Ethiopian traditional hair style is among the various attributes of the country’s societies. Depending on the society’s culture, the hair style differs from place to place and age to age. Events like wedding, religious holidays, and the like are also taken in to consideration in the making of hairstyles.
Hair styling is not carried out by an ordinary person; rather people select the best woman who is believed to be expert in hair styling by the society. Occasionally, making traditional hair is the means to obtain some money in some rural parts of the country while the others do not receive money, rather they receive gratitude. Although traditional hair style is the identity of the country’s women, it does not mean that it is well protected, developed and promoted. In addition to this, globalization is the other factor of the hair style which affects seriously in the present time.
Cultural Values and Industry Development Director at Amhara Culture and Tourism Bureau, Berhan Tsegay says that traditional hair style, one of the characteristic features of the regions societal culture during the past many years. In this regard, the hair style varies depending on the situations, which making hair in the period of celebrating varies from ordinary days.
According to the Director, many women and men come from various parts of the region to participate actively in the ceremonial events.
Before attending the event, men go to barbers to get their hair dressed which depend on their wants and represent the local society. In this regard, not only women but also men have their own hair styles during the event celebration. This plays significant role for sharing experience, social interaction, and simply understand the society depending.
Although the Bureau is working to protect the culture of the society, the community also engages in protecting their traditional hair styles in particular and culture in general.
The Director believes that the traditional hair style should be promoted and changed to economic significance, which have playing dual role that protecting, culture sustainably and means of job opportunity. However, the bureau does not adequately support in the case of hair style like providing materials.
on the other hand, these days women in urban areas are dominated by modernization. Therefore, there is a need to aware the society that the traditional hair style is their asset and means of beautification.
Cultural Values Development Director at Ministry of Culture and Tourism Eskedar Girum agrees that all ethnics have their own traditional hair style throughout Ethiopia, which is the identities of the societies. However, sometimes two ethnic groups may have similar traditional hair styles.
Particularly, in Konso area, the SNNP regional state, the community has given special attention for hair to protect more and use red clear for attractiveness. On the other hand, in the northern parts of the country, the traditional hair style was classified in to the age of children, unmarried, fiancée, and married as well as someone who divorced.
According to Eskedar the types of traditional hair style is playing significant role for promoting the societies culture, protecting the identity, for men to choose mates and the like. Therefore, it is a language by itself.
‘’Due to globalization, people are adapting many modern hair styles. For instance women wear green, yellow, and red colures of the Ethiopian flag to decorate their hair during football matches. Likewise, COVID hair style also introduced recently that females hair is similar to the symbol of crown while it may stay long time and become culture of the societies’’
She further added that not only the traditional hair style but also other hand made are staying a long age after created. In this regard, the sunset Dantel was created in the first time during the Badme conflict (Ethiopia vs. Eretria) while the art is persist still now. That is why culture is shared and integrated one to others.
To some up regions are conducting the research that in order to identify the traditional hair style while the Ministry supports the activities through providing deferent materials. Similarly, the Ministry has conducting researches in regards to culture as a whole but it is not adequate in regards to traditional hair style. Therefore, it has given due attention in the aspect of promoting, protecting, and developing in the future.
The Ethiopian herald May 30, 2020
BY MESERET BEHAILU
