Hairstory

Martins and Mukodiri Uchendu explore the cultural significance of hair across African hairstyling traditions. Stanzas beginning with “My hair is” define the feature as art, identity, roots, stories, and more, while contextualizing paragraphs expand on each concept. “My hair is history” (“Woven into patterns from thousands of years ago”) is followed by information about the Ghanaian word sankofa, which means “to go back and get.” Elsewhere, “My hair is Orí” signifies hair’s spiritual importance through a Yorùbá concept: “My people believe the head is sacred—it contains the soul.” Digital illustrations with chalk- and etch-like textures supply portraits of figures in the past and present. It’s an insightful, visually stunning exploration of African hair: “each strand, a history. In every style, a story.” An extensive note, “Some African Tribes and Their Hairstories,” concludes. Ages 4–8. (Jan.)