“Dada”: Beyond the Myths to Smart Haircare

By Adebukola Aluko
At the mention of the name “Dada”, what really comes to mind is a dread like, coarse, rough, knotted and difficult to comb kind of hair.
The hair is similar to dreadlocks and is difficult to comb, but the difference here is that Dada is more predestined and not by choice.
One exceptional myth about the hair is the uniqueness of the texture and strand of the hair, till date the reasons for this can not be explained.
Children known as Dada from Yoruba culture in Nigeria, are born with naturally matted or locked hair, and are believed to be special and have unique and spiritual capabilities like the gift of healing, extreme intelligence and physical strength.
In Yoruba mythology, Dada is the son of Yemoja, the goddess of the sea, wealth, procreation, and increase. Dada is said to be one of the deified Yoruba kings.
Yorubas and the Hausas call them “dada” while the Igbos call them “Elena” or “Ezenwa” translated to mean “Child King”, a name given to them largely due to the nature of their hair which is likened to a crown, and also because of the belief of toughness such children possess.
Dadas are known to be very fragile and must be taken good care of, especially in their formative years.
Local people believe that their strength and overall good health are tied to their hair and it must therefore not be tampered with or groomed.
The Igbos observe many traditional rules when dealing with a dada. For instance, it is believed that when the hair of a dada child is combed or cut, the child would fall very sick and could even die.
It is believed, particularly, among Igbo communities that dada children are the reincarnations of deities and other great men and women, hence such children often lived in isolation.
Apart from the mother of a dada, no other person must touch the hair of these children.
If any other person mistakenly touches the hair, he or she must give money to the child or tie a cowry to their locks to prevent them from falling ill.
Traditional Nigerian families further believe that their dada children are gods and offer them to the shrine.
The Chief priest now decides their fate. Some do not touch their hair and serve in the shrine for the rest of their lives and even take over from the chief priest when he dies.
Shaving a dada’s hair must, however, be accompanied by a special ritual which is usually performed by the chief priest presiding over the child.
After the ritual is performed, the hair of the dada is collected into a pot of water containing special herbs and kept by the parents of the child.
The portion can be used as medicine in case the child falls ill. It is believed that a child who doesn’t go through this ritual would die within three days after the shaving.
Others have their hair shaved off, and often times most of them have their hair shaved off before puberty or adulthood.
In recent times, Christian parents would rather have a Catholic priest to do the shaving.
The trend is now changing as with the advent of modernization, many of them are now being largely accepted into mainstream societies.
Families are also increasingly locking the hair of their children and hence it is generally hard to even distinguish a natural-born dada and a made one.

Tips on How to Care for Dreadlocks
Like any other hairstyle, you should wash dreadlocks regularly and use products like moisturizers and oils to keep your hair healthy.
Washing Dreadlocks
Wash your dreadlocks once every 2-4 days. It’s important to keep your dreads clean and to remove buildup from your locks. It’s best to wait at least 2 days between each wash to allow your scalp to produce natural oils.
Wet your hair with warm water. In the shower or at a wash tub, get your hair wet by spraying it with warm water.
Massage a quarter-sized drop of shampoo into your scalp and dreads.
Residue-free shampoo helps to clear debris and build-up from your dreads without leaving behind a layer of shampoo.
Let the shampoo sit in your hair for 1-2 minutes, especially on your dreadlocks and scalp before you rinse your hair .
Rinse your dreadlocks thoroughly after using shampoo from your scalp to the end of your hair.
Squeeze the water out of your dreadlocks after you wash them, and once you’ve rinsed your dreadlocks, dry them by using your hands to squeeze out any excess water trapped in the locks. Then, use a microfiber towel to pat your scalp and dreadlocks completely dry.
You can also use a hair dryer for faster drying.
Never style or add product to your dreadlocks when they’re wet, as this can cause them to smell or grow mildew. Wait until they’re completely dry to the touch before styling them.

Additional information from wikihow.com/Net
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