121 Responses to “sunday retrospectives: natural not hot in nigeria?”

1. 

   Chrissy Toluwa 18 April 2009 at 4:27 am Permalink

   I’m Nigerian Also, but my experience with natural hair in Nigeria is quite different. In primary school most people had natural hair, including myself for a while but I think that’s because it was irresponsible to relax a child’s hair, although I had relaxed my hair at primary/grade 4 I believe (not too sure).
   Anyway, the people that had the longest hair in secondary school (grade 7-12) were natural. These girls had long bra strap length hair and even longer (I have three girls in mind) the rest were like shoulder length and a handful were quite short.
   I felt like their parents were controlling them with their hair because some of them did want to relax their hair. I felt like this because it was so easy to take care of relaxed hair. All we did was wear our hair on cornrows (extensions were not allowed). So during the weekend we took out old cornrows, washed our hair and braided it again. (Just a side note, I went to boarding school). The difference was the period between the wash and re-braiding, when we were allowed to wear our hair down. All I had to do was put my hair in a bun but for most naturals, the combing and buning was quite difficult as they would comb their hair when it was dry (it looked like torture to me). I just felt like it would be easier if it was relaxed.
   Other than that, they had beautiful hair, especially the three girls a fore mentioned (now that one of them knows about moisturizing natural hair, I can see that her hair is a cross between 4a and 3c). Two of them are still natural but the one with probably the longest hair relaxed it. Even thought I didn’t have natural hair, once I heard I felt kinda sad. It is even more sad because relaxing it was kind of a graduation present for her. “She was becoming a woman”, imagine that mentality.

   When I was in Nigeria in Dec of 2007, really close to the end of the year I was a new natural. My hair was like 2-3 inches long. I was excited about braiding my hair in Nigeria because they have better braiders and nicer styles at a very nice price (my humble opinion). My sister and I were natural and my sister had little knowledge about moisturizing. My sister went first and the woman could not believe we had natural hair. Especially since we lived in the US. She was like “who still has natural hair?”. When I told her a lot of people in the US did, she was surprised. She also complained of my sister hair being “hard” (somehow synonymous for dry even here in the US). Luckily I had conditioned my hair with the Oyin handmade honey hemp conditioner (I ordered a sample pack of the conditioner, the whipped pudding, the shine serum thingie and something else I don’t remember before I left for Nigeria). I then moisturized with the whipped pudding. When she touched my hair she was surprised, “your hair is so soft”. She kept commenting on how she should have used it on my sister. Unfortunately I did not have the pleasure or rather the displeasure of having others comment on my natural hair cause it was in braids.
   I have not been completely immune to the negativity. My mum really got on my nerves before I texturized my hair. She went on about how it looked horrible, her exact words. Especially to my sister. My sister’s hair is made up entirely of coils. I’ve never seen this on any other head. Her coils are the loosest on the crown of her head and tighter everywhere else. I was really hard for her because I’m convinced that the amount of strands of hair on her head were actually meant for two full headed human beings (lol). She hated combing it cause the coils would tangle and knot and it was hard for her. My mum succeeded in getting her to hot comb her hair. Something I had never heard of in Nigeria or done in my life (till date).
   Anyway since becoming natural and now going natural again (texlaxed on Dec 6 last year, now about 3 inches of natural beautiful hair, yup three, yay!!!) I’m not going back and my family has a different understanding. I’m sorry this is sooo long.

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2. 

   Omonaija ;o) 18 April 2009 at 1:42 pm Permalink

   Another Nigerian weighing in here. I did the big chop down to 0.5″ two months before going back to Nigeria and no one bothered me about it. My aunt lamented the fact that I had chopped all my hair off, but I wasn’t harassed to relax my hair. I was in Abuja, and I saw plenty of natural hair and natural hair styles, along with lots of relaxers, weaves, wigs- with the latter outweighing the former.

   I think the issue about relaxers , weaves and wigs has more to do with fashion than it has to do with self-hatred for our hair. Like many have mentioned, young girls in Nigeria, secondary school on down have to keep low maintenance styles, which are often natural hairstyles. Relaxing one’s hair is sorta like a right of passage: you graduate from being a girl to being a woman. A woman who can afford to shell out money for a perm, weave, wig etc.

   Nigerians are all about status! Social and socio-economic status. So yes, a grown woman walking around with natural hair will be perceived as being poor because she can’t afford to pay someone to do her hair.

   I grew up in Nigeria, by the way, so I’m speaking from my personal experience only. Since going natural a year ago, I’ve inspired two cousins and one of my girl-friends- all Nigerian to go natural as well. And I agree, it’s the natural culture here in the United States that is influencing us, not Nigeria.

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3. 

   Omonaija ;o) 18 April 2009 at 1:44 pm Permalink

   Another Nigerian weighing in here. I did the big chop down to 0.5″ two months before going back to Nigeria and no one bothered me about it. My aunt lamented the fact that I had chopped all my hair off, but I wasn’t harassed to relax my hair. I was in Abuja, and I saw plenty of natural hair and natural hair styles, along with lots of relaxers, weaves, wigs- with the latter outweighing the former.

   I think the issue about relaxers , weaves and wigs has more to do with fashion than it has to do with self-hatred for our hair. Like many have mentioned, young girls in Nigeria, secondary school on down have to keep low maintenance styles, which are often natural hairstyles. Relaxing one’s hair is sorta like a right of passage: you graduate from being a girl to being a woman. A woman who can afford to shell out money for a perm, weave, wig etc.

   Nigerians are all about status! Social and socio-economic status. So yes, a grown woman walking around with natural hair will be perceived as being poor because she can’t afford to pay someone to do her hair.

   I grew up in Nigeria, by the way, so I’m speaking from my personal experience only. Since going natural a year ago, I’ve inspired two cousins and one of my girl-friends- all Nigerian to go natural as well. And I agree, it’s the natural culture here in the United States that is influencing us, not Nigeria.

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4. 

