Surprise Mary Nyagoha

Kenya

The girl with the afro

I grew up in an African setting. Around nature and all that it has to offer. Not the stereotypical setting that most Western countries believe we live in; where we get to chase or be chased by lions while living in trees and in caves and getting our food through hunting and gathering. One thing I will always appreciate is the fact that my mother always raised us to believe in authenticity. When I was younger she would make me sit down and interlock her legs with me in the middle while holding an afro comb. At that point, you really know that it is about to go down. She would comb out my hair into an afro, and we would leave for church. Of course, there were those aunties that always thought that they should have an opinion.

“Don’t you think you need to go to the salon and blow dry your hair! It looks unkempt.”

I always felt stigmatized, but my mom would pay no attention to them. She would always encourage my sisters and I and always reminded us to embrace our authentic selves. By the time, I did not know the impact she made on our lives.

Grew up and moved to the big city. This is where you find ladies of class with their sleek hair in wigs or weaves or braids. That is not how I was raised. I tried it for a while, but I just could not. It is not once or twice that people actually comment negatively on my hair while walking down the streets. Honestly, I wonder why they do not seem to understand how colonized they sound. All thanks to my mother for making us embrace our roots.