AfriGadget

Turkana zipper head dresses

While visiting a rural community in the dry bushlands of Elementata I met some Turkana women who were absolutely captivating

Turkana mama

Turkana woman

Turkana girl

Dancing Turkana woman

Did you notice the creative head dresses? Zippers may have been invented in USA but nobody would have imagined they’d be used for head dresses. I was so awed by the outfits that I forgot to ask where they got all those zippers from – I can’t get rid of the image of all the village men wondering about with gaping flies.

Tags: Add new tag, Great Rift Valley, kenya, Soysambu, traditional hair, Turkana, Zipper

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

11 comments for this post.

Comment from Steve
17 March 2009 - 5:35 am - :

Beautiful pictures Paula.

Comment from paula
17 March 2009 - 6:02 pm - :

Thanks Steve! Are your zippers intact?

Comment from paula
17 March 2009 - 6:04 pm - :

Thanks Steve! Are your zippers intact?

Comment from Al
20 March 2009 - 6:26 am - :

Interesting Photos but a kinda demeaning Title.

Comment from paula
20 March 2009 - 8:40 am - :

Hi Al, I’m not sure I understand what you mean demeaning, it’s absolutely not my intention. The women were amazing, fun, creative, artistic, beautiful, open and just lovely in every way possible. They danced with us for hours. Is it something I’ve written? Could you elaborate? Paula

Comment from AfriGadget » Blog Archive » Zipper heads | Dena Crain: Artist/Teacher in Kenya
20 March 2009 - 9:02 pm - :

[...] interesting report on the use of zipper tapes as ornamental headgear for Turkana women in Kenya: AfriGadget » Blog Archive » Zipper heads. How’s that for being [...]

Comment from chris
21 March 2009 - 4:45 am - :

Wonderful pictures.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=zipper+head

I had the same reaction as Al but I’m sure it was unintentional and suspect there might be a generational knowledge gap.

Comment from paula
21 March 2009 - 6:32 pm - :

Oh my God, had no idea. I’m changing the title. Sorry for that folks and thanks for the tip.

Paula

Comment from Blog: AfriGadget | Bscopes Feeds
22 March 2009 - 10:53 am - :

[...] Blog: AfriGadget tagged with: none Post: http://www.afrigadget.com/2009/03/17/zipper-heads/ [...]

Comment from Roger Sharland
1 April 2009 - 12:06 am - :

This is a fascinating example of how people make use of what is available for devoration. I remember years ago writing an article on the punk movement in UK and how this was nothing new as so many people creatively use what is available for real beauty.
As we have been working with medicinal plants we have been finding all sorts of uses for plants, including makeup. Mulberry and Bixa are two examples but I am sure there are many more.

Comment from paula
2 April 2009 - 12:05 am - :

Thanks Roger, really appreciate your comment. I was thinking about the global body piercing trends when looking at the Nyangatong lip plugs in Ethiopia…yes its funny how things come around isn’t it? Are you working on medicinal plants in Africa or just in UK? We’ve hardly scratched the surface here on traditional uses of wild plants for foods, cures and other uses.