   Anonymous 18 April 2009 at 10:57 pm Permalink

   Just to point out that Africa has 53 countries, if natural hair isn’t accepted in Naigeria that’s one thing…it is not an accuret picture of all of Africa.

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5. 

   eccentricyoruba 18 April 2009 at 11:27 pm Permalink

   ‘Just to point out that Africa has 53 countries, if natural hair isn’t accepted in Naigeria that’s one thing…it is not an accuret picture of all of Africa.’

   I second this which is why i shared my experience on being taken for a woman from southern Africa because of my hair.

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6. 

   Sugabelly 19 April 2009 at 2:07 am Permalink

   Just to point out:

   1 in 5 Africans is a NIGERIAN.

   I think what Nigerians think is more than valid since we represent ONE-FIFTH of Africa.

   Just pointing out.

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7. 

   Jc 19 April 2009 at 10:22 pm Permalink

   Sugabelly,I must disagree with you and side with eccentricyoruba. This is also a statistic – 1 in every 5 people in the world is Chinese.

   I completely agree that South Africa is a different ball game. Natural hair does not have as much stigma attached to it. For every natural, you find a relaxed head and they co-exist. Nobody would hurl insults as they do with Iffy in Nigeria for having natural hair.

   Africa is diverse and some places are doing better than others with regards to natural hair.

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8. 

   modupe 27 April 2009 at 8:37 pm Permalink

   Agree with Sugarbelly, 1 in every 5 africans is a Nigerian.. That country has over 120M people as at last census.

   I am nigerian too, but Yoruba thats from teh ousth western part of the country.

   Hair isn’t all that back home, having a relaxer is just one of those things. Some folks wear their hair natural but they are very few and far between. I miss the different cornrow styles and didi( another type of cornrows). Did was my favorite style.
   I also agree with previous posters about the fact that afros (except Twa’s),twists, coils are not common place in Nigeria, Never heard of those sytles until I travelled west. Bantu knots are one of our natural hairstyles though.
   I can imagine threading my hair to the office, the reactions will be crazy! lol!..

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9. 

   Robby D 8 May 2009 at 3:56 pm Permalink

   Why am I the only one from the US NOT shocked?..Think about it. Who do they put on pedestals over there? The chicks with the long silky hair, so of course they would want to mimic that.

   Simple.

   I’m confused as to why people believe that it would be celebrated.

   Wow lol. There is so much I want to say, but I cant. I just cant…

   Great post.

   Reply
10. 

    Bombchell 12 May 2009 at 11:18 am Permalink

    (side eye) Its not that serious. regardless of ethnicity, with black girls lots of people with 4a/4b hair, perm their hair or get weaves whether they are in africa , usa, or uk. You should ask yourself why you expected Nigeria to be different from any other African country, or even the UK, or US. styles changes, trends change, fashion of the day, globalization, media etc. Are you seriously kidding me??????? this is such an insulting post! more because of what you assumed, and expect from a country you are not even familiar with, because it's in Africa! the motherland, and all your perceptions of it.

    This post seems a bit…. *. from your "motherland styles" oh good gosh I never saw most growing up. Its more fascinating to me on why you Expected, or had preconceived notions that Nigeria or any other country in Africa should all have natural hair. Its all personal choice.

    perhaps you should check yourself & your prejudice. I can pick crazy styles from any country doesnt mean thats how everyone is. Next time you go on facebook (if you use it)try to join a diverse group with various ethnicities, with people in different locations globally, and tell me if you can see huge external differences in our generation such as hair, clothes etc.

    there's no point of writing this, if it's not "do you live in huts" "wear clothes" its some other crazy ish.

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11. 

    Black girl with long hair 12 May 2009 at 11:54 am Permalink

    @ Bombchell… the whole point/objective of the post was to get a clearer view of Africa, beyond stereotypes.

    And it’s not just American chicks who are surprised that natural hair isn’t hot in Nigeria. If you read through the comments, several Nigerian women express their disappointment that natural hair is so unpopular.

    And it’s not a matter of us not wanting people to try different styles. People can do whatever they want with their hair. It’s the fact that many of those in Nigeria who try natural styles are ridiculed and discouraged by others.

    I would encourage you to read through the comments to get a better semse of this discussion.

    ~Thx

    Reply
12. 

    thelady 12 May 2009 at 9:56 pm Permalink

    The gist of this seems to be that Black women in other countries do not wear their hair natural because Black Americans straighten their hair. This makes no sense to me. You have your own culture, cities, predominately black populations why would you not look there for your trends. There seems to be some abdication of responsibility. Black Americans are such a small percent of the world’s Black population, I just don’t see how they can have a bigger influence over your beauty standards/trends than your own culture.

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13. 

    Maya G 14 May 2009 at 1:57 pm Permalink

    old post, I know, but I wanted to comment! I’m from London (uk) and I’m less shocked by the revalation that Nigeria has less natural haired peeps but more shocked that Americans don’t realise the impact that America has on the rest of the world! I mean, wow!
    Popular culture is near by dominated by America even though other countries have their own vibrant cultures and nuances.

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14. 

    DATJUICYBABE 15 May 2009 at 5:19 pm Permalink

    Wow, I just know in Africa, the natural beauty was uplifted… how I know so little about my heritage. But I am trying to get better and cut this slave mentality.. white is better.. because sometimes one may have this ideology and dont even know it…

    I must add, I have a interesting story to share with you all, a prime example of slave mentality being passed on from generation to generation … my neice, maybe 10 at the time told me once…”I want to go to my white grandmother house.. ” now keep in mind… my mom is fare skin african american and my neice is has a dark skin tone… that hurt me to think she placed my mom on a higher pedestal then her other grandmother…

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15. 

    kiara 17 May 2009 at 9:00 am Permalink

    Hey, it´s not just the hair….Do you know how many Africans especially West Africans bleach their skin? You have no idea! About the hair, I was in Kenya 2 yrs ago, and even in the rural areas they are now straighteneing their hair. I even saw relaxers in a supermarket I went to. That was unheard of before, but not anymore. Beauty to a lot of Africans is light skin and straight hair. And that´s the truth. May God help us.

