More Examples Of Fulani (African) Female Braided Hairstyles With Beads Or Other Ornaments (videos & quotes)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II in a four part pancocojams series that provides information about African originated or African inspired braided hairstyles for females.

This post is a continuation of a 2014 pancocojams post entitled "Examples Of Fulani (African) Female Beaded Or Ornamental Hairstyles (videos & quotes)" http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/07/examples-of-fulani-african-female.html.

Since 2014 when I published that first pancocojams post on this subject, long beaded and/or otherwise ornamented micro (thin) braids have become more popular among Black American females (particularly pre-teen and teenage girls, and young adult women). These various hairstyles are collectively termed "Fulani braids" as they are said to be inspired by traditional Fulani hairstyles.

Like that previous pancocojams post, this post presents excerpts from several online articles about Fulani (African) culture and showcases videos about Fulani culture with special focus on Fulani females' beaded hairstyles.

The videos that are showcased in this post are different than the ones that are featured in that 2014 pancocojams post.

The Addendum to this post showcases a video of Nigerian Afrobeats singer Yemi Alade wearing her hair in one of the traditional Fulani hairstyles for women.

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Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/02/five-youtube-examples-of-african.html for Part I of this series. Part I includes my transcription Of a November 1979 Ebony Magazine article about the emerging popularity among African American adults of unadorned braids or braids with beads. Part I also showcase several videos of African American performing artists wearing their hair in braids with beads, cowrie shells, and/or other ornaments.

Part III presents excerpts of several online articles about Black females' braided hairstyles that are inspired by Fulani and/or other African culture.

Part IV showcases three African American hair tutorial videos about "Fulani braids" with beads and/or other ornaments. Selected comments from these videos' discussion threads are also included in that post.

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The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copy rights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the authors of the excerpts that are included in this post. Thanks also to all those who are featured in these embedded YouTube videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
The term "Fulani braids" that has been used since around 2016 in the United States and probably elsewhere refers to a number of different braided hairstyles for Black females that have beads and/or other ornaments added to the braids. These hairstyles are said to be inspired by the Fulani ethnic group of West Africa and the Sahel.*

As used in the United States, "Fulani braids" hairstyles are said to be inspired by traditional Fulani hairstyles for females, but aren't necessarily the same as those traditional hairstyles. One significant difference is that traditional Fulani braids are much shorter than the length of braids in the United States.

These braided with beads hairstyles have sometimes also been referred to as "Alicia Keys braids", after the African American R&B/Soul singer and pianist who popularized that hairstyle in the video of her 2001 hit record "Fallin'". However, hairstyles that are braided with or without beads, cowrie shells, and/or other ornaments has long been a custom for Black girls in the United States and throughout much of the world. Furthermore, a few African American performing artists have worn long braids with beads since the mid 1970s.
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*"The Sahel part of Africa includes (from west to east) parts of northern Senegal, southern Mauritania, central Mali, northern Burkina Faso, the extreme south of Algeria, Niger, the extreme north of Nigeria, central Chad, central and southern Sudan, the extreme north of South Sudan, Eritrea, Cameroon, Central African Republic and extreme north of Ethiopia.

Historically, the western part of the Sahel was sometimes known as the Sudan region.[5] This belt was roughly located between the Sahara and the coastal areas of West Africa." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahel


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EXCERPTS FROM FOUR ONLINE ARTICLES ABOUT FULANI CULTURE AND FULANI BRAIDS WITH ORNAMENTS HAIRSTYLES
[Pancocojams Editor's Note: Excerpt #3 is also given in the previously mentioned 2014 pancocojams post on this subject.]

