Nigerian men who wear their hair in knots are not a new phenomenon, but the hairstyle’s spiritual heritage sparks fear in the hearts of many.
Beauty
Lifestyle Why the ‘Miss Curvy Pageant’ is an assault on Ugandan women
Uganda’s tourism ministry has launched a beauty pageant to use local women to attract tourists.
Lifestyle Curvy or not, all women should be celebrated
Recent comments made by Uganda’s Minister for Tourism, when he described curvy women as potential tourist attractions, have brought the debate around the objectification of women back into the spotlight.
African identities Rwanda is the latest African country to ban bleaching products
Rwanda has followed Ivory Coast, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa in cracking down on skin bleaching products that contain chemicals like hydroquinone and mercury, which have been linked to skin cancer and kidney and liver damage.
Lifestyle American celebrity Blac Chyna selling bleaching cream in Nigeria
Imported Self Hate: Controversial American ex-entertainer Blac Chyna announced she will be in Nigeria to promote her new Whitenicious x Blac Chyna Collection, described as an “illuminating and brightening cream”. Blac Chyna has received extensive public backlash for “exploiting” Nigeria’s colourism problem.
Lifestyle Hello Movember! The new male beauty standard and solutions for problematic beards
Complicated beauty rituals are no longer a purely feminine preoccupation. The current male beauty standard demands a level of effort and curation that men have not been exposed to in the past. The pressure to attain this image ideal is even higher with social perceptions and stereotypes.
Africans rising Rudo Mazhande, a trailblazer in Zimbabwe’s soap-making industry
Despite being a trained chemical engineer, Rudo Mazhande struggled for years to use her skills. Now her soap-making business is creating jobs and serving the needs of her community and beyond.
Arts and Culture Hair politics: Beyond beauty, this Ivorian hair artist used her hair to address #MeToo
Ivorian hair artist, Laetitia Ky has used her hair to speak out on rape, sexual assault and harassment. She shaped her hair to speak on the #MeToo movement. Her hair portrayed a man lifting the skirt of a woman. Laetitia’s poignant expressions are when she uses her hair to highlight women rights issues.
Lifestyle Self-love – not bans – will bring an end to Africa’s bleaching syndrome
At the root of the skin bleaching phenomenon is a psychological complex.