Top 10 African Hairstyles most popular in Africa and their Origins

Top 10 cultural Hairstyles most popular in Africa and their Origins

The African traditional hairstyles are one symbol of Africa’s rich cultural heritage. This is another area that shows how diverse the African culture is, as It distinguishes one culture from the other.
Today, many of those traditional African hairstyles have crossed the Atlantic into the western world. While some are almost extinct, many remain peculiar to their origins.
1. Amasunzu Hairstyle
Amasunzu finds its roots among the Tutsi and Hutu people of Rwanda. Dating back over 500 years, the Amasunzu was worn by people of all social and marital status. Warriors wore it to signify strength and bravery. Single young girls wore it as a symbol of their virginity. It was a hairstyle of class as only the traditional elite flaunt it. Amasunzu is a way to beautify the body. This style relies heavily on the body frame of the wearer. It is a collection of rows of hair styled into resent shapes with sharp contours.
2. Bantu Knots
Bantu Knots is a traditional African hairstyle that originated among the Zulu people of Southern Africa. Throughout its existence, women have worn it as a symbol of femininity and status. The Bantu hairstyle is one in which the hair is divided into sections, twisted, and then wrapped to form spiral knots. Although the hairstyle originated from the Zulus, Bantu is a word that means ‘people’ in over 300 African languages. Little wonder it has become so popular among Africans and African Americans.
3. Fulani Braids
This hairstyle is indigenous to the Fulani people of West Africa. Having originated among them thousands of years ago, the hairstyle remains a symbol of identity for Fulani Women. Fulani Braids is simply hair parted in the middle and side, then braided into tiny cornrows. Most times, wearers adorn them with accessories such as rings and beads. It is becoming a fashion trend and gaining attention among other ethnic groups.
4. African Threads
African thread is a very common traditional African hairstyle all over the continent. Threads are native to the Yoruba people of South-West Nigeria. Over time, threads have become popular all over West Africa. Among Africans, threads have different names from different tribes, some of which include Los, Eko Bridge, Akula, Sunga, etc. It is a natural hair straightener, which has been a major part of hair care routines for centuries.
5. Zulu Topknots Hairstyle
As the name implies, this African traditional hairstyle traces its origin to the Zulu people of Southern Africa. In the early centuries, women in these communities used the style as a status symbol, in which only members of ruling class wore them. These days, although still heavily worn by Zulus, Topknots have permeated other cultures, such as the Ethiopians and Somalis. Zulu Topknots is made from hair gathered into knots and stretched into sections with a tie. Some women adorn their knots with jewellery.
6. Ochre Dreadlocks
Ochre Dreadlocks is a cultural symbol of the Hamar tribe of Ethiopia. When the Hamar people came to settle at the Omo Valley, they blended into the society of nomads which they met there. Together with these nomads, they invented this traditional hairstyle and called it ‘Goscha’.
7. Himba Dreadlocks
Himba is a tribe in Northwestern Namibia. For the Himbas, dreadlocks symbolize age and life. Himba stylists use a mixture of butter, ochre, and goat hair to create the locks. They also use hair extensions and ornamental accessories for beautification. Usually, teenagers wear strands of their dreadlocks hanging over their faces to symbolize their entrance into puberty. When these teenagers are ready to marry, they tie these dreadlocks to display or ‘reveal’ their faces.
8. Edamburu Hairstyle
Popularly known as Braided crown, Edamburu is an African traditional hairstyle native to the Mangbetu people of Congo. Edamburu is simply thin braids, carefully and neatly woven into a crown. The coiffure is impressively used to appreciate the culture of skull elongation among the Mangbetu people.
9. Ngala Hairstyle
Ngala is a traditional hairstyle that is native to the Igbo people of Nigeria. Among the Igbos, It is a symbol of pride and elegance for women. Igbo women usually wear Ngala on special traditional festivals, traditional marriages, and coronations. This hairstyle is unique as stylists use hair extensions on any texture of hair. A key feature of Ngala is the adornment of the style with Igbo for elegance.
10. Sahrawi cornrows
Sahrawi cornrows are indeginous to the Sahrawi people of Northern Africa. Because North Africans have curly hair, their traditional styles are few. The Sahrawis wear cornrows in the typical Sahelian form, with two sections running through the middle. Hair extensions then help to form two braids that run down to the arms. Beads are sometimes used to make it more attractive and pleasing.

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