The Chale Wote festival is in its 9th year and Celebrating Our Crown initiative was endorsed as part of The LABS under the section theme Chale Wote Salon. http://accradotaltradio.com/
The Chale Wote Head Wrapping salon is a creative showcase consisting of interactive workshop and panel discussion: that celebrates identity, culture, spirituality, tradition and fashion through the wearing of a Head Wrap

What does Celebrating Our Crown mean to me?
Celebrating my culture, outer beauty and creativity with the adornment of a headwrap.
I wore a custom-made dress that I had an inscribed design by a friend called GebRa at Black Stars Clothing in the UK. The small but intimate courtyard of the Kukun café was the perfect set up – despite the wind blowing down the mirrors.

A piece of cloth –  I began with a short presentation about historical context and the generation of headwear from ancient to modern day 21st century. Tying one’s hair with a piece of cloth has been part of African culture for centuries and continues to be worn today as one of the oldest accessories. There are so many words used to describe a ‘piece of cloth’ that is wrapped/tied round your crown: -Head wrap, Head tie, Head crown, head dress, turban, head scarf, bandana. In Ghana it is commonly called duku and similar names in bantu groups in southern parts of Africa: including dhuku (Shona – zimbabwe), duku (Chichewa – Zimbabwe, zambia), iduku (isiZulu).

A brilliant introduction from guest speaker Adjoa Nichols on how she celebrates her crown and the importance of her business Cheza Toys Inc. An African-featured toy company “disrupting playtime” while driving the narrative through its beautiful dolls and authentic Ghanaian fabric doll clothes – www.chezatoysinc.com

Interactive Demonstrations – It was nice to be graced with diverse guests from Canada, America, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Israel. Each guest was presented with different lengths, texture of batik and African printed material purchased from a local market. We commenced with a few basic style of demonstrations by Jacinda of a bow and also a bantu knot. Followed by a selection of wrapping techniques with different pieces of cloth. Our instructions made everyone comfortable and enthusiastic to create styles.

(images courtesy of Chale Wote Media Team: Abdul-Haqq Mahama).

(image courtesy of Chale Wote Media Team: Abdul-Haqq Mahama)

Panel Discussion – With as selective panel of sisters who celebrate their crown in different ways from maintaining natural hair, a fascinator business, fashion, educational and personal reasons.
I relayed a quote ‘Your crown has been bought and paid for. Put it on your head and wear it’ by Mayo Angelo
Their thoughts were directed at our ancestors who had pathed the way for us to be who we are and not be defined by other racial standards, also to take pride. Giving thanks for wonderful panel: Adjoa, Kesewa (IG naturallybeautiful357), Doreen (@rennysglitters), Jacinda (@MusesofMonet)
( to connect with the panel and their services– click link to panel bio)

(image courtesy of Chale Wote Media Team: Abdul-Haqq Mahama).

Entertainment –To end the evening we were graced with a performance by musician LOZO which included the Marhaba welcome home song – that was launched at the Marhaba Festival in July 2019


Networking – Although the event had finished we continued to network, it was nice to see the sisters practicing head wrapping even with sisters that missed the interactive workshop and with brother Kwame. I received some positive feedback about useful head wrapping techniques, informative panel members and enjoyable event.

(Sister E and Adwoa)

The headwrap serves us as a deep symbol of self, in relation to cultural and racial characteristics. It illustrates the connectivity between our past and present, between our ancestral home and our place of birth. (author unknown)

So, what does Celebrating Our Crown mean to you?

Bless Sister E (Naa Dzamah)