Excerpt #1
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fula_people
"The Fula people or Fulani or Fulɓe (Fula: Fulɓe; French: Peul; Hausa: Fulani; Portuguese: Fula; Wolof: Pël; Bambara: Fulaw) are one of the largest ethnolinguistic groups in Africa, numbering approximately 40 million people in total. They form one of the most widely dispersed and culturally diverse of the peoples of Africa.[16] The Fulani are bound together by the common language of Fulfulde, as well as by some basic elements of Fulbe culture, such as The pulaaku , a code of conduct common to all Fulani groups.

A significant proportion of their number, (an estimated 13 million), are nomadic, making them the largest pastoral nomadic group in the world.[17] Spread over many countries, they are found mainly in West Africa and northern parts of Central Africa, but also in Sudan and Egypt. [18]"...

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Excerpt #2
From http://africanbloodsiblings.wordpress.com/2011/12/09/hairstyles-in-african-culture
"Hairstyles in African Culture"
...A coiffure is perfected by various decorations: cowries, beads, mother-of-pearl buttons, medals, pieces of silver, amber balls, metal rings, and pins of wood, bone or ivory. In the West African Sahel, the Fulbe and Peul (Fulani) cultivate impressive hairstyles.

For purposes to do with magic, a man or woman may also attach amulets to certain hairdos. The more elaborate coiffure includes braids, crests, curls, cascades, chignons, and vertical cornrows."...
-snip-
That blogpost includes additional information and photographs of Fulani and other African hairstyles.from the book Hair in African Art and Culture, Edit by Roy Sieber and Frank Herreman, The Museum for African Art, New York, 2000.

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Excerpt #3
From http://www.webpulaaku.net/defte/adepegba/body_ornaments.html
C.O. Adepegba "Decorative Arts of the Fulani Nomads"
Ibadan. Ibadan University Press. 1986. 48 p.
Body Ornaments of the Fulani Nomads [with photographs]
...."In northeastern Nigeria, and in fact from Borno down to the Cameroons, nomadic Fulani women prefer to pack a substantial amount of their hair into the centre of the head like a flat bed stretching from the forehead to the back with hanging braids to the sides and the back.

In other parts of Nigeria, the female Fulani nomads use simple thick, hanging braids, usually one on each side of the face and a big one or some smaller ones at the back. The focus on the sides and back of the head in their hair styling is to ensure that the ornamental purpose for which the hair is done, is not defeated, as elaborate designs on top of the head will be covered by their usual headloads.

Similarly hanging braids, two falling on the cheeks, and ornamented with a white bead under the chin are reported to be worn by Fulani women of Dori who have just had their first baby, in other words, recently married, as Fulani women are not considered properly married until they have their first babies. The hanging braids together with the braids on the nape of her neck, which look like multiple fringes ornamented with stones, are said to symbolize wisdom and calmness, expedient of a new mother of a family 5. But such symbolic association does not seem to hold for such braids of Nigerian Fulani women. This is not to say that special hair styles are not made for that stage of life, the time for their proper marriage.

But in Nigeria styles similar to the one described above are adopted irrespective of the woments [sic] ages and number of children. Women who have apparently passed childbearing age also wear such styles (plate 6), to which most of them also add according to their different tastes, beads, buttons, cowrie shells and various pieces of bright metals, whose colours contrast sharply with their black hair.

The braids of the hair, too, are in most cases not the natural hair of the wearers. According to Eve de Negri, nomadic Fulani make use of false hair, which is generally believed to have been passed down from generation to generation. The false hair is said to be intertwined with the wearer's own hair to give the long braids. However, in many cases, the braids are not attached to the natural hair, but made into wig forms attached to round strings with which they are worn or tied to the head.
-snip-
That excerpt includes photographs. That excerpt provides this related link: http://www.the-nigeria.com/2011/10/fulani-woman-cultural-stylish-hair-and.html#.U7MLiI1OVv4 "Fulani woman: Cultural Stylish Hair and Costumes"

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Excerpt #4:
From https://www.africa.com/history-african-womens-hairstyles/ A History Of African Women’s Hairstyles
By Lebogang Matshego
..."Braids and beads from the Fulani Tribe of the Sahel Region and West Africa
The Fula, or Fulani Tribe, is the largest nomadic pastoral community in the world that populate West Africa and the Sahel Region.

