A Legacy: Reviving Rwanda’s dramatic hairstyle I Africa Direct Documentary

[@aljazeeraenglish]

Many thanks for watching. Let us know what you think in the comments below. African stories by African filmmakers. Perspectives from a diverse continent; storytelling in the hands of local talent. If you'd like to watch more episodes from Africa Direct, find them here: kzbin.info/aero/PLzGHKb8i9vTzcNFylHo6TGkMw220146sj Follow Africa Direct on social media: - KZbin: aje.me/AJAfricaDirect-YT - Twitter: twitter.com/AJAfricaDirect - Facebook: facebook.com/AJAfricaDirect - Instagram: instagram.com/ajafricadirect/

[@duke6928]

I find it disrespectful to call Africa hairstyle as dramatic. Could you change the title of the video.

[@bigboy3454]

@@duke6928 Thank you, I'm glad someone else sees the disrespectful title. Do you know what is a DRAMATIC tragedy, Qatar's human rights violations!!!

[@yveskarangwa6534]

Who are you? Trying to bring problems to a country you know nothing about it or you did just it for internet attention ?

[@kefilwe]

This is beautiful. We were people with own identities before we were colonised. I hope to see more of this type of content.

[@haywardmccullough2762]

Beautiful and a honor to see Rwandan youth taking back their culture! Black America is watching you!

[@watchingthehawks355]

Rwanda has to drop Christianity for we can stay they're reviving their culture,these hair styles are not done for Christian religion which was used to slaughter them

[@ACB2K]

Hmm, Facts!

[@chadtep7571]

Yes we are.

[@marlak4203]

And from the description box it sounds like something worth some being upset if 'others' wore it as appropriation. I am not into that C.A. mess but since these styles have REAL meaning behind them and are worn for a purpose more than just some cute hairstyle for the day people who may feel offended by someone else wearing it would make much better sense since it is worn even now for that reason.

[@theworkethic]

@@marlak4203 Who cares what someone’s hair style? What is appropriation? A white man growing dreads? A black man bleaching his dreads blonde? I see both.. Whole thing is hilarious. It’s all sorts of people seeking identity and attention from others doing all sorts of fashion stuff. I find it juvenile, but having an opinion on it is even sillier.

[@chisomokhuvulo6442]

I loved this hairstyle once I saw an old picture of a Rwandan man with it. It's so cool it was so futuristic then and still cool now. Love from 🇲🇼 🇲🇼 🇲🇼 Malawi

[@xena6894]

it's called "amasunzu"

[@areasonablethought610]

It's not futuristic. It's on the Egyptian walls of the pyramids.

[@chisomokhuvulo6442]

@a reasonable thought I know, I meant that even though people wore it that time, the hairsryle was so advanced even for those times. Even today, this hairstyle is so unique that only the best barbers can do it.

[@jonbaker1697]

Agreed. The hairstyle does have a futuristic feel. It amazing. Timelessly futuristic

[@zen7033]

Wow! I am Rwandan and i didn’t know the history behind this hairstyle ! I am definitely getting the cut soon 🇷🇼 I am glad i learned something🙏🏾

[@ACB2K]

I guess you're christian or religious?

[@xena6894]

Lol, kinda a litlle shameful you (a rwandan) have to learn "amasunzu" history from Al Jazeera . Even this is incomplete. there are a lot of documentation of it

[@mujunironald220]

It's not dramatic but Iconic! Put some Respect on our Rich culture ✌🏿

[@isimioyekunlemarktaiwo3643]

Oh please calm down..it is dramatic, the hairstyle tells stories and exhibits a performance of wearers emotions and mental state..so it is dramatic, check the definition..it doesn't have to be negative. And no is disregarding its tradition.

[@MarloweDash]

Where i come from ‘dramatic’ is not negative or positive nor does it imply disrespect or condescention. This hair style is traditional and dramatic and intriguing and impressive but mostly to me, seeing it is like a portal into another world that i want to know more about!!

[@shafi_kay]

Absolutely amazing!, I'm Rwandan but i didn't know the history behind the Amasunzu, I'm glad that I've learned something from the documentary

[@mgithaiga1]

I'm glad to see Africans embracing their natural hair

[@ri20305]

Great to see Rwandan embracing back that unique fashion hair style.

[@ExposedRoot]

Not fashion.

[@xena6894]

@@ExposedRoot hairstyle is part of fashion

[@l.a.beltranmusic4554]

Everything about this is top notch. From the beginning, sitting with his son making sure he's getting his education, to not undervaluing his skill and expertise. Making sure his peoples traditions are passed on to the next generation. Much respect.

[@bigboy3454]

It's not "dramatic", it's TRADITIONAL. If you're going to report on a country's culture and tradition you better respect it or else leave them alone.

