Monday, July 5, 2010


One thing i have noticed in Ethiopia or anywhere else where the people of color (black) live is the connection they develop with one another while doing their hair. On my 1 year and 1/2 stay in Ethiopia i saw this connection, felt this connection and remembered a bit about my childhood as my aunites and neighbors used to do my hair we called Shuruba.
Sitting in on the bottom and the person who is doing the hair usually sits either on a chair or stands to be able to do your hair. They use a tiny comb to split the thick volume of hair and create a design that fits your face and in a way where all of your hair can be split in bits and pieces and it forms a line, a square or any other design or shape to get all of your hair. So what is it about this connection people remember? For me it was the chit chat, the laughter, the "ouch it hurts moments" and the feeling of a person tightening up your strands of hair together so it wouldn't look messy or unattractive. The neat look, the design, and the proud look of the stylist is usally what did it for me. "so pretty" "this looks so nice" "it looks good on you" usually the comments given and with a blushing smile, you know the design and the new hair do is what will set you apart from the rest of your friends. Your shuruba is your pride until it gets messy that is.

1 comment:

  1. Priceless photo by the way. Even though i'm a man growing up in Kenya I would see my Aunties, cousins and sisters taking part in this hair styling process. At the time it was something normal and routine but now that you have brought it to light its something that I know is carried out in All african counties. Its a unique African experience, who would have thought!

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