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16. 

    Ade 17 May 2009 at 9:17 pm Permalink

    I have just read all the comments on this post twice and I am one of those Nigerian women with short natural hair. I grew up in Lagos (one of the big cities in Nigeria) but I now live in London.

    I have really thick, kinky, “stubborn” natural hair and growing up in Nigeria, it was a complete nightmare. I got insults and abuses from everybody who handled my hair, including my own mum. “I don’t know where you got this horrible hair from” she would say. It hurt really badly. She gave up trying to plait my hair when I was about 5 years old and so I had a low cut throughout secondary school. But even then, I would cry every time I combed my hair because I didn’t know how to take care of it properly. Having hair natural is seen as a pain, people would tell me, why don’t you just relax it? It would be so much better, easier, etc.
    In my typical Nigerian secondary school it wasn’t “cool” to have natural hair. All the girls considered beautiful, popular, and socially upwards had relaxed hair, and often, the longer the better.

    As soon as I left secondary school, I got a relaxer. And while it made my hair a lot more manageable, it was also very dry and brittle and it never grew past a certain length. My hair also never relaxed properly and the salon people would leave the relaxer in for so long until my scalp gets burned. Gosh I endured so many hours of torture in the name of beauty!

    Fast forward to the present – I decided to go back to natural last year when I took out a weave and was horrified at how weak and damaged my hair looked and how dry scalp was. So I cut off all my permed hair and armed myself with information from natural blogs and websites.

    Since then I have to say I’ve not had a smooth ride. I am still learning everyday how to look after my hair. Funny enough I get great compliments from white people when they see my hair. I guess that’s because it’s “different” from theirs. But the hurtful looks and comments I get from black people are really hard to deal with. I mean WHY do we hate our own so much? Friends and family think I’m crazy for not relaxing my hair anymore. But that’s not even the worst thing I have to face.

    Nope, the most hurtful comments I get are from my own husband. When we were dating, I had a relaxer and I was always in braids with long extensions or with a weave. He rarely ever saw my hair. But since I liberated myself from those things and started leaving my natural hair out, it’s been HELL. Everyday I get comments like, “your hair looks awful”, “why do you look like a mad woman?” “you are not going out with me if your hair is looking like that”, “why don’t you go back to doing those nicer hairstyles?”, “I hate seeing you with dirty hair” etc
    He even went as far as showing me a photo of Tyra Banks with a weave and said he wanted my hair to look like that. Gosh I was so sad!

    I’ve tried to explain to him, over and over again that I cannot go back to the relaxer. He just can’t get his head around it. My hair is about 4 inches now, so there is not a lot I can do with it in terms of styling, unless I put in braids or kinky extensions. I don’t get any support from him whatsoever and I’m fast losing my patience.

    That’s why blogs and forums like this are a Godsend. Honestly it is you guys that are keeping me sane. I flipped out last week and started crying after yet another argument with my husband. I’m tired, but it’s a battle I have to continue fighting.

    Reply
17. 

    Nneka 18 May 2009 at 6:48 pm Permalink

    This All-Nigerian girl loves this blog! I just started reading it 5 days ago and I wish I knew about it much earlier :( I cut off my 3 yrs old natchy about 11 mths ago! it was beyond my shoulders but grossly unmanageable so I hid it under braids most of the time. I just couldn’t find the right info as to what products to use to keep it soft and stylable. One of the reasons I actually decided to go naturally was cos I was going to be very busy (and broke.lol) in graduate school so I wanted to go the ‘easy’ and ‘less expensive’ route.

    My family was sooooo against it, my natchy was termed “my phase”. But my foreign friends LOVED IT. It was somewhat exciting for them to see me in my short kinky hair this week, cornrolls the next, and long braids the next…lol.Infact during my job search my mum quickly pointed out that “maybe getting a perm would be ideal now. Don’t disqualify yourself from job offers”. So now I’m back to the world of relaxers and hair appointments that take all day, but in retrospect I just wish I was armed with the right knowledge to handle “my phase”.

    Let’s see what the future holds; I sense ‘a natchy relapse/return’. Your blog, your natchy-concious readers inspire me!…*signs* maybe in some years.

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18. 

    Bonifant 19 May 2009 at 4:02 am Permalink

    Oh wow Ade I feel for you. I hope you continue gaining more information about how to handle your hair so that you are happy and that your husband can see the natural you is just as beautiful.
    Are there any natural salons that do natural hair maybe you could take a break from doing it yourself sometimes and request a style or carry a reference pic of someone from fotki or other natural hair websites.
    I wish you luck AND strength to continue to do what is right for you.

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19. 

    Anonymous 19 May 2009 at 5:15 am Permalink

    americans seem to take a delight in being the more influential culture. im nigerian and my decision to go natural has nothing to do with watching black americans. personal choice is what it is, and these choices are sometimes guided by the dominant ideas where one resides. i wont say nigerian women are trying to be western, i would just say that they(salons, our mothers) do not know how to take care of natural hair, and this is what makes living with it here un heard of, and unwelcome… if we trace it back then maybe we can ‘blame’ african americans and the influx of relaxer or a western idea of beauty, just as ppl seem to take delight in the fact that americans ‘domnate’ the natural hair culture. but for today, it is what it is. natural hair does not make someone more or less african, its all a matter of personal choice.

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20. 

    ArmyBrat 22 May 2009 at 4:07 am Permalink

    I completely agree with TheLady (above) and had the exact same thoughts regarding the abdication of blame while reading the comments here…

    In regard to BombChell’s comment, I’ve lived in Germany and in France for much of my adult life, but I am US born (East Asian/African descent). Let me reassure you, the grouping of those of African descent does NOT work outside of the US.

    People of African descent can usually be identified as to their exact origin on site (overseas). This is something that surprised me as an American, because I am used to the ignorant (though well-meaning) grouping or “one-lumping” of people of African descent as it’s done in the US…this is not the case in Germany or France.

