Cornrow Braiding
African
Orgins 1.a
Cornrow
Braiding Originates in Africa
Cornrow braids are not only widespread in Africa, they are also quite
ancient. This clay sculpture with cornrows is from the ancient Nok civilization
of Nigeria. It may be as old as 500 B.C. As Peters (1990) notes in her
essay on black hairstyle history: "Hieroglyphs and sculptures dating
back thousands of years illustrate the attention Africans have paid to
their hair. Braids were etched into the back of the head of the majestic
sphinx."