Wrap your head around this

Every day you see African women with their heads beautifully wrapped in colourful cloth.

The beauty of the head wrap goes far beyond just the aesthetic appeal of it, it is heavily rooted in cultural meanings.

Some say the history of the dhuku, as it is called in our country, can be traced back to its origins in sub-Saharan Africa.

It was used to express spirituality, prosperity, and modesty. It is also said that the dhuku is a way of communicating non-verbally, their place in life. At times a head wrap will depict whether a woman wearing it is a widow, a grandmother or a married young woman.

The dhuku is so significant that it has withstood the test of many generations and along with its rich cultural meanings, it can also be seen as a bold fashion statement. Also, it’s a novel way to protect your head from the sun’s rays.

Young women of any race now proudly adorn cloths of bold colour and prints into their everyday ensembles.

The dhuku also goes by many other names. Along with being called a headwrap, people also call it, a headscarf, turban and headwear.

It is said that in West Africa, headwraps are called ‘gele’ in Yoruba or ‘Ichafu’ in Ibo.

So when next you see a woman looking bold in her dhuku, know that at times she does it for a purpose, and not just for beauty.