UNESCO moves to preserve African braiding culture, trains young ladies on hair-making

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on Tuesday warned that African cultural braids, which are not only hairstyles but also a social identity in Africa, are at risk of extinction.

In its bid to preserve the cultural hairstyles, the institute, sited at the premises of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, trained young females in Abeokuta, Ogun State on traditional hairdressing.

The skill training was put together with the aim to revive traditional African cultural hairstyles and provide essential hairdressing skills to the female youths.

Director of the institute, Professor Emeritus Peter Okebukola, while addressing participants at the event, stated that the African cultural hairstyles are at risk of disappearing.

Okebukola argued that these African traditional hairstyles as integral parts of African heritage, urging the participants to embrace and showcase these traditions.

The director stressed that the hands-on training sessions and informative workshops would in turn help Nigeria achieve the objectives of the 2005 UNESCO Convention which seeks to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions.

According to Okebukola, the skill is essential for the nation’s inclusive economic growth as well as reducing gender inequality and unemployment.

“This event brings together young female Africans with the aim of creating awareness for cultural hairstyles that are gradually going extinct, equipping them with necessary hairdressing skills to emphasise the importance of cultural hairstyles and to create an avenue for entrepreneurial opportunities.

“IACIU is concerned with equipping young females with creative skills that would be beneficial to and for them in all levels which is essential for inclusive economic growth and achieving the goals set out in 2030 sustainable development agenda with emphasis on reduced inequality, gender equality, decent work and unemployment,” Okebukola said.

Okebukola also noted that the IACIU will continue to train more young people in the country on the preservation, protection and promotion of cultural symbols and identity across diverse areas.

He added: “New and innovative ways of recognising, celebrating, protecting and promoting cultural identity are gradually introduced as a way of preventing their extinction across board and the institute is committed to and will continue to raise awareness about these cultural symbols as outlined in the UNESCO 2005 convention.

“We therefore encourage all who are present here today to recognise that our cultural roots are important. In them lies our cultural identity and symbols. They should be celebrated and not forgotten or replaced with the culture of the western world.”