This archive report was first published on 9 January 2020.
Published on January 9, 2020, by Alice Wairimu Nderitu, a Kenyan law scholar and author, Prof Makau Mutua has been at the center of a heated debate about African women wearing weaves. Mutua's stance has been met with both support and criticism, with some accusing him of mansplaining women's hair.
However, Mutua is not alone in his views. The late South African jazz legend Hugh Masekela was also known for his love of natural African hair and his disdain for wigs, hair extensions, and weaves. Masekela believed that weaves and wigs were a symbol of the historical oppression of African people and their culture.
According to Masekela, the use of weaves and wigs was a result of the European colonization of Africa, which led to the devaluation of African culture and identity. He argued that African people were forced to adopt European beauty standards, including straight hair, as a way of assimilating into Western society.
Chris Rock, an American comedian, also weighed in on the issue in his documentary 'Good Hair.' Rock interviewed black women who believed that natural black hair was unmanageable and bad, and he argued that the hair industry is a billion-dollar business that exploits black people's desire for straight hair.
The debate around weaves and identity is complex and multifaceted. While some argue that weaves are a form of cultural expression and empowerment, others see them as a symbol of oppression and a desire to conform to Western beauty standards.
Ultimately, the issue of weaves and identity is a personal one that requires a nuanced and thoughtful approach. As Wairimu Nderitu notes, the battle against weaves must also be waged against patriarchal sensibilities that inform the hair industry and perpetuate the idea that straight hair is beautiful.
