February is Black Hair History Month at Natural Hair Journey, and I'm sharing black hair history tidbits each Thursday this month.
Did you know...?
Masai men grooming each other's hair
In Kenya's Masai tribe, it's the men not the women who are obsessed with hair grooming!
The women shave their heads bald or wear very close-cropped styles. But the men spend hours styling and grooming each other's elaborate hair dos.
In Masai culture, lion symbolism is important, and a man's long "mane" represents strength, protection, and masculine beauty.
To get this look, they use clay mixed with ashes to achieve what is actually a micro two-strand twist. (Who knew, it looks a lot like Sisterlocks...!)
In the photo, notice the tiny strap of leather across the warrior's forehead. The other warrior doing his hair uses it as a guide to make sure that each bundled section of hair is tied at the exact same point. In other words, his hair is precise; it's tiiiiight! lol
Top left: Masai women. Top right and bottom: Masai warriors sporting elaborate ceremonial styles consisting of tiny two-strand twists accented with colorful silk roses or sculpted into a bow and arrow shape that may represent a recent lion-hunting victory.
As regular readers know, I'm from Kenya originally -- I'm from the Kikyu tribe. I also have Masai blood. This past Christmas, my aunt was sharing family history (we call it "daring and sharing;" the younger family members dare to ask questions, and the elders share their knowledge), I learned that I'm actually more than 25% Masai! How cool is that?!
Now take a look at this picture from a hair show in the U.S. The woman has her hair sculpted into a spider web. See the connection? The Masai have been sculpting hair into everyday objects since the beginning of time. And here in the States it continues. Even though we have been removed from our culture, the creativity is embedded in our blood. In or out of Africa, black people all around the world are connected by traditions so deep we don't always even know that's what we're doing.
I love Black Hair History Month!
Kirigo
Your Natural Hair Coach
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