Dreadlocks: What's The Whole 9 Yards About It?

HI NLs,

I just made a new friend(Jamaican dad and Nigerian mom) and he has natural dreadlocks, now, I was hearing some kin story from another friend of mine about such people - relating to their spiritual matters/spirituality or whatever, which I count to be all superstitions. I have come across a lot of dreads before, but my thoughts never reached the level of information I just received.

Yoruba people call it - i think they are called DADA.

Whats the whole point, story, history, belief or whatever, as far as such kids, boys/men are concerned in the Nigerian/African perspective - just for my own information. Please fill me in.

How about women Dadas? I don't know if there are

please shoot

 i am sooooo shocked at  some Nairaland members  DO You THINK THAT JESUS IS YOUR GOD? RASTAS BELIEVE IN THE MOST HIGH, I DO NOT AGREE WITH SOME OF THEIR THEORY BUT FACT REMAINS THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER MENTALLY PART OF THE MA'THA.

SOME THING ELSE I REALISE FROM BEING ON THIS FORUM IS HOW MANY OF YOU STILL SAY IN "JESUS NAME". ANY THING ELSE IS FALSE.


http://www.saxakali.com/caribbean/EdP.htm

You are absolutely right terracotta but Rastafarians believe in something totally different and then there are those who wear them as afashion statement. Many of the people who sport the locks do not know or understand the roots of locks. You speak of it's origin based on your own culture i think. But it seems as though the person who started this thread said his friend is Jamaican and Nigerian. Jamaicans were responsible for the wide spread awareness of  Rastafarianism. Bob Marley was one. Remember his hair? There a tons of Japanese Rastafarians as well who sport these locks and practice the way of life. I've met quite a few here in nyc! There are also white Rastafarians! You can see them all over Williamsburg and Central Park! Now I'm sure that your definition of Dada was accurate in Nigerian culture but Rastafarianism which stemmed from Ethiopia might have a totally different definition and explanation for locks. Many Japanese are very in tune with Jamaican culture and models of these lock stood outto them through the Rastafarian movement. The whites have the same reasons for sporting them most of the time.

Mmmm, now how do I begin? You know, you all got some idea about the entire "koko" (apologies to B'Banj"). However, I'm going to take you to a time in the history of humankind when the locks was considered somewhat of a spiritual thing.

It is safe to assume that through out the history of man, babies have been born and the probability of a mom giving birth to a kid with dread is an ever present reality. Since the time prior to our common era, some would prefer to call it BC, there was the story of a man called samson, I believe he was the first recorded individual to spot some locks on his hair.

This was a directive from the God of Israel that he should not cut his hair etc, as he was being prepared for something significant for the people of ancient Israel. The bible also recorded that John the baptist was spotting on some locks and with the same reasons adduced for that of Samson.

Thus , it becomes quite plausible that there is an element of spirituality associated with this practice. Non biblical reference also abound that connotes a sense of spirituality associated with this hair concept. Zoroaster was believed to have one and the kings of Babylon were known to have hairstyles similar to locks, only with the array of beauty treatments they were privy to, their own locks were more neatly kept and fashionable.

The hair on a human is regarded as the crown of the body and this is more noticeable with the womenfolk. Even the bible refers to women and their hair etc.

The bottomline is that the earlier reccommendations of keeping locks had to come from a spiritual source. The status of that source, it's authenticity and orientation would depend on the ways in which the individual concerned have cultured him/herself.

For example, the followers of the late Ras Tafari of Ethiopia believe that wearing locks identifies them and their beliefs, there is absolutely no iota of spirituality in that, although they were influenced by the bible characters as mentioned above as they also subscribe to many bible teachings. Ras Tafari had no locks.

Some African cultures though have similarities with the lock wearers and when such occurs, these individuals are viewed as special. It takes a special ceremony for the locks to be cut off and usually sacrifices to some deity or deities follow.

However, thanks to the 21st century fashion trend, some would just spot on locks to make a fashion statement.

But believe you me, out of those wearing these locks naturally might probably be one who is in direct communication with the Father and locks or no locks, when his wrath descends on the wicked and evil, the dread would be felt by all who disregards the warning of the day.

So next time you see a locks wearing brother or sister, just remind yourself that the 411 on the locks thing is the status of the purity of the heart and this is not exclusive to particular  tribes or nations.

Love and peace

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