There’s nothing funny about the fact that the Nigerian Police has an entire division harassing people under the pretext that dReAdLoCks ArE nOt a PaRt Of OuR cUlTuRe. It’s more ironic than anything else. Nigeria doesn’t have a single origin story, but our reverence for our hair is one of the not-so-many things we share.

These 10 photos were taken over the period of 100 years by the British Colonial anthropologist Northcote Thomas, the Nigerian photographer J.D Okpai Ojeikere and other documentarians over time.

They tell the fascinating history of Nigerian hair across three eras; the pre-colonial times, post-independence and the modern period. Your ancestors had way too much swag for SACS.

The history of Nigerian hair, as far as the records show, dates as far back as the 18th Century. This was a time when hair was primarily a status symbol; it was used by nearly all tribes to connote age, class, marital and social status, profession and spiritual affiliation.

One of the best examples of this use of hair is the Agogo. According to Victoria Sharrow in her book “”, “a traditional woman’s style called the Agogo showed the wearer is married. It features a high crest running from the forehead to the nape of the neck.” Younger unmarried women would wear their hair “braided, wrapped, or in other styles that set them apart
”

Photos from Northcote Thomas’ archives are some of the most valuable depictions of Nigerian fashion in the 1910s and 1920s. Women in the Igbo hinterland wore their hair in loose braids, threaded knots known as “” or elaborate braids adorned with ornaments for important occasions.

The photo above was taken of an Igbo woman in present-day Arochuku in 1910. The woman’s coif is nothing short of regal.

According to Ukpuru, a platform that documents Igbo history, the style is consistent with the depiction of women in Igbo art. “Women of the time used ornaments like thread, feathers, shells, boneï»ż, wood, ï»żbeadsï»ż, ï»żIgbo currencyï»ż, coins, or cloth; ï»żmud containing colourful oresï»ż, yellow and red camwood powder or paste and ï»żpalm oil and charcoalï»ż were also used.”

The Yoruba believe that hair has spiritual qualities. Members of certain sects or beliefs styled their hair to reflect their identity. It is believed that the goddess Osun was the first hairdresser and as such, her priestesses wore the most elaborate styles adorned with a range of ornaments.

Sango, the Yoruba god of thunder and war, is often depicted with braids. His followers still wear those braids today. Dreadlocks were also important; children born with them were believed to have spiritual power.

Priests in certain sects would often let their hair grown wild and into dreadlocks. Primarily, as the photo of a young Igbo man shows, Nigerian men of the era styled their hair as a form of social communication. Fierceness was the only language.

If the Igbo women used ornaments, the Fulani hairstyles of the era were downright architectural feats. The nomadic Fulani spread these styles wherever they went – much of sub-Saharan West Africa.

It’s impossible to talk about the period leading to independence and the decades after without paying respect to Nigerian photographer, J.D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere. From humble beginnings, rejected by the army, J.D was put on to photography by an uncle and would quickly acquire a taste for anthropological work.

He is credited with taking some of the most iconic photos of Nigeria starting in the 1960s. His magnum opus is a collection of over 1000 portraits titled “Hairstyles”; a collection of portraits of Nigerian hair and headgear he took over three decades.

The Post Independence Era is when Nigerian hair became a social commentator. One of J.D’s most popular photos is this one of a Lagos woman donning the hairstyle known as “Onile Gogoro” which translates to “tall house”.

Reaching up to heights of one foot, the hairstyle was evocative of the new high-rises and skyscrapers that were showing up in Lagos; signs of growth and advancement in this optimistic new nation.

The completion of the Eko Bridge in 1975, the shortest link between Lagos Mainland and the Island was one of the many major projects after the war. It inspired the Eko Bridge hairstyle which featured one or more braids serving as a link between two or more clusters of woven or matted hair.

Many things happened in the 80s and 90s. But if there was one thing that tied it all together; it was the demise of the Nigerian middle-class. Soon enough, local standards were replaced by the next best thing. Western culture filled our television sets, salons, the barbershop. This was also the disco era and the first days of hip-hop; the arrogant style of the era influenced many Nigerians. Black Power!

