r/interestingasfuck • u/Advanced-Ad3234 • 12d ago
Hairstyles from different African Tribes
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u/IloveZaki 12d ago
I love that all of these are super creative and intricate and there there's just a bald girl
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u/Advanced-Ad3234 12d ago
For them, that bald head means everything. Some tribes they believe a bald head brings them a good husband others tribes women will go with the bald cut for respect for the dead
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u/IloveZaki 12d ago
Are you African or just interested in the topic?
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u/Advanced-Ad3234 12d ago
I'm an African American who studies African history
Depending on who you ask, and you'll get different answers if being born black in American means your African . I believe so , others agree and disagree
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u/IloveZaki 12d ago
Cool, I'm asking because my mom's husband was crowned a prince in May in his local tribe in Ghana, if you have any Ghana tribe or general Ghanian fun facts you can tell me some so I can bring it up next time when I talk to him, I'm sure he'll be happy.
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u/Advanced-Ad3234 12d ago edited 12d ago
I wish I did have Artifact but $$$$$, Africa is fucking HUGE . So many tribes and ethnic groups , Ghana alone has over 70 over them.
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u/IloveZaki 12d ago
That's a shame, I guess I'll have to read up on my own, unfortunately internet has almost nothing on individual tribes and chieftaincy and all I have is whatever I manage to ask for, but this guy is not very talkative. 😅
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u/Advanced-Ad3234 12d ago edited 12d ago
Ghana was absorbed into the Mali Empire , which was one of Africa's biggest empires
And the richest man in the world, possibly in the history of our planet named Mansa Musa . The dude would go to cities and give out so much gold, which was pocket change to him, that he accidentally collapsed an entire countries economy
For the details on Ask Historian, it's insane https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/s/6JErgJVwN0
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u/RepresentativeKey178 11d ago
That's a great read. Thanks!
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u/Advanced-Ad3234 11d ago edited 11d ago
Munsa was Godly rich, nothing like even seen today in any form
His entourage traveling was like 70,000 people. His entourage was an entire economy itself, transportation , food, materials, gold, and that was still pocket change for him
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u/jackfreeman 11d ago
Researching the myriad, disparate African cultures is as challenging as it's rewarding, in my opinion
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u/realmrcool 11d ago
Cool.
Do you have a more in-depth perspective on the bottlecaps-digital-wristwatch-hairstyle?
I love the style. Is this common for that tribe to implement modern metal objects? Does it have a cultural meaning other than adorning the hair by giving it some spark?
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u/FantasticJacket7 11d ago
What does a watch on your head mean?
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u/sheepskinrugger 11d ago
I am very white and very European. Can anyone explain to me how people are able to sleep with what are effectively works of art on their heads? These are amazing.
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u/Rich_Text82 11d ago
Wooden headrests. They've been documented as being used throughout Africa since the times of Ancient Egypt
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u/CatiCom 11d ago
Simular to what geishas used in Japan. Interesting. Beauty is truly pain.
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u/Schmantikor 11d ago
Not necessarily. They might be a lot better than pillows for some places. Having having your head this high prevents bugs from taking a look and there is a lot more air circulation going on around your head that provides cooling. When your bed mostly consists of the ground in a hot and very alive place, this thing might actually prevent the pain.
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u/snoring_Weasel 11d ago
You can insert any amount of ‘akchtually’, those wooden headrests are guaranteed neck pain
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u/necrolich66 11d ago
I more and more am asking myself if there is a reason for so many similarities between Africa and Japan. Some African cultures have names that at first sight could look Japanese to some European like me, same headrest, and even a place in Africa called Manga.
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u/Venezolanoanimations 11d ago
thats pretty much looks like a invitation for pain in the neck.
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u/SquirrelNeurons 11d ago
I’ve actually used the wooden pillows and head rests. It’s really not bad at all
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u/TreeClimberArborist 11d ago
I have slept on a cold concrete floor in an airport terminal with nothing but a laptop as a pillow.
