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The LOCnificent Festival, a two-day Brooklyn event showcasing locs, Black hair and African diaspora culture, was a celebration filled with dancing, hair demonstrations, live performances and a seminar.
The sixth annual festival, with the theme Diaspora Connections, commenced on Thursday, Oct. 3 with a panel discussion and mixer. Titled Pathway to Our Roots and HAIRitage, speakers included Dr. Tsedale Melaku, a sociologist and assistant professor of Management at the Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College (CUNY); Dr. Ayo Sekai, publisher of UWP Books; Crystal S. Roman, founder, chief executive officer and head writer and producer of the Black Latina Movement; Taliah Waajid, a stylist, cosmetologist and founder of Taliah Waajid Brand, World Natural Hair Show, and Uncle Jimmy Products; Zenda Walker, an author, hair stylist and founder of the consultancy Know Your Hairitage; and Jessyca Marshall, licensed social worker, therapist, natural hair entrepreneur and Microlocs brand creator.
Marshall, who is also the author of the book The Microloc Standards: The Comprehensive Guide to Microlocs, shared some of her origin story as the creator of microlocs in 2009. She said her favorite part of her hair journey is the freedom and feeling like she was able to have the hair health that I’ve always desired, but couldn’t achieve when it was loose.
"I love the strength my hair has now through life’s changes," Marshall said.
Thando Kafele, a long-time loctician, talked about hair from a cultural and race perspective.
“It is very hard for a group of people who were once owned to grasp the concept of owning anything," Kafele said. "I never went to cosmetology school because I wasn’t asking other people for permission to do what I culturally do. Black people are buying hair and other people are buying real estate. We are in a state of emergency and we have to own the things that are culturally ours.”
He also said traditional cosmetology school, and what is taught there, isn't for Black folks.
“The institution of cosmetology school is the reason why Black women don’t have hair today. Cosmetology has never supported Black people and it has never supported Black hair. They only include Black hair if it is colored or has chemicals. I don’t want to see my sisters with European hair. This industry needs to change and shift, but this industry does not make space for truth tellers," he said.
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The festivities continued on Sunday, Oct. 6, at the Crown Hill Theatre on Nostrand Avenue in Crown Heights. It was a celebration filled with dancing, hair demonstrations and live music performances highlighted by drummer Cornelio Joseph, the Julliard-trained musician who appeared on Season 19 of America’s Got Talent.
The vibes were high as DJs Blu Fiya, Drama and Khalil kept the attendees moving throughout the multi-level venue. Whether shopping with vendors, sitting for hairstylists, or sipping drinks at the bar, the talk of culture and connection was everywhere. The audience was a mixed of ethnicities, which reflected the African diaspora of the city.
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Glitterati, the MC for the show, stalked the stage telling the audience “Let’s keep our dollars in our community,” which received a big round of applause.
The bond of culture and hair was visible and the festival felt very much like a family get-together.
“I love celebrating us and to be in a space that's filled with positivity, beauty," said Lovaeta K. Amoako, the festival founder and chief executive officer. "And when we amplify not only us as a people but our businesses and our hair, we fight the negative connotations and misconceptions."
