...it is up to the university to preserve this living heritage through contact and dialogue with the community, as well as its use in the creative economy sector.
Hair can be used as an object of scientific investigation to understand its value, as well as the culture of various societies, particularly African ones.
This was the main theme presented by several participants during the first edition of the Mozambican Braiding Festival, which took place this Wednesday at the School of Communication and Arts of Eduardo Mondlane University (ECA-UEM), in Maputo.
The purpose of the festival, whose motto was "My Curly Hair, My Crown," is to value and promote Mozambican cultural identity, highlighting the symbolic, social, and economic role of natural hair, particularly braids, in contemporary society.
According to the director of ECA-UEM, Ezra Nhampoca, hair and braids cannot be seen as mere aesthetic elements, but as symbols of Mozambican identity, African identity, and ancestral resistance.
“We understand that the university cannot live with its back turned to the community, and African braiding is community, science, a living archive and, above all, care,” explained Nhampoca.
It is in this sense that he encourages greater academic monitoring of this topic. In his opinion, hair can produce various documents such as theses and articles.
For Nhampoca, it is up to the university to preserve this living heritage through contact and dialogue with the community, as well as its use in the creative economy.
The Mozambican Braiding Festival is organized by ECA-UEM and coordinated by Professor Joaquim Borges Gove. According to him, this is an opportunity to honor Josina Machel, a Mozambican heroine and former combatant in the national liberation struggle.
The event included practical demonstrations, exhibitions, and debates between professionals and students, promoting the sharing of experiences and the strengthening of collaborative networks.
(By MozaVibe)
