A Legacy: Reviving Rwanda’s dramatic hairstyle I Africa Direct Documentary
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- čas přidán 5. 12. 2022
- Rwanda’s Amasunzu hairstyles are eye-catching sculptures of dramatic shapes, peaks and shaved partings.
These once-famous styles were worn as a form of identity in pre-colonial times, with each hair design communicating information, messages and stories.
The tradition died out but is making a comeback - and Minani Saleh is an expert stylist. In his salon, he shapes and shaves patiently and relates the history of this unique look. He is quietly determined to protect this Rwandan cultural legacy for generations to come.
Mutiganda Wa Nkunda is a Rwandan filmmaker. His 2021 debut feature film, Nameless, won best screenplay at FESPACO, the largest African film festival. He is also a co-curator of a Rwandan filmmaker collective and its ciné-club and teaches screenwriting at various institutions.
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Many thanks for watching. Let us know what you think in the comments below.
African stories by African filmmakers. Perspectives from a diverse continent; storytelling in the hands of local talent. If you'd like to watch more episodes from Africa Direct, find them here: czcams.com/play/PLzGHKb8i9vTzcNFylHo6TGkMw220146sj.html
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I find it disrespectful to call Africa hairstyle as dramatic. Could you change the title of the video.
@@duke6928 Thank you, I'm glad someone else sees the disrespectful title. Do you know what is a DRAMATIC tragedy, Qatar's human rights violations!!!
Who are you? Trying to bring problems to a country you know nothing about it or you did just it for internet attention ?
It's not "dramatic", it's TRADITIONAL. If you're going to report on a country's culture and tradition you better respect it or else leave them alone.
The adjective “dramatic” doesn’t always have a negative connotation, it can be used to describe something exciting/striking/ impressive, I think this traditional hairstyle fits all three of those descriptions and it’s beautiful ☺️
Oh get outa here. The USA culture is out of shape white Europeans who eat terrible junk food. Who cares?
How can this be real culture if it takes electricity powered clippers to accomplish it? Rwanda has had electric for probably 50 years tops
7:10 I see a rwandan hipster walking around like he is something special with his Chinese made shirt and man purse
@@Benjamin-jo4rf Clearly, you're an idiot, since you didn't listen to the program; the hairstyle used to be done by razor blade. Think before you type, simpleton. 🤡
It's not dramatic but Iconic! Put some Respect on our Rich culture ✌🏿
Oh please calm down..it is dramatic, the hairstyle tells stories and exhibits a performance of wearers emotions and mental state..so it is dramatic, check the definition..it doesn't have to be negative. And no is disregarding its tradition.
I loved this hairstyle once I saw an old picture of a Rwandan man with it. It's so cool it was so futuristic then and still cool now. Love from 🇲🇼 🇲🇼 🇲🇼 Malawi
it's called "amasunzu"
It's not futuristic. It's on the Egyptian walls of the pyramids.
@a reasonable thought I know, I meant that even though people wore it that time, the hairsryle was so advanced even for those times. Even today, this hairstyle is so unique that only the best barbers can do it.
This is beautiful. We were people with own identities before we were colonised. I hope to see more of this type of content.
Wow! I am Rwandan and i didn’t know the history behind this hairstyle ! I am definitely getting the cut soon 🇷🇼
I am glad i learned something🙏🏾
I guess you're christian or religious?
Lol, kinda a litlle shameful you (a rwandan) have to learn "amasunzu" history from Al Jazeera . Even this is incomplete. there are a lot of documentation of it
Beautiful and a honor to see Rwandan youth taking back their culture! Black America is watching you!
Rwanda has to drop Christianity for we can stay they're reviving their culture,these hair styles are not done for Christian religion which was used to slaughter them
Hmm, Facts!
Yes we are.
And from the description box it sounds like something worth some being upset if 'others' wore it as appropriation. I am not into that C.A. mess but since these styles have REAL meaning behind them and are worn for a purpose more than just some cute hairstyle for the day people who may feel offended by someone else wearing it would make much better sense since it is worn even now for that reason.