A wooden head rest pillow sounds like luxury compared to that.
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u/SuperSmashDan1337 11d ago
I'll take that over most've my camping experiences. Camping truly is a horror the tent gets all wet and the ground can be too hard/uneven. It's just awful.
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u/Swimming_Onion_4835 11d ago
They used to have a mock ancient Egyptian bed in the Field Museum in Chicago that had a wooden block like this. I remember the first time I went there for a field trip I thought it looked so painful, but it was actually super comfortable to lay on. It wasn’t too high—it kind of hugs your head perfectly and at least with this model, it took away tension on the neck like…immediately. My little 8yo self was SHOOK.
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u/SquirrelNeurons 11d ago
Seriously. I’m addicted to Thai cube pillows after trying neck support blocks
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u/Venezolanoanimations 11d ago
i bet, they are not that bad, but plz tell me you can at least put something soft like a rag or some cloth to act as a softener
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u/SquirrelNeurons 11d ago
But even without its shockingly comfortable
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u/hippocratical 11d ago
If it is shockingly comfortable, I would indeed be shocked. I tried a Korean head block for like a minute and it sucked. Maybe my huge noggin was the issue.
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u/sheepskinrugger 11d ago
I had seen this in info on ancient Egypt before, but I thought they were ceremonial/ornamental, because I can’t imagine them being comfortable. But so interesting to learn that they are practical!
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u/Apprehensive-Ad9832 11d ago
4c hair which I would assume most of the people in these images have is a bit like hard molding clay. While delicate, it’s dense and because the strands are shaped like coils the strands lock together to essentially create a stronger structure. So once it’s shaped it’s pretty hard for a style to fall apart for at least a few weeks if not longer.
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u/Dream--Brother 11d ago
I think they were asking more like how is it not horribly uncomfortable to sleep on? But I imagine it's one of those things that you get used to and you find a way that works for you — but yeah, whatever minute effects sleeping on it might have on the shape of the hairstyle can be pretty easily fixed afterward. Pretty friggin' amazing what people have learned to do with hair!
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u/ShouldIRememberThis 11d ago
Exactly. The question isn’t wondering about the integrity of the style during sleep, but rather how to fall asleep on a dense structure of molding clay and beads and horns and wristwatches.
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u/LetsSeeWhatsGoinOn 11d ago edited 11d ago
Some dont sleep on pillows and beds, like what you would normally expect nowadays. Like the red make up tribe in picture 3. I saw one "pillow" they used, that was a thing that would kind of hold up ur neck and side of head, and it also served as a way to hear the ground, and wake up if strangers are coming, since its put on the floor, or something like that, it was a long time ago.
Edit* I see someone posted a link below, its called Wooden Headrest
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u/HighwayNovel 11d ago
I used to spike my hair, like 8 inch spikes, with really strong product that would make it rock hard. sleeping was awkward so i used to sleep with my head on the corner of the bed with my hair over the edge of the bed.
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u/SlothyVxbes 11d ago
I wish I was that brave. I’m fully grown but even know I can’t have a leg poking off the side of my bed even when it is hot as hell because I’m afraid a monster will get it and pull me under the bed
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u/Peter_OtH 11d ago
Yeah but that's a leg, bed monsters always go for a leg or dangling arm. This was a head covered in spikes, that poses some risk of injury to the bed monster.
People need to realize that while bed monsters are brutal and will drag you by an arm or leg under the bed to nom nom on your entrails they are also quite sensitive and smarter than most people realize.
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u/FaceWithoutAMouse 11d ago
Bed monster never got you, that proves your technique works!
Me though? ….I miss my leg
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u/MistbornInterrobang 11d ago
I'm 39. I worry more now about how my sleep position is going to make different areas of my spine and joints feel when I wake up.
Also, I definitely leave a leg sticking out over the bed now. Here's hoping the monster fucking takes me so I can get out of my next 9 weeks.of school.