    Also, one of the easiest ways for me to identify an African-American woman is by looking at her hair. Yes, that’s true. In the military, (at least at the time that I was serving) we had to learn to identify other Americans (in particular) on site if stationed overseas. One of the easiest markers we developed was her hair. Among Caucasian Americans, it was their shoes and sideburns.

    So let’s not fool ourselves by thinking or implying, “we all look or dress alike because we all have a level of African lineage”. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Each group throughout the diaspora has their own approach to style, their own culture, and their own features.

    Just wanted to set that straight. Great post, BGLH.

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21. 

    Omo Oba 22 May 2009 at 3:32 pm Permalink

    This is a discussion that we need to to talk about more so thank you BGLH. A lot has been said that I agree with. Thanks for bringing up the "dada" issue, Mellowyel. My story is a lil' different. My sister and i had natural hair (boy-cut style) all thruout pry and sec. sch in Lagos because my dad believed (then) that having to braid/relax our hair was too much distraction away from our studies. My sister and I used to hate it so much – and we believed that our parents were denying us the joys of being a young girl with long hair, ribbons and other "girly stuff." But besides us, there were other girls in our schools (like say <5%) who also carried their natural hair braided because their parents believed that young girls should not have perms. Anyways, the point I am trying to make here is that there are some Nigerian parents who also believe that becoming a woman means that you should now perm your hair, and leave your natural days behind.

    I for one, am an advocate of NASHURAL HAIR…I just wish I had the guts to do it.

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22. 

    COCOA J 23 May 2009 at 5:35 pm Permalink

    Us born Naija Igbo… put off by your comment about a Dashiki… I think that’s E. Africa… Different countries with different ethnic groups call articles of clothing different things. Please educate yourself.

    On to my comment:
    I always had the long straight relaxed hair growing up and was praised for it. When I cut my hair short 2 years ago I was questioned by elders I don’t even recall meeting, and now that I’m transitioning, I’m ignored.
    Most of my mom’s friends wear wigs or weaves and always comment about her hair [she has relaxed hair past her shoulders that is thick]. For many Igbo woman, having long straight hair is a source of pride and status, it has become part of the culture.

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23. 

    AyamVenus 25 May 2009 at 12:07 am Permalink

    I think Nigeria is a poor place to look at when you are talking about the attitudes towards Natural hair in Africa. I lived there long enough to feel very strongly that the majority of the so-called ‘happening’ Nigerians won’t be happy until the Queen declares Nigeria an annex of the United Kingdom (or Obama and the United States???). I’m very touchy about this topic, because everything that I hear my family boast about when it comes to Nigeria is always some idea that was imported and embraced to the detriment of something homemade (e.g. Yoruba religion, herbal medicine). So it’s no surprise that natural hair gets a bad rap. Of course afros are really an American thing (braids and low level hair are the norm for natural hair in Nigeria, and is still done to a large extent in the rural areas like someone pointed out). Maybe some readers from countries other than Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroun might want to contribute to the conversation so we can get a fuller picture. Especially the smaller francophone countries (Benin Rep. Being my fav!)and Eastern/Northern Africa. I’m sure that there are more Africans who do not have the desire, time or resources to be influenced by styles that are not theirs, and I definitely do not mean that in a negative way.
    Just a male’s opinion. Love, love, love your blog btw. Inspirational.

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24. 

    Sugabelly 25 May 2009 at 2:34 am Permalink

    @Cocoa J: Dashiki is still wrong. It is Danshiki, and it is a HAUSA article of clothing. In East Africa clothing similar to Danshikis are called something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. Remember everyone speaks different languages so to say that East Africans would call a Danshiki danshiki is ridiculous. It would be a completely different word in Swahili or Shumom or whatever. Danshiki is a HAUSA word.

    There is nothing like Dashiki.

    Shi Kenan!

    Reply
25. 

    Christmas Jones 28 May 2009 at 2:28 pm Permalink

    I’m half Ghanaian, half Afro american. When I lived in Ghana for two years of my adolescent life, I saw everyone with either a perm, or a boy cut…aka, short hair cut close to the head.

    I remember one day putting temp dreads in my hair. My Ghanaian aunto told me flat out “you look like a mad woman.” When she took me another time to the hairdresser, they tied my hair up in black string. I can’t describe it, it was a really weird style for me, but its a native style. The same aunt told me, “do you know what you look like? An animal! Thats what you look like!” In my mind I was like, “well why did you let them do that to my hair woman??” It was crazy.

    Dreadlocks or locks, are not accepted in Ghana at all. Its what “mad” or crazy people wear and so it is associated with that. Thats my two cents.

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26. 

    Anonymous 28 May 2009 at 4:18 pm Permalink

    I’m Nigerian and i just started transitioning about 6 months ago I’m still in sec. school so whenever i go to get my hair cornrowed the first thing out of the braiders mouth is ” your hair is due . wont you relax” , when i tell them i dont want to relax my hair anymore they look at me like im crazy. I asked my mom if i could cut off my relaxed ends and she firmly said ‘no’ like it would be an abomination to have short Afro hair. Ive seen improvement though there is one salon i go to on occasion where the braider asked if i was going natural , and when i said yes she thought it was a good thing and said that a lot of people are comin in to the sanlon wanting to go natural . Overall natural hair is not that popular in Nigeria unless you’re from the village or from the northern parts( its a lot more popular there)

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27. 

    Naija Barbie 9 June 2009 at 10:23 pm Permalink

    Well, when I went to Nigeria last year, I saw alot of girls of natural hair and that was one of a few things that contibuted to why I was going natural, ANYWHO, people who have natural hair in Nigeria are mostly young girls but they have to get it cut regularly because of school rules and blah blah blah. Once you get out, it's all weave, extenstions and everything. Matter of fact, alot of girls in Nigeria DO have natural hair. It was basically all I saw. But people who have perms or relaxers are thought of like to be more stylish and have more money because they don't sell perms in bottles around the corner of our house like they do in Nigeria. You have to look and look hard for a good hair dresser that can perm your hair well.
    I'm Nigerian and proud :3
    Check meh out:
    http://naijabarbieangelickingdom.blogspot.com/

    Reply
28. 