@@marlak4203 Who cares what someone’s hair style? What is appropriation? A white man growing dreads? A black man bleaching his dreads blonde? I see both.. Whole thing is hilarious. It’s all sorts of people seeking identity and attention from others doing all sorts of fashion stuff. I find it juvenile, but having an opinion on it is even sillier.
I'm glad to see Africans embracing their natural hair
Great to see Rwandan embracing back that unique fashion hair style.
Not fashion.
@@ExposedRoot hairstyle is part of fashion
Absolutely amazing!, I'm Rwandan but i didn't know the history behind the Amasunzu, I'm glad that I've learned something from the documentary
Everything about this is top notch. From the beginning, sitting with his son making sure he's getting his education, to not undervaluing his skill and expertise. Making sure his peoples traditions are passed on to the next generation. Much respect.
Wow! I'm Haitian and I watched this video with awe!!! Amazing hair cut. I love my natural hair. There isnt a day I don't get a compliment on my parted afro.
I think if you research more about "amasunzu" , you can find out more about different hairstyles. Very regal . But each style tells a warrior story
Thank you 😊 💓 the look is Avant-garde Hollywood and the fashion world will be knocking soon. But for the pioneers who are bringing it back WE SALUTE YOU 🙌🏾 The story behind the hair cut is art in and if itself.
❤️❤️
@Arlene- Lupita Nyongo wore it at one of Oscars ceremonies and it made headlines. Same event his brother wore a suits from a rwandan stylist " House of Tayo" (made less headlines but still )
I love the simplicity of storytelling in this documentary! It does a lot of showing, without telling, to pass a message. At the beginning, we see Saleh's family life, a hint of his life outside work, in a simple yet effective way with his son (and the implied homecooked lunch ritual). Then we get to see him at work, with nice closeups. The small narrative he lays out about the logic of the paths in the hair is really captivating, leading up to the final shot of the customer confidently walking the streets with his glorious Amasinzi. Kudos to the team behind the video!
We're glad you liked it. Thanks for your positive feedback. 🙌
This amazing hairstyle was also practiced in pharaonic Egypt (called Kemet or Kmt then, which meant land of the black people). Very happy that it's being revived in Rwanda....
Love this hairstyle...I'm glad that I'm finally getting a chance to learn the history behind it
The information age is a beautiful thing
I am west African and I am in love with the hair style 💪❤️
I love it!! Black to their roots.
Rwandan
We call it “Amasunzu”❤️❤️❤️❤️🇷🇼🇷🇼🇷🇼🇷🇼
Happy to be a Rwandan 🇷🇼
Iconic hairstyle
That is so cool, it's so FUTURISTIC
Al Jazeera always hitting the spot with this type of content. Letting people tell their OWN stories.
I bet you this style looks INCREDIBLE also with an Afro-futurism type of clothing style too.
im Kenyan but i love all that is about Rwanda
Thank you!♥️
@David- Asante sana . We love Kenyans too and Kenya. Our brothers.
Mutiganda my director! Congratulations brother 👏🏽 thanks for this 🇷🇼 ❤️
Have seen @kivumbiKing embracing it also... wonderful keep the culture alive rwanda
These need to come to the U.S., and the barbers need to be on TikTok showing their work.
As a person with completely uncurley hair, I look at these hairstyles with envy!
The cool thing about the African diaspora is that we Americans have our own hairstyles similar to this that we have already created I.e the high top fade (:
@@dyl3590yes, just different stories.
@@dyl3590 True, indeed. And not to take anything away from us or Rwandans, but I would love to see a New Yorker--or, better yet, a Jamaican--rock one of these and give it a new, diasporic type of swag!
A very dignified hairstyle!
True. Mostly because it was worn by nobles with stricking tall features (as you can seee a few on those posters) - it looked very dignified
The story behind the hairstyle Being used as routes during war was the same for runaway slaves in America. Hair braiding and cornrows were used to plot routes when escaping to freedom.
That is absolutely amazing. I was blown away when I heard that ❤
Wow
Those runaway slaves were Africans at the end of the day, so the ingenuity stems from the motherland because of their historical cultures that they proved to preserve even in slavery.