[@Nairah912]

The adjective “dramatic” doesn’t always have a negative connotation, it can be used to describe something exciting/striking/ impressive, I think this traditional hairstyle fits all three of those descriptions and it’s beautiful ☺️

[@Benjamin-jo4rf]

Oh get outa here. The USA culture is out of shape white Europeans who eat terrible junk food. Who cares?

[@Benjamin-jo4rf]

How can this be real culture if it takes electricity powered clippers to accomplish it? Rwanda has had electric for probably 50 years tops

[@Benjamin-jo4rf]

7:10 I see a rwandan hipster walking around like he is something special with his Chinese made shirt and man purse

[@bigboy3454]

@@Benjamin-jo4rf Clearly, you're an idiot, since you didn't listen to the program; the hairstyle used to be done by razor blade. Think before you type, simpleton. 🤡

[@Timbuktu_Tales]

I love the simplicity of storytelling in this documentary! It does a lot of showing, without telling, to pass a message. At the beginning, we see Saleh's family life, a hint of his life outside work, in a simple yet effective way with his son (and the implied homecooked lunch ritual). Then we get to see him at work, with nice closeups. The small narrative he lays out about the logic of the paths in the hair is really captivating, leading up to the final shot of the customer confidently walking the streets with his glorious Amasinzi. Kudos to the team behind the video!

[@aljazeeraenglish]

We're glad you liked it. Thanks for your positive feedback. 🙌

[@Yasminescookingshow]

Wow! I'm Haitian and I watched this video with awe!!! Amazing hair cut. I love my natural hair. There isnt a day I don't get a compliment on my parted afro.

[@xena6894]

I think if you research more about "amasunzu" , you can find out more about different hairstyles. Very regal . But each style tells a warrior story

[@illikaspain]

Love this hairstyle...I'm glad that I'm finally getting a chance to learn the history behind it

[@arlenehutchinson9259]

Thank you 😊 💓 the look is Avant-garde Hollywood and the fashion world will be knocking soon. But for the pioneers who are bringing it back WE SALUTE YOU 🙌🏾 The story behind the hair cut is art in and if itself.

[@petroshagos6149]

❤️❤️

[@xena6894]

@Arlene- Lupita Nyongo wore it at one of Oscars ceremonies and it made headlines. Same event his brother wore a suits from a rwandan stylist " House of Tayo" (made less headlines but still )

[@kingofhearts1072]

I bet you this style looks INCREDIBLE also with an Afro-futurism type of clothing style too.

[@princebubus4754]

Happy to be a Rwandan 🇷🇼

[@Handsome.Liberian.African]

I am west African and I am in love with the hair style 💪❤️

[@ELITENEWSTVMEDIA]

Have seen @kivumbiKing embracing it also... wonderful keep the culture alive rwanda

[@fromtheheavenlyrealms8613]

I love it!! Black to their roots.

[@ghostagee5232]

Rwandan

[@RemoteAdminJayJay2]

The information age is a beautiful thing

[@ishajaffer2295]

Al Jazeera always hitting the spot with this type of content. Letting people tell their OWN stories.

[@sallymoen6371]

These need to come to the U.S., and the barbers need to be on TikTok showing their work. As a person with completely uncurley hair, I look at these hairstyles with envy!

[@dylancampstudio]

The cool thing about the African diaspora is that we Americans have our own hairstyles similar to this that we have already created I.e the high top fade (:

[@shakurl9742]

@@dylancampstudioyes, just different stories.

[@CIWise]

@@dylancampstudio True, indeed. And not to take anything away from us or Rwandans, but I would love to see a New Yorker--or, better yet, a Jamaican--rock one of these and give it a new, diasporic type of swag!

[@borncritic7122]

The story behind the hairstyle Being used as routes during war was the same for runaway slaves in America. Hair braiding and cornrows were used to plot routes when escaping to freedom.

[@mbyrd6713]

That is absolutely amazing. I was blown away when I heard that ❤

[@graceandmarvellouswonders6249]

Wow

[@palesamogorosi8939]

Those runaway slaves were Africans at the end of the day, so the ingenuity stems from the motherland because of their historical cultures that they proved to preserve even in slavery.

[@borncritic7122]

@@palesamogorosi8939 did anyone deny their African ancestry. There were many Africans enslaved that turned on their own, do we credit the ingenuity of snitching, kooning and being sellouts to Africa as well or is it only the positive things slaves should credit to Africa.

[@bazongeerebr9992]

Mutiganda my director! Congratulations brother 👏🏽 thanks for this 🇷🇼 ❤️

[@bigwiketti1245]

We call it “Amasunzu”❤️❤️❤️❤️🇷🇼🇷🇼🇷🇼🇷🇼

[@gloco620]

What history!!! This is incredible, thanks for sharing.