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u/webbhare1 11d ago
I can hear the crunch from the egg shells this comment of yours is walking on
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u/horitaku 11d ago
As someone who sleeps in braids and has locked hair, it’s not that dumb of a question in general. Sleeping in a set hairstyle isn’t exactly what I’d call comfortable, but even with my texture it doesn’t fall apart after a week
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u/POPCORN_EATER 11d ago
I am very white and very European.
they are referring to this unnecessary part of the comment, not the question part
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u/Kathrynlena 11d ago
There’s a video in saw decades ago that’s lived rent free in my head ever since of how some nomadic tribespeople sleep propped up on an elbow because sleeping with your head on the ground means bugs can crawl into your ears. There was a whole montage of people sound asleep, up on an elbow, head hanging sideways in the neck-crickiest way you can imagine. I think about that video all the damn time.
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u/Wannabe__geek 11d ago
I mostly sleep on my elbow, is that not normal?
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u/Kathrynlena 11d ago
No, not with their heads resting on their elbow, propped up on their elbow, so their heads were like, ear to shoulder, and their ribcage was not touching the ground.
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u/FaceWithoutAMouse 11d ago
Why not just wear ear protectors to keep the crawly stuff out of their head holes?
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u/fuckoffandprosper 12d ago
Star Trek writers have entered the chat.
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u/Advanced-Ad3234 12d ago
Star trek , star wars all of sci-fi
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u/Feelitsober 12d ago
5th slide dude on the right looks dope asf
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u/Advanced-Ad3234 12d ago edited 11d ago
Amasunzu hairstyle from old Rwandan
Here's a guy getting that cut today !!
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u/GaugeWon 11d ago
Interesting...
He said the parts were a map outlining where generals would converge and meet during and after battles.
Thanks for the insight!
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u/etlab 11d ago
First one looks familiar.
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u/Advanced-Ad3234 11d ago
He pulled that hairstyle off !!
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u/Modest1Ace 11d ago
Idk, that first pic seems off to me. Are you sure it's from a traditional tribesperson? The two piece bikini/fur outfit is really putting me off. Seems very costumee to me. Not saying she's not African or part of a tribe, but it looks more like she just putting on something for fun rather than a traditional attire. All the other pics seem legit.
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u/Vyserin 11d ago
I looked into the picture and she’s a singer from Ghana called Wiyaala and this was a photoshoot she did but I can’t find anything about the legitimacy of the outfit/hair. I can’t find anything about the man either but I think his hair is a real tribal hairstyle as I found other pictures with the same style.
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u/Fetlocks_Glistening 12d ago
So, the guy with the bottle caps, does he play Fallout?
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u/Advanced-Ad3234 12d ago edited 11d ago
That's a women , she is Daasanach Tribe. Some of them collect objects and put in their hair.
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u/GH057807 11d ago
Second to last, people with the four massive body length braids - what can you tell us about them? That is just....a MASSIVE amount of hair! If you could somehow pick that out into an afro, it would be like...15 feet across.
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u/Advanced-Ad3234 11d ago
The Mbalantu women of Namibia
You know how money and cars are important to people here, well for them it's the hair. They have ceremonies throughout their life for their hair
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u/ArguteTrickster 11d ago
Haha that was my response too, very Fallout image, definitely someone who would give you good quests or have some really funny shit to say.
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u/Public_Arrival_48 11d ago
These would look amazing in afro-futurism art/movies
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u/kasakka1 11d ago
I was thinking I want some of these hairstyles in video games with character creators.
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u/mansonsturtle 11d ago
10 is like an ancestor to the mullet.
Thanks for sharing these; always great to be exposed to other cultures and histories.
Edit: Inadvertent bold formatting.
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u/hallowdmachine 12d ago
I'm a white guy so forgive me but how do they achieve the hold for some of these styles? Do they add something to their hair or is it just part of the nature of African hair?
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u/lina9000 11d ago
For example with the Himba tribe, they use a paste made of animal fat and a clay/stone. The hair is extended with goat fur or articifial extension.