    Naija Barbie 9 June 2009 at 10:27 pm Permalink

    Oh and BTW, I really think that we need to fix the "Dashiki comment". I veiw that as a sterotype against africans kinda. They're not called dashikis everywhere. Lord knows how many different languages there are in Africa and in one of the many, dashiki probably is the correct term but in general, no. You can say head scarf or whatever but it's not a dashiki in general. I'm from africa and idk what a dashiki was until someone showed meh.

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29. 

    Anonymous 11 July 2009 at 4:45 am Permalink

    What a person decides to do with their hair is up to them. I think its important that consumers of perms, wigs and other hair "care" products are aware of the ingredients and health risk that these products could possibly cause. I just pray that once the fascination and concerns of our hair fade that black people will focus more on our health.

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30. 

    Anonymous 26 July 2009 at 8:17 am Permalink

    "Oh and BTW, I really think that we need to fix the "Dashiki comment". I veiw that as a sterotype against africans kinda. [sic] They're not called dashikis everywhere. Lord knows how many different languages there are in Africa and in one of the many, dashiki probably is the correct term but in general, no."

    Oh come now, enough with the "Dashiki" fixation. It seems obvious to me that the author was not stereotyping Africans of any ethnic group, but Black Americans (African-Americans) who call themselves the "Diaspora," and who wrongly (but fondly) mythologize people of "the Motherland" as having greater integrity of authenticity than themselves. Read her words again: "Let's [Let US - i.e., afrocentric Black Americans] take off our dashikis, stop burning that incense, stop using vague diasporic language and discuss this!"

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31. 

    Sugabelly 26 July 2009 at 3:12 pm Permalink

    @Anonymous: Actually the Diaspora refers to Africans who live abroad, not African Americans or anyone else.

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32. 

    Anonymous 27 July 2009 at 10:52 am Permalink

    @Sugabelly,
    "Actually the Diaspora refers to Africans who live abroad, not African Americans or anyone else."

    Actually: a literal and first-wave understanding of "the Diaspora" refers to "the movement of any population sharing common ethnic identity who were either forced to leave or voluntarily left their settled territory, and became residents in areas often far remote from the former." (Source: Wikipaedia.org"; simple, but succinct.) In this instance, however (as stated above), the author seems to refer to the 'African Diaspora' in particular; i.e., the individuals involved in the initial population movements >and< their culturally -identifiable/-affiliated descendants. In the instance of this blogpost, it is assumed that the author is speaking from (and to) the perspective of persons who see themselves as that sector of the African Diaspora who are at home in the U.S. (i.e., self-identified 'African-Americans'). Capisce?

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33. 

    Sugabelly 27 July 2009 at 4:35 pm Permalink

    Anonymous: I see what you mean, but Africans in the US generally DON'T identify themselves as African-American.

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34. 

    Anonymous 27 July 2009 at 7:40 pm Permalink

    @sugabelly: You apparently missed the "and" in my previous comment. Reposted (with emphasis): "The 'African Diaspora' in particular; i.e., the individuals involved in the initial population movements [e.g., African slaves] >>>and<<< their culturally -identifiable/-affiliated descendants [2nd generation+ (so-called) 'African Americans']. In the instance of this blogpost, it is assumed that the author is speaking from (and to) the perspective of persons who see themselves as that sector of the African Diaspora who are at home in the U.S. (i.e., self-identified 'African-Americans')."

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35. 

    Anonymous 4 August 2009 at 9:31 pm Permalink

    "To have natural hair in Nigeria is to burn and die."

    So I guess those working class educated and successful Deeper life, Apostolic Faith, some assemblies of God, some redeemed, some adventist etc women
    and their daughters are burning and dying? I cite these churches only because they have HUGE followings. Plus the non religious natural sophisticated women I know . You may not see them because their hair is mostly in braids, Ghana weaving, or sade style. What about your regular chick in the village? I know a lot of young girls in the village/cities who will not perm (they do not want to look like wet rats when it rains)or wear weaves (willy willy) Open your eyes and only speak to your quite limited contact with the Nigerian woman.

    Plus the "mad woman" comments are cultural. How do you spot 99% of people with mental illness? By their unkempt free forming dreads.

    P.s. In Nigeria,when you look to your left and kook to your right, you see a black face, so we do not have the pressure, self imposed or not, to assert our "blackness".

    I wear my hair natural, and I do not care what the next woman is doing to her hair.Hair is the least of my worries as an African living in the west.

    Reply
36. 

    Sugabelly 4 August 2009 at 10:26 pm Permalink

    @Anonymous: Did you not see where I said that Nigerians associate natural hair with backwardness, childhood, immaturity, poverty, OVER-RELIGIOUSITY, etc????

    And yes, to have natural hair in Nigeria is to burn and die. Those people that follow all those churches in Nigeria with natural hair are labeled. And what we are trying to fight against is getting labeled by greater society just because you wear your hair natural because the greater society sees those labels as negative whether or not they really are.

    That is the reason why in Nigeria when you're walking down the street with natural hair a random person might just come up to you and ask you "Are you Deeper Life?"
    because "Deeper Life" is a label that many Nigerians plaster on those with natural hair, and they use Deeper Life to mean "all of those churches".

    In the same way "mad" is label, "bush or razz" is a label. They are all negative labels that Nigerians apply to those with natural hair, so YES.

    And I don't know who you think you're talking to when you tell me (of all people) to think before I speak about my "limited" contact with Nigerian women. Do you even know who I am? Or where I've lived? I've lived all over Nigeria. I am Nigerian. I've lived in Lagos, in Onitsha, in Jos, in Asaba, in Enugu, in Abuja, in Benin, in Nassarawa, so don't you dare tell me about 'limited contact with Nigerian women'.