Hair extensions, commonly called attachments and wigs were the next phase. Blame capitalism or Hoolywood but more people wanted flowing, straight hair and so they bought it. A time of Kanekalon and Xpressions gave way to more expensive human twists, Peruvian and Brazilian hair. These styles pretty much held on through most of the 2000s.

People will look back on the last 10 years of African culture as a renaissance of sorts, and it will be deserved.

The last decade or so has been defined by our culture’s interaction with persons of African heritage across the world, and foreign cultures. Within this new movement for Africa to reclaim its pride, Nigerian hair is staging a comeback.

Remember Irun Kiko? Braids are all the rave now. It’s not uncommon to see women with their hair billowing in the wind, or knotted and twisted into preservative hairstyles.

We can all be proud. Nigerian hair’s been dripping for over 300 years.

This year, I’m committed to making as much noise as possible to get you guys to travel around Nigeria. I already started the good work leading you people up North. But before I tell you about all the places you can go and all the food you can eat, here are the travel essentials you’ll need to survive travelling around Nigeria.

Pockets, to put your pride in and beg after you’ve spent three hours getting to a tourist attraction. Only to find out that somebody, somewhere decided to shut it off to the general public. Which of course does not include white tourists.

Your Nigerian passport – You might think you don’t need this until you find yourself in Badagry trying to explain to Customs officers that you are not an illegal immigrant from Cameroon just because you are a Lagosian who doesn’t speak Yoruba.

Slippers, for when you need to trek from one town to the other because you didn’t hire a cab for the day, and there is absolutely no public transport in the town.

Snacks in every possible piece of luggage you carry. Because you’ll be hungry in a hotel somewhere in Ondo and they’ll tell you that the cook has closed at 7 pm or that there is no food at all in the kitchen.

Google maps, because you’ll enter a cab, keke or bike whose driver will swear up and down that he knows where you are going to. Only for the two of you to end up in a village in the outskirts of town.

Extra cash for unforeseen circumstances, like having to pay two times the regular entrance fee to get into a tourist attraction because touts have overrun it. And if you have no extra cash to spare and a very low tolerance for bullshit you need to eat extra food in the morning so you can have energy to fight for your right.

If you are travelling in a group, someone who speaks the language of the city you are visiting comes in very handy. So at least when you are getting swindled by a seller because they notice you are a foreigner they’ll do it with conscience when they realize one of their own is in your group.

A power bank for your power bank and a ton of extra batteries for your camera. Because you’ll be constantly blown away by just how beautiful this country is and you’ll want to record every moment of it.

Imodium and Flagyl because you’ll want to try as much local food as you can and your stomach that is used to eating rice every day of the week will revolt. When this happens if you are lucky you’ll be in your hotel room if you are not you’ll be halfway up some ancient hill with a tour guide screaming at you to ‘enter bush’.

A strong resolve to not give up on Nigeria as a whole when you discover how run down the so-called National museums are. Or when a ranger tells you that the federal government just decided to cut funding for a National Park because they had a small fight with the governor of that state.

Tissues to clean your tears when you find yourself lost and stranded in the middle of the night in a foreign town. And a stranger opens up his home to you, feeds you, puts you on the right track the next morning and refuses to collect a kobo from you. Most importantly didn’t use you for ritual in your sleep as Nollywood would make you believe.

An open mind to allow you enjoy other cultures that are so different from yours. If they tell you only virgins are allowed to cross a certain path take it like that.

Now that you are strapped go forth and explore. Don’t forget to share all of your wonderful adventures with us.

Everyone in Northern Nigeria is not Hausa.

The whole of Northern Nigeria isn’t being ravaged by Boko Haram or herdsmen, so don’t listen to your friends that keep shouting it isn’t safe.

Try to respect yourself.

You know how you call all Northern looking men Aboki in your city? Keep that nonsense there.

Learn how to keep your ignorance to yourself.