[@MUTIGANDAN]

Thanks for watching! 🙂

[@davidmuiga4248]

im Kenyan but i love all that is about Rwanda

[@muhizirbenjamin5566]

Thank you!♥️

[@xena6894]

@David- Asante sana . We love Kenyans too and Kenya. Our brothers.

[@bang8534]

This amazing hairstyle was also practiced in pharaonic Egypt (called Kemet or Kmt then, which meant land of the black people). Very happy that it's being revived in Rwanda....

[@StylistecS]

@@bang8534 it was the land of the black as in the soil or land, not the people.

[@bang8534]

@@StylistecS that's clearly eurocentric lies. People don't name their land after soil but rather after it's people. Kemet is land of black people which Greeks hellenized as Ethiopia or Egypt meaning land of black people. Quit the racist lies and embrace the truth buddy.

[@StylistecS]

@@bang8534 How is that Eurocentric lies when NOBODY was going off of calling themselves Black during those times. It was always about the land, not the people. Use your head and think for a minute. It's blatant common sense. It literally means "the black land".

[@bang8534]

@@StylistecS that's total BS. Your argument is blatant obscurantism common among eurocentric liers. Then why were Africans called Ethiopians and Africa Ethiopia by the greeks? I am sure you have no clue. Let me help you out of your ignorance. Ethiopian literally means black people and Ethiopia the land of black people. So, as you can see, people were named after their looks and by extension, their land was equally named after the people found in that land. Why then is it so strange that Kemetans (from kemet or black people) would name themselves after their black looks to differentiate themselves from other types of people up north like the pale europeans? Europeans have lied about their history to sell their so-called "superiority" and we are not having that BS anymore. Those days are over

[@MarloweDash]

This is amazing. To my eye the forms look ‘modern’ like Alexander Calder’s sculpture/mobiles or matisse. But this tradition and aesthetic was happening way way before them. All i can say is WOW. -old lady, usa

[@lenaely6146]

It is beautiful to SEE the decolonization around the world as the earth is restored to order from the centuries of fxckery people have endured from colonization. 🍀😇💕

[@curious493]

I LOOOOOOOVVVVVVVE THIS 😍

[@kimtaylor649]

Beautiful

[@aureliochichava6069]

Iconic hairstyle

[@sebastiankasunga3693]

Those hairstyles are so unique am sure very soon you will be seeing them in fashion shows

[@REVELATIONS-hl2qt]

That is so cool, it's so FUTURISTIC

[@mosesofficial7868]

Mutiganda wa Nkunda my mentor, you always amaze me. Keep it up

[@angelonfire]

His pride and strength as he walked with his traditional hairstyle was inspiring. It’s a blessing to know your culture. Some of us never will. Thanx for sharing this.

[@bestlyricstv1231]

This is real it is our natural haircut style💯

[@whisperinghaircutsasmr]

I learned something new today, beautiful video!

[@mubiruivan1269]

I love Rwanda

[@OriginalGaPeach]

It's actually pretty swag!

[@Awdal_State]

As a fellow Somali brother I encourage Rwanda 🇷🇼 to go further, share our Cushitic culture,this is a royal heritage.

[@bekureadera7578]

Yo Ruwandan are Semitic origins that are from northern Ethiopia and Eritrea , read some history. Specially Tutsi tribe

[@africaine4889]

@@bekureadera7578 you said it. Tutsis. Not hutus. And this style is hutu.

[@jalilbabi4161]

The style is Tutsi. It represented there cows horns. Stop your lies

[@cvafrica8386]

@@jalilbabi4161 you right

[@kim1570]

@@africaine4889 The style is Tutsi, Nilo-Cushitic. Some of the Egyptian pharaohs used to wear head dresses fashioned in this style and this is where they get it from.

[@mirandachristina3412]

This was fascinating to watch!

[@ZOE_NtombiYaseMancwabeni]

Absolutely beautiful

[@octaveufitingabire4845]

Truly impressive!

[@musabamahoroeneserge8890]

this is going to be my next hair cut. big thanks to whole or bringing this on show.

[@computationdesign]

haaaa

[@omggiiirl2077]

A very dignified hairstyle!

[@xena6894]

True. Mostly because it was worn by nobles with stricking tall features (as you can seee a few on those posters) - it looked very dignified

[@Cakimzionb]

Extremely gorgeous hairstyle

[@linairs552]

Love to see this

[@Nanguburofa]

Kuko umuco ariwo shingiro! byiza cyane

[@letradavis8260]

I tremendously enjoyed learning about these cultural hairstyles and their meaning. I also loved the barber took such pride in his culture and his craft

[@khanyi_zulu]

This is so beautiful! 🥺❤️

[@nature2197]

Waoo, African Legacy 💪

[@jblank1862]

I adore the shapes! POWERFUL.

