Our ancestors left us with many tools to live this life as a Black person, including the power of the braid. Originating in Africa, braids were traditional indicators of not just style, but culture, family, tribes and religion.
Our species, of common ancestors, started only 60000 years ago, and it was in Africa, who went Out of Africa to populate the world. Braids originated then in Africa, hence by the Africans. Wherever they went to populate the world, they took that tradition with them. As simple as that!
The origin of braids and braided hairstyles
One of the earliest depictions of braided hairstyles hails from the 3,500 BC Saharan desert. Ancient African cave paintings depicted images of women with intricate braids weaved close to their scalp, or, as we know them now, cornrows.
Two particular cultures where braided hairstyles are widely accepted by men and women are African communities and Native American Indians.
Yes, many Native American tribes had traditions of braiding hair prior to European contact. Hair braiding was a common practice among various tribes, and the styles often held cultural significance, representing aspects of identity, social status, and community ties.
One striking aspect of their hairstyle was the practice of wearing their hair with a middle part, usually divided into two braids. This distinctive hairstyle symbolized profound cultural values of balance and equality.
Vikings did not invent braiding. There are depictions of braided hair from as early as 30,000 BC/BCE including the famous Venus of Willendorf. There are figures with cornrows in Tassili n'Ajjer cave paintings in North Africa that date from 6000 BC/BCE.
Early depictions of women with what appear to be cornrows have been found in Stone Age paintings in the Tassili Plateau of the Sahara, and have been dated as far back as 3000 B.C. A similar style is also seen in depictions of the ancient Cushitic people of the Horn of Africa, who appear to be wearing this style of ...
Many historians believe that India can be credited for the religious origins of dreadlocks. In fact, the Hindu Holy Scriptures, The Vedas, which was written in Indian between 1500 and 1000 BCE, provides the first written historical evidence of dreadlocks.
In some regions, a braid was a means of communication. At a glance, one individual could distinguish a wealth of information about another, whether they were married, mourning, or of age for courtship, simply by observing their hairstyle. Braids were a means of social stratification.
Egypt. Ancient egyptians have a reputation for invention, including paper, toothpaste, calendars, math, and even condoms. And while they may not have invented braiding – combining three strands of material into one – their hairstyles reflected wealth, age and social group. Young girls wore braids or ponytails.
Hair braids date as far back as the Mayan and Aztec civilizations, which practiced intricate hair braiding to indicate what community or tribe they belonged to. This is why braids are such a popular hairstyle in Mexico, Guatemala, and parts of Central America, even today.
Plait is made by hand, interlacing straws to form a long length of even width. A former may be used during the plaiting to create a space or loop in the pattern. Braid is made on various types of machine, or by using tools. The images in this section have been divided into plaits and braids.
Overall, Black hair braiding has evolved from a cultural practice rooted in Africa to a form of self-expression, resistance, and celebration of Black identity.
Braiding's roots in East Africa have been traced back to 3500 BC, with cornrows (called Kolese braids in Yoruba) maintaining the top spot in popularity for just as long.
Early origins of braids
Many experts believe cornrows are the oldest braiding style. In the 1950s, a French ethnologist and his team discovered a rock painting of a woman with cornrows in the Sahara desert. The painting dated back to 3500 BCE (about 5,000 years ago), the earliest known depiction of braids.
Dreadlocks of many variations have been worn since ancient times by different racial, ethnic, and religious groups in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
The bible talks about dreadlocks too: Numbers 6:5 “All the days of his vow of separation, no razor shall touch his head. Until the time is completed for which he separates himself to the Lord, he shall be holy. He shall let the locks of hair of his head grow long.
Well, I'm here to tell you, yes, dreadlocks can be combed out, especially ones that have been properly cared for during their life, including regular shampooing and conditioning. This is very important! If you decide to comb out your 'locks, it's critical that you approach the process with much patience.
“The origin of braids can be traced back 5000 years in African culture to 3500 BC—they were very popular among women.” “Braiding started in Africa with the Himba people of Namibia,” says Pace. “These people have been braiding their hair for centuries.
Braids indicated wealth, marital status, power, and religion. Slaves used braids to communicate escape routes. White slaveholders forced slaves to shave their head and keep a “tidy” appearance. Braids became popular worldwide during the 1900s.
Evidence suggests that Afro hair braiding started with the Himba people in what is now modern-day Namibia. It's believed that across the African continent, braiding patterns were used to identify tribe, age, wealth, marital status and religion.
Vikings, the Middles Ages Norse explorers, have a long history of exploration and contact with other civilizations. They settled from the Greenland to the western coast of Canada. Their history in Africa, however, remains a forgotten part of their expeditions.
Genetic research has shown that the Vikings in West Scandinavia, and therefore in Denmark, were mostly red-haired. However, in North Scandinavia, in the area around Stockholm, blonde hair was dominant.