A very traditional hairstyle for women includes long hair being put into five long braids that either hang or are looped on the sides, with a coiffure in the middle of the head. Hair is decorated with beads and cowrie shells. A tradition that is passed through the generations to [sic] women and young girls includes attaching the family’s silver coins and amber onto braids as a heritage symbol as well as for aesthetic purposes.

The Wodaabe Tribe is a subgroup of the Fulani Tribe, also residing in the Sahel Region and West Africa. They are a pastoral nomadic tribe with an estimated population of 100,000. The young girls and women of the tribe wear a braided hairstyle similar to Fulani women, consisting of two braids on either side of the head or a few braids on their hair and a coiffure in the middle. The hair is usually decorated with beads and cowrie shells."...
-snip-
This article also include photographs and information about other African ethnic groups and their traditional hairstyles.

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SHOWCASE YOUTUBE EXAMPLES
Example #1: FULANI CULTURAL DANCE



NIGHTINGALE ACADEMY, Published on Jun 27, 2016
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This video is added to this post in part to show that Fulani females don't always wear beads, cowrie shells, and/or other ornaments in their hair.

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Example #2: Batal Pulaaku - Batal Maasogo [Clip Officiel]



FasoMixTV, Published on Nov 20, 2015
-snip-
As indicated in the Wikipedia article about the Fula (Fulani) whose link is given above "The Fulani are bound together by the common language of Fulfulde, as well as by some basic elements of Fulbe culture, such as The pulaaku , a code of conduct common to all Fulani groups."

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Example #3: Defile Traditionnel_1ere_Edition_Festival_Natal_Pulaaku 2015 [Mali]



VISUALPROD STUDIOS Agence Multimédia, Published on Jul 2, 2016

1ère Edition du FESTIVAL NATAL PULAAKU, Organisé par l'Agence BATHIA PRODUCTION les 18, 19, et 20 Décembre 2015.
Le Samedi 19 Décembre a eu lieu ce grand défilé traditionnel peul au palais de la culture de Bamako.
Couverture Médiatique: VISUALPROD STUDIOS M.A
-snip-
Google translate from French to English:
1st edition of the NATAL PULAAKU FESTIVAL, Organized by BATHIA PRODUCTION Agency on December 18th, 19th and 20th.

On Saturday, December 19th, this grand traditional Peul procession took place at the Bamako Palace of Culture.
Media Coverage: VISUALPROD STUDIOS M.A
-snip-
“Peul” is another referent for “Fula” (Fulani).

Among the clips in this almost 1 hour long video that show female hairstyles are 28:46 to 30:16.
-snip-
Here's a comment exchange from that video's discussion thread
Konièlé Kobatchegny, 2018
"This is modern dressing and is not particular to only to Fulani. The most intelligent thig is to present all ethnic group in the same showcase. Some ethnic groups intellectual would feel frustrated."

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REPLY
VISUALPROD STUDIOS Agence Multimédia, 2018
"Konièlé Kobatchegny you're right. This is exactly what we wanted to show: traditional and modern can be mixed so that young people'll je interested. We also invited other ethnics to participate in order To show that Mali is a mixed ethnics country. We ll get closer to the traditional things in the next edition. Thanks.

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Example #4: Natal Pulaaku 1ère Edition-Résumé



VISUALPROD STUDIOS Agence Multimédia, Published on Aug 19, 2016

Vidéo de présentation de la prémiere édition du Festival Natal Pulaaku. Un résumé des trois jours du Festival avec comme activités principales: les conférences, le défilé traditionnel et le grand concert de clôture.
-snip-
Google translate from French to English:
Video presentation of the first edition of the Natal Pulaaku Festival. A summary of the three days of the Festival with as main activities: the conferences, the traditional parade and the big closing concert.