    I've been in extended and perpetual contact with Nigerian women from all walks of life since I was born so don't you dare.

    Just because you happen to know a handful of people that are natural for non-religious reasons does not mean that there are not general negative perceptions about naturals floating about in the Nigerian atmosphere.

    Just because you, or I or anyone else on this blog might not care what other people think of our decision to be natural does not mean that Nigerian society in general frowns upon natural hair.

    Any Nigerian worth their salt knows this and I mince no words about it. The only Nigerians that are generally free from criticism about their natural hair from the society at large are the Fulanis because their hair is so long and perhaps some Hausa women.

    I do not believe any Nigerian that grew up in Nigeria has not at some point in their lives either experienced or witnessed a complete stranger berating someone for their 'due', 'unkempt', 'hard', 'indecent' hair. (In other words natural hair).

    Yes, you made a personal choice, and yes, just like you there are lots of other Nigerians that have made personal choices to remain natural, but NO, just because you made your choice and you don't care does not mean that the millions of Nigerians that despise natural hair are just going to evaporate. So stop acting like I'm wrong for pointing out that one truth because they are there and you and I know it.

    Reply
37. 

    Anonymous 5 August 2009 at 8:30 pm Permalink

    I am not going to do this with you on this blog.Why? I only wish you peace and love.

    I have influenced AT LEAST 15 women to go natural in my inner circle with love and encouragement.What is your record?

    P.s. I have never witnessed a natural bashing,as you call it, so call me a liar. I reiterate your limited contact of Nigerian women,because you assume I only know a handful of non religious naturals.Why only a handful? Maybe because YOU only know a handful?Your perceptions are clearly not mine and that of a lot of Nigerians so lets agree to part ways on that.

    Reply
38. 

    Anonymous 11 August 2009 at 1:59 pm Permalink

    I grew up in Nigeria and moved here when I was 9 (this was in 1995). I was natural the entire time I was there and so were most of my friends my age. Maybe I wasn't aware but I did not notice women walking around with weaves on their heads. I mostly saw braids or maybe pressed hair. My mom recently went back and noted to me how many women were walking around with wigs and weaves in their heads and I was somewhat alarmed. I'm guessing it's a recent trend and I hope it does stop, it's really sad to hear :/

    Reply
39. 

    Anonymous 14 August 2009 at 4:51 am Permalink

    By 95, weaves were for people who knew about it and could afford it. Most people just braided their hair,with the various options or relaxed their hair.

    Weaves started gaining a little ground around 1990/91. Back then it was a few track sewn in, blended with relaxed hair and styled to resemble the woman's hair.People still do it today.

    Reply
40. 

    Anonymous 28 August 2009 at 3:10 am Permalink

    I'm Nigerian-American and my mom hates my hair, but many of my aunts love it. My mom is the queen of weave on. I just chalk it up to her being Americanized/white-washed living in this country. It really is hard to avoid.

    Missing from this discussion is the fact that Nigerians who have migrated come to the U.S. and emulate the styles they see here and then go back home to visit. They are seen as hip American-based Nigerians. So they too show Nigerians what it means to look upwardly mobile. My relatives are very cognizant of this and make sure their hair/nails/everything is done before they go back. And that often time means looking like Beyonce or whomever.

    Nevertheless, we have to take responsibility for the cultural hegemony we exact on Africans. We sell images of Black America that Black people around the world want to emulate. And the fact of the matter is we haven't demanded that the media be more inclusive in its portayal of black hair. At the same time, wouldn't we be imposing hegemony in wanting Africans to be more like us and appreciate natural hair?

    Any natural hair movement, to really not be about Americans imposing their standards of beauty on the world (and that includes Black Americans). has to come from the ground up. We should support Africans who engage in hair consciousness themselves and we shouldn't be quick to judge places where people aren't dancing to our beat. It's been a process for natural hair to be accepted here in the U.S. We shouldn't expect otherwise for other countries.

    Finally, whites are partially to blame for creating ideas here that their hair is the norm and black hair is the worst there is. But we are too. We judge some black girls as prettier than other based on it. Black men often seek out the white-like weave on their potential love interests. So while white people created it, we perpetuate it–both here and abroad.

    Reply
41. 

    Amina 2 September 2009 at 8:29 am Permalink

    I'm Nigerian and I agree that natural hair isn't very popular. I don't really think it's all colonization's fault. If you look at our pre-colonial art and sculpture no one was wearing an afro just out or dreads which in most Nigerian cultures are a sign of madness or being unkempt (i.e. the not combing the hair). There were braids and twists and thread styles. African-Americans ideas about what is African and what actually IS African are very different. The Nigerian people I know with natural hair are rarely doing it to go "back to their roots" or to "do things the natural way," its their preference or they might be doing it for their hair's health or to copy the current African-American trend. I have natural 4c hair that is about APL when stretched but its always in braids or weaves because I cannot get past my ingrained cultural prejudices on locs (which are thus not for me) and I'm pretty conservative in appearance and mostly like to have my hair in a bun but my hair tends to fight off the ponytail holders I use for my buns unless I use like 35-40 hairpins and those elastic headbands to hold it down. As for why I'm natural, I wanted to see what my natural hair looked like and that's where I am right now, I may or may not later on choose to relax. I don't see my hair as this big identity thing. It's just hair. People of different races alter their hair to what they like, it's just hair.

    Reply
42. 

    Sugabelly 2 September 2009 at 3:50 pm Permalink

    @Amina:

    "If you look at our pre-colonial art and sculpture no one was wearing an afro just out or dreads which in most Nigerian cultures are a sign of madness or being unkempt (i.e. the not combing the hair)."

    This is untrue/inaccurate. First of all, there are scores off pictures of precolonial Nigerians with natural curls and afros. Have you read George Basden's Among the Ibos of the Niger? It is full of pictures of people with afros, natural curls and other hairstyles.

    It was the EUROPEANS that taught Nigerians that not combing your hair was dirty/unkempt, and that dreadlocks were a sign of madness because the Europeans were used to combing their own hair everyday and didn't realise that this was not good for Nigerian hair.

