Where is the love for being black in Africa?

As I aforementioned, I had a fear of wearing my hair in a fro due to receiving criticism. In the beginning of this venture, I wrote about how the Malian women perceived my looks. They observed my skin and how it's browned over the past year and they've seen me experimenting with my hair as my perm has been growing out. And I mentioned that I would like to help change their perception of beauty, to help them see the natural beauty that is God-given. So, I finally got over my fear of what people might say, and I took a chance and wore my afro in village and I felt so bare and free! Like, this is me.

Now, I feel much more confident with my new 'do. I've gotten mixed responses, as expected, and mostly it's my family who's still hating on my hair! My family tells me that people are gonna call me crazy and all the babies will cry when they see me. However, none of that has happened. I've actually had people coming up to me commenting that they like it, both men and women. Some of them actually use the word "beautiful" to describe it and wondering if it's weave or chemicalised. I've also had those come up and tell me to cut it. I admit, a little trim is needed, but I'm so happy to know that some people do view black hair as beautiful.

I've seen wayyyyy too many broken, receeding hair-lines due to using straightening chemicals. Recently, my host sister had to cut all of her hair off because it was all dry and brittle. But even after she had to cut it, she still rubs perm in her hair! After seeing what she had to do because of this, I decided enough was enough. These women have been telling me EVERYDAY to do what they do to their hair, and look at the result! DEAD HAIR.

While Jasmine was here, we discussed this issue with hair and we realized that it was African Americans who discovered how to "tame" the roots of black hair. An AA women invented the pressing comb and other products for women to straighten their hair. Then, an AA man invented "perm" to straighten black hair chemically. It was AA who brought this stuff to the world, but now AA women are starting to stop using these tools and learning how to coiffure their natural roots. Wearing one's hair natural is a revolution in America, but straightening one's hair and other junk is just getting started in Africa.

Where is the love for being black in Africa?

Neem Cream! You scream! We all scream for neem cream!

So, after many set backs with scheduling, I finally hosted my neem cream formation! I found the courage to ask the doctor, who screwed me over in my Career Day project, if me and the Canadian intern, Laurence, could host a training on neem cream at the health center. She said yes, and I got to work.

Neem cream is a natural mosquito repellent that is cheap and works really well. It's made from neem leaves, which happen to be plentiful here (thanks to God), soap, water and shea butter, which is also plentiful! On a side note, this land has so many natural resources to cure the many ailments that they have, it makes me wonder, if they started asking the right God for help, they'd realize how blessed they are. Anyway, I found myself working with the Shea Co-op to help me make the cream and it was a lot of fun.

By working with the Co-op I learned so much about the makings of shea butter and soap and I learned a lot of new Bambara words as well. And for helping me make the neem cream, I gave them jars of it to use at home and they said that it works really well. So, maybe they might look into producing it themselves! So, after getting confirmation that it really works, me and Laurence presented info on malaria and how people can protect themselves from it and it went really well.

Now onto my next summer project, creating "tippy taps," also known as, handwashing stations.