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Example #5: HAWA PULLO FULBE AFRIKI TIDON DIREN



TONTON LAUSSANE KOUROUMA, Published on Oct 17, 2016

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ADDENDUM: YEMI ALADE WEARING A FULANI HAIRSTYLE IN ONE OF HER MUSIC VIDEOS
Yemi Alade - Ferrari (Official Video)



YemiAladeVEVO, Published on Mar 25, 2016

Following the release of Yemi Alade's critically acclaimed sophomore album "Mama Africa (The Diary of an African Woman)"; the Effyzzie Music diva releases the music video for "Ferrari".

The high-life track which is produced by DJ Coublon and features strings from Fiokee serves as the album's official third single; following the dance anthem "Do As I Do" featuring DJ Arafat and the Selebobo assisted gratitude preaching hit "Na Gode".

The music video for "Ferrari" was shot by the award-winning Clarence Peters and features Nollywood heartthrob Kunle Remi. Watch, share, enjoy and buy "Mama Africa (The Diary Of An African Woman)"!

-snip-
Nigerian Afrobeats singer Yemi Alade is known for wearing African fashions in her videos. In portions of this video, Alade wears her hair in one of the Fulani's traditional braided hairstyles.

In Nigeria, Fulanis are mostly from the Northern regions of Nigeria, West Africa. Yemi Alade is Yoruba/Igbo (or Igbo/Yoruba) ancestry.

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This concludes Part II of this two part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Five YouTube Examples Of African American Performing Artists With Braided Hairstyles With Beads & Other Ornaments

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I in a four part pancocojams series that provides information about African originated or African inspired braided hairstyles for females.

This post includes my transcription Of a November 1979 Ebony Magazine article about the emerging popularity among African American adults of unadorned braids or braids with beads.

This post also showcase several videos of African American performing artists wearing their hair in braids with beads, cowrie shells, and/or other ornaments.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/02/more-examples-of-fulani-african-female.html for Part II of this series. Part II presents excerpts from several online articles about Fulani (West African) culture. Part II also showcase several videos about Fulani culture with special focus on Fulani females' beaded hairstyles.

Part III presents excerpts of several online articles about Black females' braided hairstyles that are inspired by Fulani and/or other African culture.

Part IV showcases three African American hair tutorial videos about "Fulani braids" with beads and/or other ornaments. Selected comments from these videos' discussion threads are also included in that post.

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The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copy rights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the author/s of this Ebony Magazine article and thanks to all those who are featured in that article. Thanks also to all those who are featured in these embedded YouTube videos.

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TRANSCRIPTION OF NOVEMBER 1979 EBONY MAGAZINE ARTICLE
https://books.google.com/books?id=28sDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA112&lpg=PA112&dq=black+singers+wearing+beads+in+their+hair&source=bl&ots=RhBtTfwaqc&sig=i079tScekssQhjnCkOPCKwxRNN8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi674--vKDZAhUiTt8KHel6CgEQ6AEIXTAL#v=onepage&q=black%20singers%20wearing%20beads%20in%20their%20hair&f=false

CREATIVE AFRICAN COIFFURE CATCHES ON

[two photos of jazz pianist Patrice Rushen with photo caption]

"Beaded braids, such as these worn by jazz pianist Patrice Rnshen, are now a popular hairstyle as an increasing number of Black women adopt the African- originated coiffure. Patrice wears her tiny braids adorned with slender and round beads, and shells."

[article]

"BRAIDS and cornrows until recently were dismissed as hairstyles for children and “country folk”. But now thousands of black young women, and some young black men, are abandoning afros and curly hair to switch to artistically designed cornrowed and braided coiffures that date back to African antiquity.

