Fredrick Rorigi wanted to join the fashion
trend five years ago when he choose a hairstyle that
is produced through lack of combing hair making rope like strands.
He decided to wear what
he says is an African style that was used by our forefathers and has been
modernized to fit the 21st century fashion style.
He was however not
prepared for the consequences of his action.
Mr Rorigi is one of a
number of dreadlocked men that have faced consequence for choosing to wear
their hair long like the Jamaican Rastafarians and the Mau freedom fighters of Kenya
Another is George Muite, who considered
himself a smart and pleasant person when at the United States International
University (USIU) when he wore his black dreadlocks with a tint of brown.
Mr Muite realized his plight after five
years when searching for an internship before he finished his education.
According to him, his
hair that was longer than the average length of a girl’s hair was the reason he
was constantly denied the good internship he was looking for, and therefore the
need to shave off his years of investment.
“I believe that back
then and even now Kenyans are still not liberal enough to entertain such dress
codes in men. I felt it is unfair I was judged by my hair and not my
credentials,” Muite said.
Some conservative
industries have continued to deny dreadlocked men places in their organizations;
Conflict arises when an individual’s style of dress or character, does not meet
the style of an organization that they seek to get employed in.
Managing Director Public
Image Inc Kenya
Derek Bbanga, said that the perception that people have about dreadlocks is the
main reason why some banks and law firms fail to select qualified individuals
for a job in their organizations.
He added, “People see
dreads and associate them with reggae, smoking, marijuana and rebellion,”
Mr Rorigi now a
professional hairdresser said that he dislikes peoples perception that
associate him with the outlawed sect Mungiki.
“People misquote
others and it is just fashion. They look at me like am not serious. People are
behind and only few know how to handle dreads on men ,”Mr Rorigi said.
Mungiki sect; a gang
of youths known for engaging in extortion, fraud, robbery, murder and even
kidnapping, emulates the Kenya Mau Mau freedom fighters and the Jamaican
soldiers, was used to hairstyle intimidate and defy the colonizers who forced
them into slavery in their struggle for independence.
Moses Wainaina, 30,
has had his dreadlocks for six years and ventured into the fashion industry as
it accommodated his look.
“If you believe in
what you want to do, do it. You look for a place where you are okay.” Mr
Wainaina said.
The dreadlocks hairdresser
earns a living from making dreadlocks and
refining already made dreadlocks to look neat, most of his clients being women.
“I earn at least 1000
from one dreadlock customer. When the late Michuki was fighting with eliminate
Mungiki, my security was an issue to my family and friends, and was adviced to
shave, but I declined, “Mr Wainaina said.
He added,” Most of my
male clients work in less conservative industries; NGOs, private companies and
in the media.”
An employee at a
leading Kenyan bank, who chooses to remain anonymous, said that society has put
it that people who wear dreadlocks are related to disorder and unruly nature;
they are freelancers that do not submit to law.
He added that in a
business where there is direct contact with the client, the clients’ thoughts
are put first before those of the organization.
“The bank has a
tradition that cannot accommodate that look. We are not sure what the clients
think, maybe they associate it with groups like Mungiki. We choose to be on the
safe side. No dreadlocks,” the banker concluded.
Mr Muite in the
defense said, “Even people without dreads are unruly. They should take some
time to know the strength and skill level of an individual before they reject
them. Some organizations lose some greatly skilled persons because they are
holding on to backward old fashioned mentalities about dreadlocks.”
According to Ms Lynda
Koskey, a Public Relations Practioner, people who wear that kind of hair today
thinks it is fine, and a personal sense of style but not all organizations
think the same way.
Even Institutions of Higher learning are
limiting the men with dreadlocks from pursuing education with the hairstyle.
According to
http://www.wvec.com Hampton University 's business school in USA has an 11
year old ban on dreadlocks and cornrows for some students.
The ban states that
male students enrolled in the school's 5-year MBA program who take the seminar
class cannot wear dreadlocks or cornrows in class.
The site also states
that the business school Dean Sid Credle believes that the ban has been
effective in helping his students land corporate jobs.
"We've been very
successful. We've placed more than 99 percent of the students who have
graduated from this school," said Credle.
Credle also said it's
important for students to look the part when looking for a job.
Mr Eric Machuka,a
communication firm employee, said they do not accept men with dreadlocks
because it does not give a good image to the company.
He said that though
they are not as rigid on women with dreadlocks, it is not an image they would
like to portray to their customers.
Mr Bbanga, the image
expert, added that it is easier for women who wear dreadlocks to be accepted in
conservative professions than men.
“Women are allowed a
variety, and people will view a lady with dreadlocks as having a fashionable
hairstyle. For a man it will not be the same, it sometimes viewed as
anti-social behavior,” Mr Bbanga said.
The history of the hairdo
can be attributed back to the Maasai of Kenya; According to bbc.co.uk/religion,
a religious movement from Jamaica called the Rastafarians, grow their
dreadlocks as a sign of their commitment to what they refer to as the nazarite
vow, found in the Bible, Leviticus 21:5 “They shall not make baldness upon
their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard nor make any
cuttings in their flesh.”
The site also states
that Rastafarians view Marijuana, commonly known as ‘bhang”, as a herb of
religious significance to heighten feelings of community and to produce visions
of a religious and calming nature.
It adds that before
they smoke the ‘religious herb’ they utter a prayer “Glory be to the father and
to the maker of creation. As it was in the beginning is now and ever
shall be World without end: Jah Rastafarian: Eternal God Selassie I.” to show
how highly ritual smoking the herb is.
Rastafarians regard
the locks as a sign of their African identity.
“I believe that back
then and even now Kenyans are still not liberal enough to entertain such dress
codes in men. I felt it is unfair I was judged by my hair and not my
credentials,” Muite said.
With such a misfortune
following the dreadlocked men around, they are forced to decide whether the
career they are pursuing and their professional expectations are consistent
with their fashion statement.
“The perception of
dreadlocks as a bad thing is innate, we cannot control it. If you have them and
want to keep them, go into an industry that fits you and accepts them.” Mr
Bbanga concluded.
