The doek is now a fashion statement which is worn by all South African women.
I love how we have gone back to celebrate an accessory which at some stage was once seen as an old women’s trend.
There is so much behind wearing a doek and covering your hair as a woman. It means different things to different cultures across Africa.
In some cultures when a woman goes to her in-laws’ house she is expected to cover her head as a sign of respect and if you have grown up in the 21st century, that would be somehow absurd to understand.
Now that it is a hot trend I doubt any of us women of today would mind if our in-laws requested that of us.
I mean we have found ways to make our daily outfits fit perfectly with a stylish doek on our heads. Some religions also require women to cover their heads on a daily basis and they have for years done it with ease.
As an African woman I don’t think wearing a doek should be a big fuss because we have seen our grandmothers wear it diligently daily.
When I was a little girl I use to ask my grandmother why she wears a doek every day because I wanted to see her hair.
And sadly I never got a straight answer or maybe I did – I just don’t remember.
What some of us don’t know is a doek has a meaning; there are different doeks for different occasions and different ages.
I would like for my fellow sisters to actually take some time and educate themselves before tying a doek because even the way you tie has a significant meaning.
I’m still in awe because we have started to embrace our origins as Africans, I never saw the ‘Doek Friday’ coming but it gives me joy to see the doek being celebrated around the world.
I have to mention this, I also love seeing white women wearing doeks, they look beautiful.
For me it’s not even about race but celebrating women across the world with their different beliefs and customs.
So next time you come across a woman in her doek, just remember she might not have a doek on to be trendy but it could mean she is mourning, celebrating or even requested by tradition to do so.
