DreadFul Perspectives: Part 1 (Dreadlocking Knowledge)

                                                                                                      EnRooted

                            

          In this Three-Part Series the words Dreadlocks, Dreads, Locks, Locs and Ras will be used interchangeably.


According to the website Knattydread.com, "Dreadlocks are more than a hairstyle, the roots of the most amazing locs are in your mind!" How Dreadlocks Work: Dreadlocks in history


Now, you might be wondering what does your mind have to do with growing locs. Well, just like anything that we do, we all question whether or not it is the right thing for us, the timing, environment and in some cases, if those around us will like and accept our decisions. 

Many who are considering locking their hair ask themselves a series of questions and some on the flip side just start the locking process. 

However, with everything existing in this world, there is always a history behind it. 

The locking of one's hair has a long history despite many not knowing exacting where it really originated from. This locking of hair has transcended across cultures and societies and today, it has a place in mainstream settings. 

Depending on who you ask, the origins of dreadlocks will have a different meaning to different people at different periods. 

Where did the Word Dreadlocks Come From?

The name "Dreadlocks" does not have a clear origin. Some authors suggest that the first half of the name; dreads may have ties with the British soldiers who encountered the Mau Mau fighters who had the hairstyle. Another origin is that of Jamaican Rastafarians who see themselves as instilling fear in the hearts of non-believers (Dreadlocks).  

In the article, "Dreadlocks in history" Author Matt Sailor stated that naturally once the hair is not combed and groomed for long periods, it will most likely result in matting. To Sailor, this might have been the reason why most prehistoric people wore their hair in styles similar to dreadlocks. There were not any inventions such as combs or other styling tools to prevent the hair from matting during that period in history (How Dreadlocks Work: Dreadlocks in history).

The Minoan Civilisation (Europes earliest civilisation) depicts frescoes- a technique of mural paintings executed upon freshly-laid lime plaster, of dreadlocks as far back as 3600 years (Dreadlocks).

Another example comes from ancient Egypt where several examples on bas-relief, statuary and artefacts displayed Egyptians wearing locked hairstyles and wigs. Other archaeological evidence found on archaeological sites proved that ancient Egyptians with locked hair and wigs have also been discovered (Dreadlocks).

Other evidence was from people in the Near East, Asia Minor, Caucasus, East Mediterranean and North Africa such as the Sumerians, Elamites and ancient Egyptians during the Bronze and Iron Age. There were many artistic depictions of these people wearing their hair in plaits or braids and beards. However, there must be a clear distinction because plaits and locks are two different hairstyles and it is difficult to insinuate which style the aforementioned peoples wore (Dreadlocks).

Dreadlocks have been discovered on mummies in Peru, dating back some time to A. D. 200 and A.D. 600 (Sailor). 
Other evidence comes from Aztec priests who seemed to have worn their hair in matted styles during the 14th and 15th centuries (How Dreadlocks Work: Dreadlocks in history). 

Over time, many cultures and societies have used locks for various reasons. Some include religious ritualisms, ceremonial proceedings and others were just a part of the everyday cultural norms. 

Locks were worn in many African ethnic groups and their significance varied according to the ethnic group. Massai warriors were famous for their long, thin red locks which they dyed using red ochre. Kikuyu had coiled hair. Some children in Nigeria are born with naturally locked hair and are referred to as Dada which is a Yoruban word (Dreadlocks).

Indigenous Australians from North West and North Central Australia have worn their hair in locks. Some even accompanied their locks with long beards which were at times loosely or tightly locked as well.  In North Central Australia, the formation of locks was done by greasing with fat and coating with red ochre which is similar to the Massai warriors of Africa (Dreadlocks).

The earliest evidence of dreadlocks came from Hindu Vedic scriptures. Locks are worn in India by Sadhus also known as holy men. The Nagas are ascetic and followers of the god Shiva. Their name for locks is Jaata- twisted locks of hair and they wear it above their heads and only let it down for special occasions and rituals. Indian holy men and women regard locks as sacred. It is considered to be a religious practice and an expression for their disregard of vanity (Dreadlocks).

Tibetan Buddhism and other forms of Buddhism have occasionally substituted the dreadlocks for a more traditional shaved hair. The most recognisable of these groups are the Ngagpas of Tibet. For these Buddhist, their locked hair is not only a symbol of vows but an embodiment of the particular powers they are sworn to carry. For example, some practitioners of particular ceremonies should arrange their pile up hair as a signage of the ceremonial protocol (Dreadlocks).

Jamaican Rastafarians is considered one of the most recognisable group to wear dreads. The Rastafari movement began in the 1930s in Jamaica. A small sect believed that Haile Selassie I, who became emperor of Ethiopia in 1930 was the Messiah. The Rastafari movement locks are symbolic to the Lion of Judah which is depicted on the Ethiopian flag (How Dreadlocks Work: Dreadlocks in history). 

Rastas see themselves in a way to stay as pure in nature to the likeness of God. They utilise the biblical story of Samson as justification to never cut their hair. Rastas allow their ras to grow freeform. This allows the hair to grow at different lengths and even combine together to form larger matted clumps (How Dreadlocks Work: Dreadlocks in history).

Other belief systems of the Rastarafi are that Africa is a paradise and the West is a place full of captivity. Thus, a way of celebrating ethnic pride is by freeing the hair from the European ideals of beauty. In the early days of the movement, Rastas faced prosecution and imprisonment, just like the Shouter Baptist in Trinidad, for their religion and hairstyle. 

Today, thanks to Bob Marley-Jamaican Reggae singer and songwriter and an activist of the Rastafarian movement and philosophy, the movement has become more widely accepted.  Almost every aspect from sports to actors and actresses, singers of different genres of music also wear ras today. Despite there being numerous rolled eyes and questions about the movement, the hairstyle and all that comes with it, ras has come a long way and still has a long way to go. 

The story is told of a young man who appeared on the Ellen Degeneres talk show who could not attend school because his hair did not follow the school's rules and regulations. The said young man was a final year student at a high school in the United States of America. He claimed to have roots in Trinidad as his dad was born in Trinidad. To him, wearing ras meant accepting and living out a part of his culture and heritage in the most simplistic way possible. If he did not cut his ras he would either face in-school suspension or an alternative school for children with behavioural issues (Ellen Degeneres surprises black teen told to cut dreadlocks with $20,000 scholarship). 

Stories like the one mentioned above will continue to unfold because there is still underlying negative implications towards ras and ras relations. 

There was also a story of a 12-year-old girl in Trinidad and Tobago who was also denied entry into her school because of her ras. The Principal of the school stated that the girl's hairstyle was against the school's rules and policies. Section 4 (g) of the Constitution fo Trinidad and Tobago however provides grounds and provisions for human rights. One such right is the right to "freedom and conscience religious beliefs and observance." Denying a child entry into a school that she sat a test and passed for is beyond disbelief and it just goes to shows how far we have to go as a nation (Girl thrown out of school over dreadlocks). 

Stay tuned for Part 2. (Dreadfully Beautiful).