This archive report was first published on 16 November 2019.
Driving through Nairobi's Wakulima Market, it's hard not to notice the city's palpable anger. A friend and I once mused about how easily people are just a comment away from going at each other's throats or losing their sanity. It's a sentiment echoed by many who've experienced the city's unique blend of frustration and resilience.
For some, a trip to the barbershop is a much-needed escape from the city's chaos. It's a space where men can be themselves, without judgment, and share their stories with others who understand. As comedian Teacher Wanjiku once joked, barbershops are a crucial part of many Nairobi marriages, providing a much-needed outlet for men to vent about their lives.
At the heart of this phenomenon are the barbershop girls - skilled masseuses who provide more than just a good head massage. They're confidantes, therapists, and friends, all rolled into one. As one writer describes, 'they know exactly what they're doing and they're both friendly and flirtatious, and so you end up having conversations you've kept away from people you know.'
While training programs like the Lions Barber Collective in the UK and The Confess Project in Atlanta, USA, have recognized the importance of barbershops as safe spaces for men, Nairobi's barbershops operate on a different principle. It's a place where men can be themselves, without fear of judgment, and find solace in the unlikeliest of places.
