The History of African Black Soap

BGLH Marketplace is a modern company, but our products are based on time-tested, centuries-old beauty rituals.

African Black Soap originated in ancient West African Yorùbá communities. The making of the soap began in pre-colonial times, and the recipes have been passed down for generations amongst Yorùbá women in Nigeria, Togo, Benin and Ghana — all the way to the present day.

To create black soap, plant matter, such as plantain skins, palm tree leaves, cocoa pods and shea tree bark, is first sun-dried and then burned to produce ash (which supplies the alkali required to convert or saponify the oils and fats).

Next, water and various oils and fats, such as coconut oil, palm oil, and shea butter, are added to the ash. The mixture is cooked and hand-stirred for at least 24 hours. After the soap solidifies, it is scooped and set out to cure.

African Black soap has both medicinal and cosmetic benefits. It has been known to;

• Soothe skin irritation, from simple rashes to contact dermatitis and psoriasis
• Fade skin discoloration
• Even out skin tone and reduce acne
• It’s even been known to reduce body odor

And that’s not all. I recently wrote about the 3 ways that I use African black soap. (Click here to check it out.)

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