Guest Blog by Adwoa & Solomon of @adeche.atelier
For Adwoa & Solomon, the creative duo behind @adeche.atelier, hair is far more than style—it's story, soul, and shared memory. In this powerful guest post, the couple dive deep into the cultural legacy of traditional African hairstyles, sharing their personal journey through a series of sculptural, ancestral styles and the histories they carry.
From Koroba braids and Tanavoho crowns, to Irun Kiko and Senegalese twists, their exploration is both a love letter to Black hair and a reclaiming of heritage. It’s about creativity, identity, and returning to the roots—literally and figuratively.
Whether you're reconnecting with your own hair story or discovering something new, this piece is a beautiful reminder that our hair has always been more than aesthetic—it's a living archive of culture, resistance and self-love.
The Cultural Influence of Traditional Hairstyles
So… about three months ago, I cut my hair.
Now this wasn’t the first time. I’ve done it before; once out of pure frustration, and another time because I’d bleached it so blonde there was literally nothing left to save (but that’s a story for another day).
This time though, it felt different. I cut it with intention. I wanted to embrace my hair as it grew back; no wigs, no hiding it under braids for months at a time. I just wanted to learn how to love it, as it is, and explore all the beautiful, creative ways I could style it.
Solomon, of course, was all in. He wanted to learn how to take care of my hair and do it with me (which defo earned him some boyfriend brownie points). And just like that, we began our traditional hairstyle series. So, here are a few of the styles we’ve explored so far, and the histories that come with them:
Koroba & Kipetaka Braids
Koroba is a traditional style from the Yoruba people of Nigeria. The word itself means calabash or basket, and the braids are designed to mimic the shape of an upside-down calabash, starting from the crown and flowing down the sides in a sculptural, rounded form.
Kipetaka, on the other hand, comes from the Betsileo people of Madagascar. It’s similar in form but with a twist. The braids often end in spirals or swirls, adding movement and flair to the overall look.
Both styles show how deeply artistry, symbolism, and geometry are embedded in African hairstyling traditions.
Tanavoho Braids
Tanavoho is a traditional Malagasy hairstyle, most commonly worn by Sakalava women from the northern region of Madagascar. The Tanavoho hairstyle itself is an intricate, crown-like braid with a significant volume at the bottom. It consists of long, tightly braided hair that is wrapped around the head in a circular fashion, often adorned with beads, shells, or other decorative elements. In Malagasy culture, Tanavoho is seen as a symbol of beauty, femininity, and tradition. It is typically worn during special occasions such as weddings, ceremonies, or festivals.
Bantu Knots
One of the most recognisable African styles, originating from the Bantu-speaking peoples across Central and Southern Africa. Bantu knots are both functional and symbolic. They protect the hair, but they also represent heritage and pride. For many of us, they were one of the first styles we wore as kids. It’s a super popular protective hairstyle as it tucks away the ends of your hair. Plus, the twist out you get after putting your hair in Bantu knots is 10/10!
Cornrow
Cornrows, also called canerows in the Caribbean, are one of the oldest and most iconic hairstyles in the world. While they’re often styled in straight lines (hence the name), cornrows can also form intricate curves, spirals, or geometric patterns. The term cornrows became common during the Transatlantic slave trade, linked to the rows of crops in corn and sugarcane fields where enslaved Africans were forced to labour. In the Caribbean, the term canerows reflects this connection to sugarcane plantations.
Depictions of cornrow-like styles can be found in Stone Age cave paintings from the Sahara, and they’ve appeared across ancient African civilisations; from the Nok of Nigeria to the Nubians and the Mende and Dan peoples of West Africa. In Yoruba, the style is called kolese or irun didi, and it’s been worn across the continent for thousands of years.
Senegalese Twists
What many of us now call Senegalese twists actually comes from a much older technique known in Senegal as rao. Senegalese women often used Yoss, a black-dyed vegetable fibre, to create extensions. These were twisted into elaborate styles or crafted into wigs and postiches. The styles were usually pulled back from the face, sculpted toward the neckline, and often adorned with jewellery or wrapped in cloth, like the ndioumbal or taggal.
Irun Kiko
A traditional Yoruba style where the hair is sectioned and wrapped around thread. This style is a great natural method of stretching hair without heat, how innovative! We really loved how experimental Irun Kiko allows you to be, with styles from the Pineapple and the basket, to the Skyscraper (Onile-gogoro) and Eko Bridge, which is inspired the iconic bridge in Lagos. While Irun Kiko is the specific name for this style among the Yoruba people, threaded hair has been done for centuries across the African continent. For example, in South Africa, it’s famously referred to as ‘Beny and Betty’.
Each of these styles has taught us something new about our hair, the technique it takes to achieve them, the cultural history and significance behind them and the way it empowers our identity and connection to our hair.
Exploring traditional African hairstyles has been a way of looking back while moving forward. It’s helped me feel more connected to myself, to my roots, and to the generations of Africans who turned haircare into art, language, and resistance.
Because in the end, our hair connected to our history, culture and power.
✨ Plus, celebrate the journey with us – use code ADECHE15 for 15% off all Afrocenchix products. ✨