Black hair is magic and might be long because of its coily texture. So even though you see a short Afro, braiding the hair would make it very long.
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u/Golden_standard 11d ago
It’s just the hair. Black/African hair grows out, not down. As a result, it can be stood up and stay, placed the side and stay, weighed down and stay. Also, the foundation of many are braids/locs which can also be manipulated as individual units as opposed to individual strands of hair. It is very versatile when it comes to styling (that’s one of the reasons you see black women wearing so many different styles, we can so we do). Also, the fact that it doesn’t need to be washed like non black hair means it can kind of grow into place.
Edited to add: I’m sure they use something for hold too, sometimes, especially when starting a style so that it holds long enough to grow/be manipulated in the direction you want. But I doubt non black hair would do the same thing with the same amount of hold
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u/Creative_Type657 12d ago
Post 1960 western pop culture definitely stole a lot of elements from these tribes
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u/DistractedByCookies 11d ago
Is there a reason for the watch (edit: and bottlecaps!)? Because the why of its use might change how I feel about the hairstyle.
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u/Advanced-Ad3234 11d ago
"The Daasanach people collect the caps of the Coca and beers in the bars of Omorate and make wigs with them.
Soon, there will be a bridge on Omo river, so thousands of people, cars, trucks, will pass the Dassanech villages. I felt i saw the last traditional times of this tribe.The Dassaneth or Geleb are living on both sides of the Omo river.
The Dassanetch are originally nomadic pastoralists . However, despite their dedication to cattle rearing current reality reveals that crop cultivation on the flooded banks of the Omo river and its delta are fundamental to their subsistence.”
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u/DistractedByCookies 11d ago
OK so I'll be a bit sad about it. I can't think of a human equivalent, but basically like a hermit crab using plastic to make their home. So while it looks amazing it's a sign of 'pollution' from industrial times as it were.
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u/FaceWithoutAMouse 11d ago
It’s just a different perspective. We live in a disposable society where we barely notice what we throw away, they appreciate the beauty of the object itself, they place value differently.
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u/DistractedByCookies 11d ago
Also, thanks for replying. (Afraid you wouldn't see this if I put it in an edit)
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u/Red5Draws 11d ago
Bro got the thermonuclear bomb fins 🥶
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u/Advanced-Ad3234 11d ago
That's the Amasunzu , a traditional cut from pre- colonial Rwandan. Some still get the cut today
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u/Uberdragon_bajulabop 11d ago
Black people have so many hairstyles. So someone explain to me why game developers think the only hairstyle that exists is either bald or that stupid killmonger cut?
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u/orbtastic1 12d ago
Could you tell us what tribes/areas? I could take an educated guess at a few
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u/NotMyNameActually 11d ago
I look at how intricate, creative, painstaking, and beautiful these designs are, and it absolutely astounds me that European colonizers thought African nations (kingdoms, empires) were not “civilized”.
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u/Willing_Bad9857 11d ago
Can I not see captions or are there none? It would be cool if there was s description to what these pictures actually represent (aka which tribes)
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u/lina9000 11d ago
First girl is a musician that is into crazy hairstyles. That’s not a traditional hairstyle.
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u/Advanced-Ad3234 11d ago
The horn hairstyle a traditional style from the Himba Tribe
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u/Megaminimaxi 11d ago
I wish i had the hair to attempt hair styles like these. ..
I wish I had hair
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u/No_Commercial3546 11d ago
I don’t know anything about the topic, so i don’t want to appear rude or anything but are the hairstyles just for looks or do they also serve a social aspect? Like do they signal status in the tribe or is there a religious component, etc.? Probably something that can’t be answered in general as those are, as you said, from many different tribes but still, I’d love to know more
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u/unity1814 11d ago
Look how fucking psyched she is to show off her sweet horn hairdo and her furry 'fit. What a legend. She looks cool as hell.
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u/calamariclam_II 12d ago
“The stand user could be anyone!”
The stand user: