Densinkran
Densinkran[1] is the hairstyle worn by queen mothers and women of the Ashanti people in Ghana.[2] It is a short cut and the edges of the head and hair are dyed with charcoal or black dye.
History
[edit]The Asantes were defeated by an alliance of the British with Ga-Adangbe, Fanti, Denkyira and Akyems at Katamanso. The Densinkran was introduced to mourn the Asante dead in the Katamanso.The name dubbed "Gyese Nkran" (except Akra) in local parlance vulgarized as Densinkran.[3][4]
The only other women who wear this cut are elderly women and who are part of the royal family. The hair in African culture is very emotive and symbolic to identity.
Significance
[edit]It serves as hairstyle for royal identity
A funeral hairstyle [5]
It communicates one status, rank and ethnic identity in a community
References
[edit]- ^ Asmah, John Kobina (1999-03-19). "Burial Rites of the Late Otumfuo Opoku Ware I I". JSTOR.
- ^ Clothing And Fashion In Ghanaian Culture: A Case Study Among The Akans (PhD thesis). Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Retrieved 2020-08-10 – via Scribd.
- ^ "August 7, 1826 - Battle of Dodowa (Katamanso)". Edward A. Ulzen Memorial Foundation. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
- ^ "Today In History: Exactly 194 Years Ago Today, The People Of Accra Defeated The Mighty Asante Army In The Battle Of Katamanso". GhanaCelebrities.Com. 2020-08-07. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
- ^ "Glossary". Bulletin of the Detroit Institute of Arts. 91 (1–4): 113. January 2017. doi:10.1086/DIA910113. ISSN 0011-9636.