Art
feature: south africa-based congolese photographer robert nzaou-kissolo studies the strength and majesty of natural hair in ‘nzoussi’
‘Nzoussi’ is a visual project by South Africa-based Congolese photographer Robert Nzaou-Kissolo that explores the politics of black hair. Inspired by his niece, Nzoussi’s natural, long hair and her resentful, difficult relationship with it. “I fail to understand how can a lucky girl like my niece not embrace her natural hair, kinky Afro? Instead she wants soft and smooth hair,” says Nzaou-Kissolo. “I couldn’t help it but to engage by asking her the infamous question “who taught you to hate yourself?””
Being negatively influenced by the dominance of white/Western imagery is something people of the African diaspora are so painfully familiar with, and it’s truly fascinating to see and hear how those some constructs and re-enforced perspectives permeate African societies and young people like Nzoussi. With that in mind, Nzaou-Kissolo took this opportunity, where his niece was stretching her natural locs, to photographer the majesty, magnificence and strength of natural black hair. Check it out below.
By Erin White*, AFROPUNK contributor
http://robertnzaou.tumblr.com/
*Erin White is an Atlanta-based writer and AFROPUNK’s editorial and social media assistant. You can follow her on Tumblr or friend her on Facebook. Have a pitch or an inquiry? Shoot her an email at erin@afropunk.com.
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