In “Africans Consuming Hair, Africans Consumed by Hair” (2014), Francis Nyamnjoh and Divine Fuh argue that hair is a powerful symbol of identity for many – especially women of African descent whose complex relationships with hair challenge stereotypes and dichotomies inherited from the colonial past.
Draw from Nyamnjoh and Fuh’s article, lectures, and tutorials to explain this argument. Your explanation should address the following questions:
What is a dichotomy? What specific dichotomy do the authors analyse in the latter half of the article (57-65)? And why from the authors’ standpoint is this dichotomy problematic? (3)
A dichotomy is a division or contrast between two things that are represented as being opposed or entirely different. In the latter half of the article "Africans Consuming Hair, Africans Consumed by Hair," Nyamnjoh and Fuh analyze the dichotomy between "natural" and "unnatural" hair. This dichotomy is problematic from the authors' standpoint because it reinforces colonial ideologies that have historically marginalized African women and their unique relationships with hair.
The authors argue that the classification of African women's natural hair as "unprofessional" or "unruly" perpetuates a standard of beauty that is largely dictated by Eurocentric ideals. This dichotomy also assumes that African women who choose to style their hair in ways that do not conform to Western standards are somehow less civilized or empowered. Nyamnjoh and Fuh highlight how the preference for straightened or processed hair over natural African hair reflects a deeper societal issue rooted in internalized racism and self-hate.
By examining the complexities of African women's experiences with hair, the authors aim to challenge these ingrained dichotomies and shed light on the diverse identities and cultural practices that shape individual perceptions of beauty and self-worth. They emphasize the importance of embracing and celebrating the natural beauty of African hair as a means of reclaiming agency and dismantling oppressive beauty standards inherited from the colonial past.