    Our precolonial art and sculpture is full of examples. You just aren't looking hard enough. People mostly focus on the collections of Britain and America, but our art is spread all over the world in miniscule private collections and in obscure countries too.

    Reply
43. 

    Zara 9 September 2009 at 2:17 am Permalink

    I hate when people make ignorant generalizations or think that natural hair connects them more to "Africa". What is that??? Seriously? The whole natural hair business is more taboo there than it is here and only people with curly hair really tend to wear it natural but even then, they still feel uncomfortable in their skin. Even with the pictures you posted bglh, I'm not even gonna lie… that was pretty ignorant considering the fact that those were TRIBAL pictures and because Africa is quite westernized, they dont represent the culture much at all. We may still celebrate our culture through ritual, dance, food, and more but, Nigerian cities look aloooot like American ones. The major difference is less access to certain technologies but, we are very advanced and the cities are gorgeous with beautiful architectural detail…

    sorry, had to get that striaght… anywho…

    I love natural hair and, my family from the beginning has supported it, even my cousin who actually lives in Naija but visits wants to go natural cuz of me. There is a huge misconception about natural hair there and so weaves, braids, perms, and other things that alter natural hair texture prevail. There, it's not thought really that our hair can be curly or beautiful but mine is… and i am 100% nigerian. One might argue that becuase my tribe the Efik in Calabar is fairly light (lightish copper with yellow undertones…) but, that is a silly argument and cant be used cuz I'm black and I'm not nearly as light as some of the other ppl in my tribe =P.

    Anywho, I HAAAATE GENERALIZATIONS! I know you feel that being all pro Africa makes you feel complete but us actual ppl who are 1st gen americans or still live in our countries and can actually trace our ancestry down only one tribe feel that it's ignorant and obnoxious. Some others might not but, all my Nigerian friends do and my family does and just about every other Nigerian I know thinks it's insulting… so yah…

    Reply
44. 

    Zara 9 September 2009 at 2:48 am Permalink

    Oh and also… I just realized that I am a huge exception with my hair… my mom and sister are as well. My fam lives in Abuja (I think they moved, lol) and I think that has something to do with them looooving my hair. Like, they loooove it… no joke, lol. My one nigerian cousin who has lived in kentucky all her life though loved my hair but thought hers would be ugly and said I had asian in me….

    WHAAAAT?!?! lolol, that's ridiculous XD! We have the same line down to our grandmother =P! It is only split paternally.

    Well anywho, I just thought i'd give more examples and apologize for being so harsh, lol ^_^. It's just that the whole hair thing is really personal =). Especially to me cuz, I am a Nigerian <3.

    Reply
45. 

    Sugabelly 9 September 2009 at 2:55 am Permalink

    @Zara:

    There was nothing wrong with her posting those pictures.

    Just because most Nigerian cities and towns are fairly westernized does not mean that millions of Africans don't live in every day tribal settings.

    Even in Nigeria in the villages there are LOADS of people that still wear all their traditional clothing, still worship all the gods, still celebrate all the festivals, and still do all the traditional hairstyles with their natural hair.

    Sure, in Nigeria IN PARTICULAR they are becoming hardER and hard-ER to find, but that does not mean that these people do not go about their business everyday in Nigeria.

    There is nothing wrong with tribal pictures. They are who we are. A lot of the time, Africans are too quick to scream that Africa is modern and westernized as if they feel insulted by tribal images.

    I don't feel ashamed of my heritage. Sure, Nigeria is definitely quite modern, but modern need not mean the West and all its attributes.

    I just had to say that because your indignance seems (at least to me) to be stemming from your need to distance yourself from the people in those images.

    Besides, you missed the whole point of African Style Week.

    I suggested most of those pictures to BGLH and the rationale behind my suggestion was that photographs of OLD/FORMER CENTURY Africans demonstrated the incredible versatility of African hair and enlightened modern naturals on possible hairstyles to try (for when we get tired of always doing two strand twists).

    THAT was the point. The point was not to claim that this is how every African is, or how every African dresses or looks. The point was that many modern day Africans are turning to hair straightening so modern day Africans are not a good source of inspiration for natural hairstyle ideas.

    I suggested and supplied some of those pictures because I (and correctly I might add) wanted everyone to seek inspiration from the greatest (and most vast) source of natural hair inspiration on Earth: Our Ancestors.

    So, I think we all know on this blog that Nigeria (and other parts of Africa) are modern and have all the trappings that modern technology affords, but I would not be so quick (as you have been) to distance myself from the people that came before me.

    It is not generalization, it is just pure fact.

    Reply
46. 

    Zara 9 September 2009 at 3:39 am Permalink

    @ Sugabelly

    Lol ^_^, I may have been kinda harsh but that's only because, I don't want ppl to go on thinking that Africa is one sided and primitive. I looooove my culture and I love what my tribe has given to me <3. Lol, if you had read the rest of my message, you would have known =P.

    I myself admire tribal images and I love wearing traditional to special occasions (ex. church, nigerian functions/conventions, parties) wayyy more than I love western.

    I respect my culture and I respect what it has given me. I just feel as if Americans dont look at the whole picture and instead take what they stereotype Africa to be and claim it as their heritage… its frustrating and it is the root of many misunderstandings/misconceptions =( =P.

    Why should I distance myself from my Efik roots? I loooove them and I love my country ^_^ <3. Even if I was born here, lol. I'm still a Nigerian, it's still a huge part of my life.