African sculptures dating back to 900 B.C. feature women wearing braids and cornrows, and they are still the traditional hairstyles for many African women. But the style didn’t catch on in the United States until recent years. Actress Abbey Lincoln and singer Nina Simone wear among the first to wear braids in the early ‘70s, and widespread public attention was focused on the artistic hair design when Cicely Tyson sported her cornrows while promoting the movie Sounder in 1972.

Joni Sledge said that she and her sisters were “inspired” to braid their long hair when they visited Zaire and saw “the beautiful women there wearing long braids and cornrows. We wanted to make a cultural statement and this hairstyle definitely does” says Joni Gwen Fleming, a singer with the musical Your Arms Are Too Short To Box with God, had her hair braided by an African hairstylist when she visited Senegal in 1976. “All the women there wear braids, but they usually have their heads covered,” she says, adding that the Senegalese usually braid their hair around a stiff cord and often weave in extensions to make the braids appear longer than they actually are.

Hazel Payne and Janice Johnson, the head singers and musicians with A Taste Of Honey, have found their braided and beaded hairstyles very convenient for hectic traveling schedules and performances. Says Hazel, “I don’t have to roll it or get it cut. It is easy to keep clean, for I just shampoo it in the shower.”

The cornrowed and braided hairstyles are a natural and creative way for famous and not so famous women and men to express their individuality while freeing themselves from the daily hassles of keeping Afros picked out and curls curled. To get the hair styled in this fashion may take anywhere from one hour to 30 hours (and may cost from $10 to $20 dollars per hour), depending on the complexity of the design and whether beading is preferred. But once finished, the style usually lasts from three weeks to three months and can be shampooed and brushed as is. In this form the hair gets a real rest from daily pulling, teasing and twisting, and the style is fog-wind-rain-humidity proof. Some hair specialist also say that hair braiding promotes hair growth.

continued on page 114"

[photo of Sister Sledge singing group with photo caption]

"Sister Sledge were inspired to have their hair braided during a trip to Zaire where they saw “so many beautiful women with beautiful braided cornrowed hairstyles”...[sisters identified by name]

[photo of singer Rick James with photo caption]

"Entertainer Rick James (left) is among the growing number of men who prefer their hair in braids. Above, Quincella Swymington, a dance with the musical Your Arms Are Too Short To Box With God wears long tiny braids. Ms. Swymington says she used to wear a short Afro, but switched to braids for a “different” look.

Continued on page 116"

[photo of singer/guitarist Hazel Payne with photo caption]

"Hazel Payne, vocalist and guitarist with A Taste Of Honey says she designed her Egyptian influenced hairstyle “to complement my large deep-set eyes”. Her hairstylist, Salimu of Los Angeles, spends 20 hours creating the 300 braids. Below, Valerie Simpson of the Ashford and Simpson songwriting/singing husband/wife team, started her career sporting an Afro. But later switched to unadorned braids."

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SHOWCASE YOUTUBE EXAMPLES
Example #1: Alicia Keys - Fallin' [2001]



aliciakeysVEVO, Published on Oct 25, 2009

Alicia Keys' official music video for 'Fallin''.

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Example #2: A Taste of Honey - Boogie Oogie Oogie



SweetGeorgiaPeache, Published on Aug 14, 2010

Released in 1978 and peaked at #1 on all the charts.

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Example #3: Stevie Wonder Rocket Love [sound file; 1980]



DJironmonkeyTV, Published on Feb 17, 2013
-snip-
Note the album cover's drawing of Stevie Wonder with colored beads in his braids.

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Example #4: Patrice Rushen ‎– Where There Is Love (HD) [1982]



Dr. SuperFunk, Published on Jul 3, 2016

Genre:Funk,Soul,Electronic, Jazz,

Album: Patrice Rushen ‎– Straight From The Heart

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Example #5: SOLANGE - DON'T TOUCH MY HAIR (OFFICIAL VIDEO) [2016]



SolangeKnowlesVEVO, Published on Oct 2, 2016

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This concludes Part I of this two part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.