Hidden Heritages

Cornrows for the strong Baoulé women of Karen’s ancestry, three Bantu knots for Sali’s Bantu roots and the three siblings in her family: African hairstyles have long conveyed a variety of social concepts around identity. In ‘Hidden Heritages’ they are not just the subject, but an active communication tool in themselves, with plenty to say about their wearers’ identities. Narrated like a YouTube tutorial, the video shows Barbara the hairstylist busy with her craft. As she braids and ties their hair, Karen and Sali talk about how their styling choices reflect different aspects of their lives, from family and femininity to health and education. In revealing the stories behind the styles, Wendy Owusu celebrates and amplifies this often-unseen communication channel.