Demonstrate that you comprehend one article which you analysed in a response paper.

Question

Revise your paper so that it does not read like the answer to a lecturer’s questions, but rather as an ethnographic case study, demonstrating how colonial/postcolonial history has shaped the performance of social identities in Africa.
n “Africans Consuming Hair, Africans Consumed by Hair” (2014), Francis Nyamnjoh and Divine Fuh argue that hair is a powerful symbol of identity for many – especially women of African descent whose complex relationships with hair challenge stereotypes and dichotomies inherited from the colonial past.

Draw from Nyamnjoh and Fuh’s article, lectures, and tutorials to explain this argument. Your explanation should address the following questions:

What stereotypes are associated with the hair of people of African descent and where do these stereotypes originate? (2)

What is a dichotomy? What specific dichotomy do the authors analyse in the latter half of the article (57-65)? And why from the authors’ standpoint is this dichotomy problematic? (3)

In what sense do people perform identity when they style their hair? Describe and analyse an example from the text, noting how both racial and gender identities are performed. (3)

Answer 1

In their article “Africans Consuming Hair, Africans Consumed by Hair” (2014), Francis Nyamnjoh and Divine Fuh offer insights into the complex relationships between hair and identity among people of African descent. The authors argue that hair serves as a powerful symbol of identity for many, especially African women, whose relationships with hair challenge stereotypes and dichotomies inherited from the colonial past.

One stereotype associated with the hair of people of African descent is the idea that natural, afro-textured hair is unprofessional or unkempt. This stereotype originates from a long history of colonialism and Eurocentric standards of beauty that have been imposed on African societies. These standards have often privileged straight hair and denigrated natural African hair textures, perpetuating the belief that certain hair types are inferior.

A dichotomy is a division or contrast between two things that are represented as being entirely different. In the latter half of the article, Nyamnjoh and Fuh analyze the dichotomy between “African” and “Western” hairstyles. They argue that this dichotomy is problematic because it reinforces colonial power dynamics and perpetuates notions of superiority and inferiority between African and Western cultures. By challenging this dichotomy, the authors aim to disrupt the hegemonic hierarchies that have been imposed on African hair and identity.

People perform identity through their styling of hair by using it as a means of self-expression and cultural pride. An example from the text is the practice of hair braiding, which is not only a way to maintain and style hair but also a reflection of cultural heritage and tradition. The authors note that hair braiding can be a performative act that reinforces both racial and gender identities, as certain hair styles are often associated with specific cultural groups or social roles. Through these acts of styling hair, individuals communicate aspects of their identity and challenge dominant narratives about African hair and beauty standards.