The centuries-old Shekere or as the Yoruba’s in Nigeria will call it Ṣẹ̀kẹ̀rẹ̀ is a West African percussion instrument consisting of a dried gourd with beads or cowries woven into a net covering the gourd. The instrument is common in West Africa traditions, particularly in rural areas. It is used mainly during, celebrations, ceremonies, festivals, it is shaken and/or hit against the hands to produce a unique sound for music.
As seen in the image, the talented braid stylist Shani Crowe produced this hairstyle on the young lady, which has been influenced by the Shekere instrument.
Shani is an interdisciplinary artist from Chicago’s south side. The product of an Art rich, Afrocentric upbringing, Shani creates work that is centered on keeping the proverbial flame of cultural coiffure, adornment, and beauty ritual, as they relate to the diasporic African.
She seeks to connect with people through her artistic practice to convey a message of love, cultural identity and Black unity.
hands to produce a unique sound for music.
Throughout the African continent, there are similar gourd/bead or gourd/seed percussion instruments. Some are the lilolo, axatse (Ghana), djabara (Guinea), ushàkà, chequere and saa saa (Liberia).
The agbe is a gourd drum with cowrie shells and is usually strung with white cotton thread. The axatse is a small gourd, held by the neck and percussed between hand and leg. In Liberia, the net has a long “tail” through which the beads are manipulated.
“Suntrust”, Braids Hairstyle by the talented braid stylist Shani Crowe, accessorized with cowries. Shani creates work that is centered on keeping the proverbial flame of cultural coiffure, adornment, and beauty ritual, relating to Africans in the diaspora. This hairstyle is influenced by the North African and East African hairstyles worn by the Dinka and Mursi Tribes for example – were signs of prestige & Honor but today worn quite casually yet as a source of expression, spirituality and cultural identity.
The centuries-old Suntrust hairstyle is a source of expression, spirituality and cultural identity. Braids are the oldest form of art that is part of tribal customs. It traces back to ancient times. Every region and tribe in Africa has its own distinct style of hair braiding.
Find Shani Crowe here on Instagram: @crowezilla
