Tanzania: government bans men from braiding hair
The government of Zanzibar, Tanzania has banned men from braiding their hair across the country.
A fine of 400$ (about F CFA 236, 000)and a 6-month jail term has been placed for anyone caught with braided hair who enters or resides in Zanzibar.
According to Zazibar’s Council of Arts, Film and Culture’s Executive Secretary, Omar Adam, the law is aimed at protecting their culture and tradition.
Speaking to the Zanzibar Broadcasting Cooperation on July 12, 2023, he stated that any man who wants permission to plait will be required to pay the sum of 1 million Tanzanian shillings ( about F CFA 240,1473) for the permit.
“Police will arrest all men who plait hair. This is not acceptable by the arts council and there is a special permit for plaiting hair which is Sh1 million, and we have set that price in order to deter them. Now it is your choice to either pay 1 million shillings to plait or buy a razor to shave,” he stated
He admits that many young persons in Zanzibar have had the habit of braiding their hair, which he deems to be against the traditions of the Zanzibari people.
“I don’t know if there is any father here in Zanzibar who will take his son to a hair salon. This is not the culture of Zanzibar and we as law enforcers must prevent this,” he stated in an interview with BBC Swahili.
The law is said to have been in existence since 2015 although not implemented.
