Are dreadlocks a sign of rejection of Western imperialism?

The child’s father, Mr Khumbulani Dube, was forced to approach the High Court after the school’s headmaster insisted that Mbalenhle cut his dreadlocks.
The practice of wearing dreadlocks has become prevalent in Zimbabwe.
The dreadlock mania, just like in many parts of the world, holds various meanings for different people. But why do a certain section of our society prefer this kind of hairstyle which demands a high degree of hygienic maintenance?
Mr Chrispen Ndlovu from Pumula said for him dreadlocks are a return to the roots and a resistance of cultural decay brought about by westernisation.
“These locks show who I am. It’s about my African roots. Despite how western cultures have ingrained in our society, this is to show that I remain true to my roots,” said Ndlovu, adding that while one could still stick to their roots without dreadlocks, he wanted something visible and tangible.
Miss Joyce Dumbura, a student nurse at the Bulawayo United Hospital, said she wore dreadlocks not because of any philosophy, but because locks are cheap to maintain.
She said as a student she cannot afford expensive hairstyles and therefore she settled for locks.
“It has become so expensive to regularly maintain a fancy hairstyle and as a student, I can’t afford it so I just settled for the dreadlocks which can last very long,” she said.
Mr George Brown from West Park said he wore dreadlocks to identify with the kind of music he had a passion for such as roots reggae and Chimurenga music. He also said that his philosophy is espoused through Rastafarianism.
“I inherited the passion for the Rastafarian culture from my history teacher at Plumtree High School. Since then I have remained true to it and I still wear dreadlocks. I had a lot of problems with my parents when I first wore the locks in 1998,” he said.
He said his mother used to associate dreadlocks with untidiness (utsvina) and vagrants (hurombe).
“Everyday we used to fight with my mother over my locks. She used to call me all sorts of names because of the locks but now she respects me,” he said.
The wearing of dreadlocks have in some circles been associated with rebellion to authority while in others, it has been closely associated with spiritualism as it is believed to be a timeless African practise.
Some musicians in Zimbabwe who play traditional music like Chimurenga guru Thomas Mapfumo, the late Cephas Mashakada, Andy Brown and Chiwoniso Maraire wear dreadlocks as part and parcel of the traditional African culture celebrated through music.
In some instances, the wearing of dreadlocks has been erroneously associated with practices such as dagga smoking, lawlessness and gangsterism.
Local journalists, artistes and soccer players have also joined the dread lock frenzy.
“There is no deeper spiritual meaning attached to my dreadlocks. I regard this as only fashion. I visit the salon every three weeks to shampoo my locks,” said an entertainment reporter with a local daily.
Dreadlocks have become so much associated with Rastafarianism, a religion perceived to be associated with dagga smoking.
Despite many people practising Rastafarian religion, few people know the roots and history of the dreadlocked hair.
New generation Rastafarians claim that the culture of locked hair originated in Africa, while old-generation Rastafarians are said to hold great pride in their natural hair and see it as a symbol of their fight against “Babylon” which they say stands for evil, non-violence, non-conformity, communalism and solidarity.
A social critic, Bernard Mombeshora, said many new generation rastas have come to regard their dreadlocks as a “passport” for smoking mbanje and listening to reggae music without understanding the real Rastafarian culture and values.
“If you look at the origins of Rastafarianism, the people who subscribed to that philosophy then shunned everything from Babylon such as red meat, alcohol and cigarettes, but nowadays, you often see them smoking, wearing designer clothing, eating meat and drinking beer,” he said.
Dreadlocks, he said, had been part of the history of almost every spiritual system, ranging from Christianity, Hinduism to traditional African religion.
“The practise can also be seen as a symbol of a highly spiritual person who is trying to come closer to God. If one is to research the spiritual history and meaning of locks, they will be mentioned in most holy books. The Biblical Samson wore his hair in dreadlocks, and his unsurpassed strength was lost when Delilah cut off his locks of hair.
“The roots of dreadlocks are commonly traced back to Hinduism and the God of Shiva while most people recognise that dreadlocks have their origins in Africa, but nobody seems to know where. But the true origins can be found in Kemet (Africa),” he said.