'I love my afro. It's how I wear my hair most days. I can dress it up or down, it can take on many looks, but never boring. I have a lot of art with women with afros around my home and office, and when my son was little, I loved when he would point at the pictures and say, "mummy". I like to play with my hair and sometimes, I wear it straight. My son says it looks pretty, but inevitably he says, "wash you hair mummy, so it can be curly like mine again". ' - Ade Hassan, Nubian Skin Founder
Every year on September 15th, we celebrate World Afro Day, a global movement dedicated to appreciating natural Afro hair and the beauty of African heritage. Today is about more than just hairstyles; it's a celebration of identity.
World Afro Day was founded in 2017 by Michelle De Leon, a Black woman determined to combat the prejudice and discrimination that people with Afro-textured hair often face. Her mission was to create a space where Afro hair could be celebrated unapologetically, while educating and inspiring the world about its cultural significance.
The day has grown in global recognition, with schools and workplaces participating in the movement. It’s not just a celebration of style, but a movement advocating for equality and acceptance of all hair types.
One of the most profound effects of World Afro Day is the sense of empowerment it gives to people with Afro hair. For many Black individuals, wearing their hair in its natural form, whether it's in an Afro, twists, braids, or locs, is an act of self-expression. It’s a way to reclaim ownership over their look and challenge the societal pressures that have previously pushed them to conform to.
To be honest, one of the most meaningful aspects of celebrating afro hair is its impact on children. For young kids who may feel different because of their hair, this day offers a chance for children with melanin blessed skin to see their beauty reflected and celebrated on a global scale. It builds self-esteem and allows children to feel proud of their heritage from an early age, knowing that their natural hair is something to be embraced, not hidden. It also shows other children that afro hair is beautiful and not all that rare. Representation matters. When children see people who look like them being celebrated, it teaches them that they too, are beautiful and deserving of recognition and celebration.
In addition to building confidence, World Afro Day also starts broader discussions about hair discrimination and the need for in some instances, for policy change. It's still common that individuals with Afro-textured hair still face discrimination in schools, workplaces, and public spaces. There have been numerous cases where Black people have been told-off or even fired for wearing natural hairstyles like locs or braids.
Movements like The CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) in the United States, have gained momentum alongside World Afro Day. This day helps raise awareness about the need for laws that protect people from being penalized for embracing their natural hair.
You can celebrate World Afro Day by educating and advocating, share the history of your heritage and your choice of hair style with people around you. Embrace your natural hair or whatever hairstyle that makes you, you, wear it with confidence. You can also support Black-owned businesses, this encourages the diversity and representation within the media.
Happy World Afro Day! Let’s continue to wear our hair with pride, the way we want to.
