Why must Ghanaian School girls cut down their hair ? Part 2

Last Wednesday, when I shared my blog post on “Why should Ghanaian School Girls cut down their Hair in Basic School?”, this is the chat that ensued between one of my avid readers and I.

I’m publishing it because it encapsulates the part two of this topic, which I would have posted today. I hope you enjoy it and learn more.

NB: Wodeli = My Avid Reader and EKM= Efo Korku Mawutor.



Wodeli: That matter is controversial but as far as I’m concerned, we’ve gone to school with our hair cut and we are doing well, the hair changes nothing what matters is your aim… Once you know what you’re after hair cut or braids will not affect your grades.

EKM: Good point. Great thinking. I’m not talking about grades. I’m upset with the fact that this whole rule was a colonialist means of disgracing and violating the dignity of the African Woman.
Wodeli: Let’s just say our leaders don’t know of that… Even if they do, girls growing the hair won’t change a thing. Africans will forever be looked down upon because we have refused to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery… With our hair cut or hair grown we are still unique and fearfully made
EKM: It will change a lot. It will give our girls self confidence early in life. It will stop them from thinking the white lady is better than them. It will increase the love for natural hair and teach them how to take proper care of it. It will birth creativity in them. It really would change a lot.
Wodeli: Natural hair is not for everybody. We are living in a modernised world, such primitive hairstyles won’t be accepted everywhere and at every function.
EKM: I’m not saying we should continue with old styles. I’m saying we should not make cutting of hair a compulsory rule for the girl school child.
Wodeli: Natural long hair or no natural long hair, confidence should be the sexiest thing a woman can wear. As for me with even a bald head, I’m beautiful and the white woman is by no means better than me.


EKM: That’s because you’ve been oriented from infancy that way. You’ve had this mindset from the beginning. But look at the larger picture. Many ladies of today, even in the university, are suffering from inferiority complex and timidity. They are still awed by the white skinned dolls. And because they’ve not learnt it from the on set, they are unable to keep their hair well enough.

Wodeli: It wouldn’t have been a competition especially if we can keep it well. You see hairstyles that get into the eyes of school children causes swollen eyes and less concentration, all parents can’t afford stylish hairs and that will bring unnecessary competition. Women are naturally jealous and will want to have what others have. Take SHS into consideration, our young girls have very uncouth hair cuts but hair stylists can’t come to the school and style hairs since it’ll waste a lot of time. Tell them to go out and you’ll find them at the wrong places. I still strongly hold my stand that inferiority complex is a thing of the mind. You actually psych yourself to feel inferior. We are being intimidated by our own fellow blacks and you’re talking of the white man.
EKM: I agree. But this is because they’ve been made to feel as though they are being robbed of something special. If you do that to a youngster, he or she will find every means to obtain what you take away from him or her and in the process become delinquent or stubborn. I’m not blind to all your points. My question is, why do we continue a tradition that was instituted for no better reason than to look down upon us? If it must continue at all, then, our educational leaders must give clear cut reasons why it must be done and how it can foster national development. When you’re growing up, according to psychology, the freedoms you get or don’t get, the experiences you have or don’t have, the environment you leave in, your family and upbringing; all these contribute to who and what you become. We can’t leave the development of self confidence in to our children and sit down just observing. That will put our future as a country in jeopardy. Have you seen the new crop of JHS & SHS students? Some are as young as 12 years. They need to be told and taught how and why to be confident in themselves. Even university students and some workers I know lack this and need an external push to acquire it, talk less of JHS and SHS.

Wodeli: So it has nothing to do with the hair? Your problem is that it’s still something that has to do with colonialism?
EKM: Exactly! The hair has little to do my anger. My anger is that we have not redefined the rule to become indigenous to Ghana. And we have not found good enough reasons for enforcing it. I don’t think an independent state like ours should give such flimsy excuses to a phenomenon that has become a social norm, to the extent, even Ghanaians living abroad, when they come down here to enroll their children, know that, so long as it’s a public school, the hair must go.

Wodeli: Are Ghanaians living abroad better than those of us already cutting it hear?

EKM: That’s not the import of what I’m putting across. Ghanaians living abroad are used to their children keeping the hair while in school, from as early as creche to any Level. I know a few expatriates who intentionally brought their children down here to attend JHS and SHS for reasons best known to them, but which all borders down to discipline. In as much as they keep their hair there, they cut it down when they come here. I had a white family in my JHS, they were allowed to keep their hair. But with time they cut it down.

Wodeli: Since they also cut it down we are all the same. Our Ghanaian women have grown up and are still cutting their hair it’s still continuing because people are encouraging it.

EKM: Cut down your hair like shaolin, Mawutor is not so bothered. So long as it’s an informed choice. But when you do it because it’s done, without any good reason, more so if it has it’s roots in colonialism, well, then, Mawutor will shout until every Ghanaian hears me.

Wodeli: How independent are we as a country anyway? The problems are many and the struggle for independence still has a long way to go… The truth is we are powerless and we need to adjust
EKM: That’s the question, and one that needs an answer from each and every Ghanaian. We are doing everything they tell us, to the extent that common hair and schooling too, we can’t decide what to do and why we do it. You see where my problem is?

Wodeli: This your one man agitation won’t change anything. This is Ghana my guy😆😆
EKM: It will change a lot. You see how many good arguments you’ve just made against my motion, that’s one good thing about my agitation. In any case do you know how many people read my blog post and are influenced by it? These are the future Ministers of Education, Presidents, Ministers of Gender and Social Welfare. Besides, only Moses saved Israel. Only Jesus saved the world. Only Martin Luther King Jnr. started a world revolution. Nkrumah, Mandela, Gadhafi, Patrick Awuah, and many more. These men stood alone and are standing alone. But their thoughts and ideals and believes changed and are changing a lot. My one man campaign will change a lot even if it’s just one person that hears me.

#BeInspired #RenewYourMind

EfoKorkuMawutor.

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