Not everyone is Muslim, a very large percent of Northerners are actually Christians.

So except you are sure someone is Muslim, keep your Assalamualaikum to yourself.

Google maps works great in cities like Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt but will betray you when you find yourself in a village in Jos.

So let the locals show you around, and if you have money MONEY just get a guide.

The popular places like Yankari and Kajuru Castle are great but there’s so much more to see.

It’s ridiculously beautiful and you are going to ask yourself several times why it took you so long to come see it.

If you want evidence that northern Nigeria is not just brown grass and cows before you go, then you need to see Up North. Watch the trailer below.

Apparently, it tastes better than efo riro

Another must eat: Editan

Abak Atama

Abak Nmong Nmong

For this post, we’ve saved the best for last – Epang Nkukwo

We must warn you, this cocoyam-based meal requires quite a bit of work

But this champ pulled it off

Watch the entire video here to see how it’s done

For even more great cooking recipes from all over Nigeria, check out Delicious Naija, from Maggi Nigeria

2. These little Northern girls and a British soldier.

3. Aliyu Makama Bida gisting with Queen Elizabeth.

4. Atiku Abubakar during his baby boy days.

5. The first northerners to ever visit Europe.

6. Professor Shehu Shagari, speaking strongly against the racism in South Africa at the time.

7. This rare picture of Dangote before he hammered.

8. Students at a motor mechanics class in 1959.

9. The wedding intivitation to IBB and Maryam’s wedding.

10. Emir of Katsina, checking out a traffic sign with his squad.

2. Tuwo rice and Miyan Taushe

3. Ofada rice and ayamase

4. Abacha

5. Wara (Nigerian tofu)

6. Boli and groundnut

7. Ewa Agonyin

8. Eba and afang soup

9. Banga soup and starch

10. Pounded yam and egusi soup

11. Amala and ewedu

12. Okpa

2. Some of us who have never left the shores of Nigeria still speak good English.

3. All the Igbo do not prefer business to education.

That there is a generalisation; the believe that all the Igbo people do is chase money. Yes it’s true that a lot of young boys learn apprenticeship work from their ogas and go on to start their own businesses. But if you look at it logically, isn’t that education in itself? They know how to read and write and do mathematics (calculating daily earnings and expenditure), which is more than can be said for those that were in the four walls of a school. But moving on, we do love education and progresion and can be found in all career fields. Some of the best African writers are Igbo. *hint* *hint* Chinua Achebe, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Flora Nwapa, Chika Unigwe
 I could go on and on.

4. Ndi Igbo do not eat human flesh.

5. Igbo people have not fully recovered from the effects of the civil war.

6. Not every Igbo wants Biafra to secede from Nigeria.

7. The Igbo love money.

8. Igbo people do not perform human rituals.

9. Igbo people do marry people from other tribes.

10. Igbo people are not stingy.

11. Bride prices are not always ridiculously expensive.

12. Igbo people are not disrespectful.

13. Igbo people greatly appreciate good music.

14. Yam is the lifeblood of the Igbo.

15. Some school of thought believe that the Igbo, Yoruba, Nupe, Edo, Idoma all share a common ancestor.

Watch this video to learn more about the Igbo culture.

Of course, this list isn’t exhaustive. Umu nnem na umu nnam (brothers and sisters) what are the other things you wish others knew about Igbo people? Share them in the comments.

Although we often complain about the bad roads, litter and often unorganised environment in our Nigerian cities/towns, there are times when we do have to give credit to Nigeria for it’s beauty and this is one of them!

1. This breathtaking shot of Obudu mountains in Cross River

My God!

2. The aerial view of Bonny Island

So much green! So much space!

3. The forever beautiful Jos

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4. River Niger bridge in Onitsha

Potentially the perfect shot in a Nollywood movie! Not every time big mansion with white pillars in Lekki oh.

5. The perfect postcard image from Kano

Northern Nigeria on fleek!

6. Another perfect image of Kano

Can we just move to Kano?

