Dreads are often associated with the Rastafari movement which originated in Etiopian culture, however dreads have been present in every culture in the world. Rastafarians often associate themselves with the image of the lion, which symbolises power and deters evil. In India this hairstyle owes its popularity to the Sadhu. Ancient Egyptian sculptures and perfectly preserved mummies also show evidence of the popularity of dreads in the Nile Valley. In Central Africa many tribes wear dreads in connection with their ancestral traditions. The Massai dye them by ochre. The first references to dreadlocks date back to about 2500 BC. In the Vedas, Shiva is described as JaTa, which means wearing curly dreads. Dreads also appeared in Ancient Greece, Ethiopia and among enslaved Muslims. In the 19th century, thanks to Aamadu Bamba Mbakka, the leader of a Muslim group in Senegal, also spread dreads to West Africa.
In every culture the hairstyle determine our group affiliation, our point of view, our religion, our diet and the fashion we follow.
Nowadays dreads are more popular thanks to Jamaicans who borrowed this hairstyle from Indian workers and popularised it through Reggae music. Today, dreadlocks are widely present in the public space and yet they evoke extreme emotions. Some people like them, some people don't, and some people only like them when someone wears them.
Recently, the debate about dreadlocks has become a political tool, as if the wearing of dreadlocks by white people is a cultural appropriation. Dreadlocks have been around since the beginning of human hair and therefore cultures. There is no cultural appropriation, only cultural diffusion. However, the way it is talked about only determines the point of view of the skin colour of the individual. The discussion of cultural appropriation thus comes down to racial distinction only. So what are the roots of this conflict? Because anyone with hair can wear dreadlocks.
Les dreads sont souvent associées au mouvement Rastafari qui provient de la culture indienne, toutefois les dreads ont été présentes pratiquement dans toutes les cultures dans le monde. Les Rastafarians s'associent souvent a l'image du lion qui symbolise le pouvoir et dissuade du mal. En Inde cette coiffure doit sa popularité de part les Sadhu. Les anciennes sculptures d'Egypte mais également les momies parfaitement préservées montre elles aussi l'évidence de la popularité des dreads dans la vallée du Nil. En Afrique centrale de nombreuses tribus portent des dreads en relation avec leurs traditions ancestrales. Les Messais les teignent très souvent de couleur ocre. Les premières références se rapportant aux dreadlocks remontent a environ 2'500 avant J.C. Chez les Vedas Shiva est décrit comme JaTa ce qui signifie qui portent des dreads bouclées. Les dreads apparaissent aussi dans la Grèce Antique, l'Ethiopie et chez les musulmans asservis. Au XIX siècle grâce a Aamadu Bamba Mbakka le leader d'un groupe musulman au Senegal, les dreads se répandirent aussi dans l'Afrique de l'ouest.
Dans chaque culture les coiffeurs déterminent notre appartenance a un groupe, notre point de vue, notre religion, notre régime alimentaire ainsi que la mode que l'on suit.
De nos jours les dreads sont plus populaires. Grace aux Jamaicains qui eux même détenaient la musique, les stars, les acteurs, les sportifs et les rappeurs, elles sont devenues la coiffure reconnue parmi les noirs mais également parmi les blancs. A présent les dreads font moins échos a certaines émotions mais elles attirent toujours une grande attention.
