A woman prepares a sheep's head. Affectionately dubbed “smiley,” the Langa township specialty gets its signature look from the process of singeing the hair from the sheep’s head with a searing-hot metal rod. As the skin heats and shrinks, the animal’s lips pull back to reveal an ear-to-ear grin. While preparation varies, the head is usually cleaved along its length to remove the brain, then roasted over a fire or broiled in hot, drum-like ovens. Butchers might carve par-cooked meat off of the face for mixing into curry or for grilling in the South African barbecue style known as braai.

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Size: 5551px × 3705px
Location: Khayelitsha Township, Cape Town. South Africa
Photo credit: © Neil O'Shea / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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