AFRO HAIR: IS a BIG conversation

‘AFRO HAIR: IS a BIG conversation’ by Dr Kerri Akiwowo, Senior Lecturer in Textiles (School Design and Creative Arts) explores Black identities and embodied experiences through the ages told through afro hair narratives and artefacts of Black and mixed heritage communities. The project embodies aspects of Reclaiming Narratives—the theme for Black History Month (BHM) 2024, which seeks to recognise and correct the narratives of Black History and culture. More broadly, the project aims to illuminate a history of afro hair discourses and practices through stories, objects, materials and popular culture, supported by LU Arts. ‘AFRO HAIR…’ follows ‘Black Heritage: Narratives of Diaspora’ launched during BHM 2023. 

Call for contributors

We asked staff and students for their AFRO HAIR stories, memories or reflections in pictures.

The project will be launched online in December 2024. An exhibition at Martin Hall Exhibition Space will follow next October during BHM 2025. As part of the 2024 web and social launch, we invited contributions from LU staff, doctoral researchers and UG/PG students from Black and mixed heritage communities. We asked people to submit images accompanied by a short text to feature on the AFRO HAIR project webpage(s).

Selected submissions will be featured online and this online gallery will be refreshed over the next 12 months to feature multiple entries leading up to the exhibition.

Contributors were asked to respond to one or more categories from four main themes: 

• Head coverings (e.g. celebration, restriction, oppression, protection, fashion etc.) 

• Eurocentric (e.g. media, workplace, influence, identity, artificial, celebrity etc.) 

• Hairstyles (e.g. afro, plaits, buns, dreadlocks, cornrow, braids, knots, curls etc.) 

• Paraphernalia (equipment, combs, creams, oils, gels, pictorials, supplies etc.)