunting

Refer to the other descriptions for more general information. This is image, titled Haunting, is a candid shot. I was sitting at a little place which sold cold drinks as the girl walked on by. She has the traditional white “makeup” on her face which seems randomly applied.

This white paste is called Musira. It comes from branches of a large plant which is ground up and then mixed with water. It is quite traditional and isn’t commonly used except for the northern areas of the country. Women and girls use musira for special rituals and ceremonies, but most commonly as a moisturizer and sunscreen. Girls sometimes apply it in kind of in a “free style” way while playing. Some adolescent girls use musira to show they are “growing up”.