Perhaps it could be called 'Congo chic'

Despite their suffering, part and parcel of life in a war-weary nation, Congolese women revel a little in their hairstyles.

By Finbarr O'Reilly - GlobalPost
Published: March 30, 2009 17:40 ET
Updated: April 17, 2009 20:20 ET

EASTERN CONGO — The Democratic Republic of Congo is notorious for its war, brutality and misery. Less known is the beauty and humanity that still shines in spite of the suffering.

A recent assignment to the country's northeastern region revealed not only a terrified population fleeing attacks by rebels who have massacred more than 900 villagers in the past three months, but also countless displaced women and girls with striking hairstyles.

Despite the fear and the daily struggle to survive, these women maintained their dignity and their looks using creative and inventive hairstyles.

The spiky hairdos originated in Congolese villages decades or even centuries ago. While they have spread to a few neighboring central African countries, Congo remains home to the most varied selection of hairstyles adorning the crowns of women, from infants to the elderly.

These photos show a few examples of the distinctive Congolese hairstyles. Everywhere, in hospital, kitchens, and on dusty streets women wear their hairstyles with pride and humor — a hint of glamour in the shadow of war.

Click here for more Congolese hairstyles by Finbarr O'Reilly 

More GlobalPost dispatches by Finbarr O'Reilly:

Cameroon's gorillas find sanctuary 

A step in the right direction for eastern Congo?

Comments:

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Posted by carolfuller59 on March 31, 2009 07:12 ET

thank you finbar for bringing out a little joy from this tragic place... a wonderful story!!!...the hairstyles are just beautiful on these woman, and it helps us see what beautiful faces they have...i love the term "congo" chic...carol fuller

Posted by Julia on March 31, 2009 23:18 ET

This story is so beautiful, so well done. I especially love the
picture of the woman amidst the torn down bricks. The women in those pictures remind me of the women in South Africa, in the hospital I've volunteered at on the palliative care wards. Not the hairstyles, but the women who would braid each others hair, both to pass the time and to maintain normalcy and dignity. And the women that were comatose, that were so sick, there would be women in their families that would come to groom them and take care of their hair, even if that person was just about to die. It was such a small and powerful thing to see. Amidst all of the pain and suffering, it was a great reminder that these people are people, not just nameless characters in a horrible real life drama. Thank you for bringing us a story to remind of the resiliency and humanity of spirit manifested in everyday activities, which can often be so easily overlooked but mean so much.

Posted by 3v3np4y on April 3, 2009 22:21 ET

What is the name of the song used in this video? It's beautiful. Did I miss the credit somewhere?

Posted by brynmorew on April 5, 2009 11:21 ET

The song was sung by refugees in Kibati camp in eastern Congo

Posted by sascha on October 30, 2009 13:05 ET

We need international stories like this -- stories which humanize people in far-away troubled regions. One is more drawn to engage with Congo's bad news, for instance, if one knows a little about the beauty of Congolese music (or the way Congolese women wear their hair).

I wish more stories of this type came out of Iraq and Afghanistan.

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