    And lol, even though you have good intentions, alot of us Americans are pretty ignorant, I would be if it weren't for the fact that I am only 1st gen… The images although beautiful can mislead and I'm seriously tired of dealing with ignorant comments from kids in skool about Nigerians and Africa as a whole… it's so frustrating…

    Besides, no offense but, who are you to tell me what I believe or what I'm doing is wrong? Is speaking my opinion "distancing" myself? Who are you to tell me what my own culture consists of when I def know wayyyy better than you? Seriously, that's an insult. Do you even understaaaand the pain that is a result of my ppl being looked down on? Ppl seem to think we think we are better than AA's cuz we are true Africans. They think we stick their noses up at them… and they are ignorant to our rich culture. Like I said before, I love my tribe and it's uniqueness but I'm tired of ppl thinking that's all there is to Africa… I'm tired of people thinking because of the pomp and regality associated with our tribes, we assume we are better. Hey, maybe we are, lolol… jkjkjk but seriously, for those that do feel that way… we might as well be.

    Besides, you don't really seem to understand either…

    Reply
47. 

    mo 14 October 2009 at 12:44 am Permalink

    Basically agree w/ much that's been said. Won't say too much more (LOL). I was born & raised in TX but I'm a Nigerian. I transitioned and BC'ed in 2004.

    As has been stated, most of the naturals are young girls. But, in the larger cities, especially Lagos, a woman is considered "bush" or "village" or "local" if she allows her hair or HER CHILD's HAIR to be natural. That's right, people are relaxing their 3+ y.o. girls' hair. A mess! And it looks it! Very sad.

    When I was in Nigeria in 2007, my older cousin who's 40 saw my hair and said that she felt bad b/c "there you are in the US and yet I don't want to be like white people" but "here I am [referring to herself in Nigeria] mimicking them". She even told a religious friend of hers, a man, who came and prayed prayers of thanks for me. (Yes, that part was kinda weird! Lol.) On that trip the neighbor/braider who came to do my hair was astonished about how soft my natural hair was, she kept saying "but your hair could be this long [pointing] if you relaxed" and saying "but you hair will be paining you. isn't it paining you?" Um, no. I told her that education is key. She also said that she had to change her hair b/c "their hair [white ppl's] is better". I think she heard herself in that moment and really reflected!

    The sad part is that most AFRICAN BRAIDERS (or hairdressers) know NOTHING. I mean NOTHING. Heck, most "African braiders" in America know NOTHING. I keeps it real y'all! *I actually consider this type of conscious "other-love" to be a good thing. If we can be conscious of our wanting to be like someone else, we can grow to be equally conscious about our wanting to be like ourselves!

    I was in Nigeria for 3months in 2008. I was in Lagos this time and saw the Hotmess that was the weave game. NO WORDS! I came in wearing twist exts and privately converted them to twists w/o exts. At first this "beautician" that I was friendly with complimented them, then she dissed them, like two days later, and "advised" me to come to her shop. LOL. Sad thing is I later saw her getting her hair done. :0 BALD spots the size of your palm and where there was hair, the scalp could still be seen. I was very sad indeed. My cousin's wife took an interest in my hair but a female cousin told me that I look "scattered". In my family, my hair is considered to be holding me back from beauty. LOL.

    But everything is not bad in Nigeria. I wanna say 50% of the school girls at any given time (maybe 75%) have natural hair in the form of low-cut fros b/c of school rules. There's also the religious — and yes ppl ask you if you're one of the "white garment ppl" when you go around natural! There are also the older women who've never relaxed. They're mostly in smaller cities and towns and no one (20-30s) wants to "look like an Auntie".

    The Nigerian actress w/ locs is Dakore Egbuson. She's major. ;)

    The only other Nigerian in Nigeria in a position of power I've met w/ natural hair is… her name escapes me, but she has beautiful locs, owns/runs a major publishing company. (There's only like two.) She's back in Nigeria after several years abroad. A real ball buster, and yes, I say that as a compliment.

    Reply
48. 

    Foxycleopatra 2 November 2009 at 8:47 pm Permalink

    @ mo,

    I think the other high profile nigerian woman u r thinkin of is Ruth Benemesia-Opia. I loved her flava. She was a very popular newscaster/show host. Didn’t know she had gone into publishing/business (if she is actually the one u were referring to).

    Reply
49. 

    Lalla 6 November 2009 at 10:19 am Permalink

    Hi,
    I’m from Mali, and the vision of hair there is quite different than it is in Nigeria. Malians are very proud of their history and culture ( most African empires, Songhai, Mali, Ghana etc took their roots there). Being westernized ( they call it assimilé) is not a desirable thing there. Nonetheless, some women do bleach their skin, and many in cities relax or use weaves/wigs. Still, there is a huge variety of hairstyles (including the afro in some cities of the North where men and women sport huge afros), and most people would not wear a westernized hairstyle in a special occasion( wedding…). Most of the population is not relaxed, mostly because they do not have access to such products nor the desire to do so. Furthermore, Fulani women who usually have long and woolly natural hair often is like the idea of relaxing. Things do vary from ethnical group to ethnical group.
    Keep in mind that this is a country where you can find every skin color, since Arabs, Fulanis, Bambaras, Berbers and other cultures have lived together for so long.
    It is true that Americans have a huge influence on popular culture worldwide. I also think that a lot of Africans would rather identify themselves with Americans than with what is happening aroud them (poor countries, corruption, even tough there are good and wonderful things in Africa).
    Last, there are at least 900 million Africans, so I doubt Nigeria is 15%; even if it were, it would by no means be representative of the continent.

    Reply
50. 

    MissyD 21 November 2009 at 3:16 am Permalink

    People tend to forget that when the slave trade happened and we were all brainwashed by European Masters, they were also fuckin up Africa. So yes a lot of African girls do have permed hair.

    Oprah actually will not allow her girls to get perms due to the high maitenance.

    But I was in the African Students Organization at my old college. Out of a fairly large, predominetly female organization I think only four of us had natural hair. Most of them gave my friend and I the cold shoulder because of our hair, staired at my head, or asked me judgemental questions. I’m not the type to seperate Africans from African Americans, I’ve noticed that that is a African predominet thing. Once we start drawing “tribal” lines we can all easily be divided and conquered. Last time I checked my the face I see in the mirror reflex mostly Africa regardless of what country I was born in.

    But I think it will take a lot to convert more women into being natural. But I think we’re coming a long way.

    Reply

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