[@tribalpeacock]

wow...yet another reason to love Rwanda 🇿🇦💕

[@awoFalase]

Love! Love! Love this! You should definitely be preserving these traditions! We must dismantle the lies that were told to us about ourselves.

[@pha-dapha-da3066]

As a barbar, you need to be an artist

[@ChillVanille]

Gorgeous hairstyle

[@francoisensengiyumva6230]

Love my Rwanda, Love my Africa

[@22221mm]

Thanks for this beautiful documentary. 💜

[@Isaiahkids]

That actually looks cool 😎

[@jvbenjamin]

So skilled. 😊

[@bagzhansadvakassov1093]

Crazy in a good way!

[@mendezapoccalypto7534]

Love it!

[@RealGilmoreGirl]

That’s so cool! 😁😎🥰

[@veeytales]

The hairdresser looks like Taurus Riley

[@smithemile3425]

I love it!

[@josephinebrevig8748]

It sounds like a Ugandan language….fascinating

[@kingofhearts1072]

Yeah, I noticed a few words here and there because I'm studying KiSwahili, the languages are related.

[@Abtwingye]

Marked resemblance to the characteristic terrain (Hills and Valleys) of present day Rwanda, South western Uganda and the adjacent parts of the DRC!

[@africaine4889]

The adjacent part of DRC. You mean the eastern part of DRcongo

[@anthonywest7583]

WOW. NICE.

[@ngaboheritier7752]

Thank u al jazeera

[@amida9869]

J'aime ça 🎉

[@mbarushijoel8041]

Amasunzu 😂😂wow❤❤

[@christiankabandana5625]

amazing

[@josphatkariuki4636]

It's avant-garde i love it

[@lynettewashington4974]

I like the haircut and I am from USA

[@xena6894]

Lupita Nyongo wore it once at an award ceremony and she got some articles written about it

[@RedRiverMan]

wish this had been carried on by we Africans in the Americas. Cool haircuts!

[@ashleyterry2715]

Africans are the best💯💯👍

[@_the_queen_iam]

❤ I love it

[@kingofhearts1072]

@4:16 I heard him say Wazungu(Europeans/Wanderers/Strangers), wow, I'm learning Kiswahili, and didn't expect to catch that in Kinyarwanda, if that's what he's speaking. The languages are definitely linked.

[@tehutizephaniah2627]

It’s important for black Americans to start getting these hair styles

[@shenglongisback4688]

Awesome wish the last shot was a full frontal of the cut.

[@Danheron2]

I’ve been seeing pictures of these for years I was wondering when people in Rwanda would try to bring them back :)

[@millionairemaine8901]

DOPE!!!

[@rocou945]

colonization should be considered genocide. us too had our holocaust. loosing those skills and cultures is a tragedy. many thanks to people like him keeping them alive and repopularizing them. i hope some international rapper, actor or athlete adopt this style and make it great again. it's sad to see how colonizers stole everything they could, and try to destroy everything they couldn't. our hair is so unique we can sculpt it as we please and get so creative and crazy. i wish to see more funky hair styles like this instead in the future. we are great trendsetters, we are amazing

[@annmariebusu9924]

I consider it as so. So many people were wiped out. There were many genocides committed in Africa not just Rwanda. Germany and France come to mind.

[@omegabyss]

NuffRespect To Rwandan Culture ✊🏽 Here's To The Global Revolution ✊🏽 It's the time to regenerate the DNA of our ancient ancestors.

[@kevinmuchira1759]

nice!!!!

[@tedlugano]

Now i finally know who will.i.am's barber is.

[@MUTIGANDAN]

Hahaha now you know 😂😎

[@emigar9159]

This cutting it was not only in Rwanda... It was african cutting for nobely peuple in Africa. ( Est Drc , Burundi, Kenya , Ouganda, some of West Africa also.

[@pawsfurGod]

🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[@eyezarc1239]

Pray for congo🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@latoyaramnarine9961]

Yes it the traditional,they could tell if you are married or not too much about hair style in Africa country and meanings

[@chrisper7527]

I saw old photos of these cute, and they amaze me. Take back your culture.

[@MBARAGA]

Byiza cyane 😍👍🏾

[@vickomen333]

Nice culture.

[@mohamedhaybe235]

What You Own will always stay yours as long as you want to keep it. Bravo Rwandans for not Forgetting Their Ancestry Heritage.

[@HULLGRAFFITI]

Seems a bit hypocritical blaming Europeans for this going out of style while every tool ,product and everything you use to do it is a western product..

[@Elianeeeeee]

❤️❤️

[@African_experience]

What language is he speaking? I'm surprised I understand him though I'm from zambia.

[@lkeyg1014]

It's Kinyarwanda

[@happyartst8215]

Rwandan

[@danielo9902]

kinyarwanda is a bantu language. I speak Swahili and i could get a few words here and there