Among the Yorubas of southwestern Nigeria, the head (called ori) is given a very prominentposition and particularly in the females, the hair is considered to be the crown of a woman’s beauty. Over the years, the culture-rich Yorubas have come up with various beautiful and dazzling hairstyles.Yorubas of southwestern Nigeria, the head (called ori) is given a very prominentposition and particularly in the females, the hair is considered to be the crown of a woman’s beauty. Over the years, the culture-rich Yorubas have come up with various beautiful and dazzling hairstyles.
These hairstyles are not just for beautification. They also serve other purposesand these can be religious, as a sign of identification, age, political power, ceremony, occupation or even to reflect the mood of the lady. It can also signify the marital status of a woman.
Married women in Yorubaland in those days adopt hairstyles in which the hair flows from the front down to the nape of the neck, or it can emerge from both sides and culminate at the top of the head. Some other married women adopt the one in which the hair comesfrom the forehead and from the back and thenmeet up at the center of the head. As for the single ladies (all the single ladies….lol! You remember that song, right…lol), they use styles in which their hair flows from the right ear to the left. Before we continue, we need tomake some distinction among the various techniques used:
IRUN KIKO: Hair knotting with thread (threading), usually black in color.
IRUN DIDI: Normal hair plaiting, without thread.
IRUN BIBA: Braiding
You get that? Ok, let’s roll! Remember your primary and secondary school days when yourheadmistress (or headgirl) will announce that ‘the hairstyle for next week is…’. Well, I can see you smiling and saying koroba, shuku or even Concorde. Today, Iyaniwura has travelled extensively and we bring to you some of the most fascinating hairstyles of Yoruba women. Each hairstyle has its unique message and are very very beautiful! Enjoy:
1-SHUKU (also called Suku, means basket): This is quite simple and it is one of the most popular in Nigeria. It is a form of braiding in which the hair runs from the forehead to the nape of the neck or forms a rump on top of the head. When shuku is blended with koroba,it is called orishabumni. At a time, it was only the wives of kings that could make shuku but that change over time and anyone can now adorn the style.

2-KOROBA (Bucket or pail): The braidings radiate from the center of the head to all parts, like an upturned bucket or container.

3-KOLESE (means ‘Legless’): In this knotting style, each knot originates from the front and runs to the back of the head, not too far from the neck. It is also called ‘all back’ or ‘corn rows’.

4-IPAKO ELEDE (means ‘occiput of a pig’ or ‘pig’s nape’): In ipako elede, the styling starts from the back but everything eventually ends infront. When scaling the braids, the non-linear contours of the head are followed. There is a main middle model that the Onidiri (hair stylist, weaver or hair dresser) follows by repeating the units in a an amazing form offractal geometry. Ònsèsòó is the person on whose head the style is being made. And because the head is believed to be the seat of the soul, Ònsèsòó is forbodden to price the amount charged while the Onidiri is expected to shun food while working.
The person who makes the hair is called the ONIDIRI while the person the hair is being made for (sitting) is called the ONSEESO. Yoruba culture is rich!

5-PANUMO (means ‘Keep Shut!’): Panumo starts from two different points, one from the forehead and one from the back. The two meet at the centre of the head leaving a little hole.

6-OJOKOPETI : (means ‘Rain is not beating the ears’): The styling technique of this is in such a way that it starts from one ear and then moves across to the other ear. I love that!

7. Moremi
8. Kojusoko (Face your husband)
9. Kehinsoko (Turn your back to your husband)
10. Onile Gogoro/Akaba/Aladile (Skyscraper)
11. Patewo (Clap your hands)
12. Ajankolokolo
14. Pakunpo (Knock-knee)
15. Awoyoyo (Troop of marching soldiers)
16. Binta My Daughter
17. Aarinomonimasun (I prefer to sleep in the midst of kids)
18. Agogo (Pile up, it is usually reserved for married women)
19. Ajanloso (squatting dog)
20. Akete Kano (Hat from Kano State)
21. Eko Bridge
22. Ogun pari (the war has ended, commemorates the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970)
24-Ade Oba (the king’s crown)
25-John Kennedy
26-Face-to-face (made in such a way that it will not be crushed when the wife is kissing the husband)
27-Macwira (without crown)
28-Pineapple
28-Remo carpet
29-Be back
30-Roundabout
31-Baret
32-Four Adese line
33-Alhaja
34-Morinmo (describes a kind of sexual act, number 8)
35-Edabo
36-Ikoto
37-Ilekedi
38-Nigeria Drive Right
39-Lipede
40-Naira
41-Sakadel
42-Danfo
43-One Nigeria
44-African Games
45-Ona La
46-Kereni
47-Oro Oko kowoti (the words of the husband never enters the ears)
48-Cut-cut (to depict women who move from one man to the other without settling down)
49-Iyawo Osingin (new bride)
50-Police Cap
51. Be Front
52. West African Record
53. Macwira with crown
54. Concorde
55. Adimole
I was not able to lay my hands on pictures of some of the hairstyles. Iyaniwura will appreciate any information you have on Yoruba hairstyles so we add them here. And please tell us the one we left out or any errors. By the way, which one was your favourite while in school?
Thank you very much for your time