@@palesamogorosi8939 did anyone deny their African ancestry. There were many Africans enslaved that turned on their own, do we credit the ingenuity of snitching, kooning and being sellouts to Africa as well or is it only the positive things slaves should credit to Africa.
I LOOOOOOOVVVVVVVE THIS 😍
Beautiful
Those hairstyles are so unique am sure very soon you will be seeing them in fashion shows
This is real it is our natural haircut style💯
It's actually pretty swag!
What history!!! This is incredible, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching! 🙂
Kuko umuco ariwo shingiro! byiza cyane
I learned something new today, beautiful video!
Mutiganda wa Nkunda my mentor, you always amaze me. Keep it up
I love Rwanda
Love to see this
The hairdresser looks like Taurus Riley
Waoo, African Legacy 💪
amazing
As a fellow Somali brother I encourage Rwanda 🇷🇼 to go further, share our Cushitic culture,this is a royal heritage.
Yo Ruwandan are Semitic origins that are from northern Ethiopia and Eritrea , read some history. Specially Tutsi tribe
@@bekureadera7578 you said it. Tutsis. Not hutus. And this style is hutu.
The style is Tutsi. It represented there cows horns. Stop your lies
@@jalilbabi4161 you right
@@africaine4889 The style is Tutsi, Nilo-Cushitic. Some of the Egyptian pharaohs used to wear head dresses fashioned in this style and this is where they get it from.
It is beautiful to SEE the decolonization around the world as the earth is restored to order from the centuries of fxckery people have endured from colonization.
🍀😇💕
This was fascinating to watch!
As a barbar, you need to be an artist
Crazy in a good way!
Gorgeous hairstyle
Truly impressive!
Extremely gorgeous hairstyle
Absolutely beautiful
WOW. NICE.
So skilled. 😊
Thank u al jazeera
DOPE!!!
Love it!
❤ I love it
Love my Rwanda, Love my Africa
His pride and strength as he walked with his traditional hairstyle was inspiring. It’s a blessing to know your culture. Some of us never will. Thanx for sharing this.
It sounds like a Ugandan language….fascinating
Yeah, I noticed a few words here and there because I'm studying KiSwahili, the languages are related.
J'aime ça 🎉
That’s so cool! 😁😎🥰
Thanks for this beautiful documentary. 💜
Amasunzu 😂😂wow❤❤
this is going to be my next hair cut. big thanks to whole or bringing this on show.
haaaa
I like the haircut and I am from USA
Lupita Nyongo wore it once at an award ceremony and she got some articles written about it
This is so beautiful! 🥺❤️
nice!!!!
That actually looks cool 😎
I adore the shapes! POWERFUL.
Marked resemblance to the characteristic terrain (Hills and Valleys) of present day Rwanda, South western Uganda and the adjacent parts of the DRC!
The adjacent part of DRC. You mean the eastern part of DRcongo
I love it!
Africans are the best💯💯👍
❤️❤️
It's avant-garde i love it
❤🔥
I’ve been seeing pictures of these for years I was wondering when people in Rwanda would try to bring them back :)
wow...yet another reason to love Rwanda 🇿🇦💕
Awesome wish the last shot was a full frontal of the cut.
Now i finally know who will.i.am's barber is.
Hahaha now you know 😂😎
Dope/
Nice culture.
Iwacu
Byiza cyane 😍👍🏾
wish this had been carried on by we Africans in the Americas. Cool haircuts!
ITS A WARRIORS HAIRCUT.... I LUV IT!😊
Pray for congo🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
It’s important for black Americans to start getting these hair styles
I’m proud of them. I’m proud to be an African.
I tremendously enjoyed learning about these cultural hairstyles and their meaning. I also loved the barber took such pride in his culture and his craft
✊
This cutting it was not only in Rwanda... It was african cutting for nobely peuple in Africa. ( Est Drc , Burundi, Kenya , Ouganda, some of West Africa also.
I saw old photos of these cute, and they amaze me. Take back your culture.
🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
NuffRespect To Rwandan Culture ✊🏽 Here's To The Global Revolution ✊🏽 It's the time to regenerate the DNA of our ancient ancestors.
🇷🇼🇷🇼🇷🇼💯
❤❤❤❤❤❤🇷🇼🇷🇼