7. This traffic-free image of Ibadan is beautiful just for that reason

This could be Lagos
 but only on public holidays.

8. This peaceful and well-built road in Enugu

Lagos why u no be like this?

9. The aerial view from this roundabout in Benin city

Just look at it!?

10. This picturesque roundabout in Abia

It seems Nigerians have perfected the art of building roundabouts.

Have you got any beautiful images of your Nigerian town or city? Share with us!

All images from Featured image from

This perfect picture of the game trail at Yankari National Park that captured butterflies basking in the sunlight.

This picture taken underwater at the Wikki warm spring that shows it’s possible for Nigerian waters to be clean, clear and blue.

This serene shot of Wikki warm spring.

Blue sky and blue water at Gubi lake in Bauchi.

This image that beautifully captured the vegetation and mountains at Dass, Bauchi.

The picturesque landscape at Fufore, Adamawa.

The heart-stopping sunset in Bauchi.

The architecture of the 2nd Babban Gwani in history, built in 1869 for the Emir of Bauchi.

More stunning shots of Gubi Lake.

This breathtaking view.

This image that captures the true definition of untamed wild beauty.

The sky at Dass in Bauchi after a night of rainfall.

So, thinking of planning a holiday? Maybe Northern Nigeria isn’t such a bad idea.

These are pictures of what Nigeria looked like — from mid 19th century to a couple of decades after that.

The McGregor Canal was dug by governor . McGregor was a medical doctor who improved sanitary conditions in Lagos. The canal divided the island into Lagos Island and Ikoyi Island.

Kingsway Store in downtown Ibadan, during the Christmas season, circa 1964. Kingsway was the first departmental store in Nigeria, with branches in Lagos, Ibadan and Port Harcourt.

Before Shoprite, there was Kingsway Store. Picture taken in the 60s.

The first Nigeria Airways Crew in 1961. It was a mixed crews for several years till enough Nigerian capacity was available.

Nigeria Airways,Ikeja,1969.

Delivery departure shot of Nigeria Airways Boeing 737-200 and crew, circa 1982/83.

Nigeria Airways Fokker 28 at Calabar airport in the 70s.

The passing out parade of the first Nigerian Women Police on April 26, 1956.

The Late Mrs. Christina Eyimofe Stallings, is the first air hostess in Nigeria. She is of Itsekiri descent. Picture taken in the 60s.

An akwete weaver from South-East Nigeria in the 1960’s.

Bobby Benson established the famous Night Club, Caban Bamboo, on Ikorodu Road (Hotel Bobby) which flourished in the 1960s. He was the first Nigerian artiste to do so.

Shehu Shagari granting a Jet Magazine interview on the eve of his Inauguration as President (Sept 30, 1979).

Then US President,Carter & wife with Shagari greeting cheering crowd from the White House balcony in 1980.

Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa with President John F. Kennedy in the United States,1961. Both assassinated in the 1960s.

Malcolm X on a visit to Nigeria in 1964. He visited Nigeria twice, and during his second visit, gave a lecture at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan and was given the name ‘Omowale’.

Lagos Island, Nigeria in the 60s.

The only tall building in downtown Ibadan, picture taken circa 1964.

Yaba in the 60s.

American singers Nina Simone & Brock Peters (actor) frisking at Tarkwa Beach in Lagos Dec 1961.

The very first Miss Nigeria, in 1957.

Asaba-Onitsha ferry crossing, circa 1959. Reminds you of Chinua’s Achebe’s , doesn’t it?

Bata store in the 60’s. Lagos.

Paul McCartney (member of the Beatles) and Fela Kuti, in 1972. Paul recorded the album “Band on the Run” with Wings, at EMI’s studio in Lagos. It was their most successful album.

Eko bridge, circa 1975.

The opening of the Niger/Onitsha Bridge, in 1965.

View of the old city of Kano from the top of the Mosque, circa 1965.

The internet is a treasure trove of Nigeria’s history. Take the time to search online and educate yourself.

Featured image via Time.