Alache Omalia Emakwei Ode (OBE) is from Benue State. She had her secondary education in Kaduna, obtaining a first degree from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria and Masters in International law and diplomacy at the University of Lagos Akoka.
She is an Officer of the Order of British Empire (OBE). She spent over 20 years in the UK where she worked in various capacities; including lecturing at a university. She was also involved in voluntary service in Mongolia. Upon return to Nigeria, she has worked as a print and electronic media practitioner, press secretary to a number of ministers and most recently as Technical Adviser to former National Planning Minister, Shamsudeen Usman.
In this chat with The Dream Daily’s Joseph Ugo, Aunty Alache, as she is fondly called by friends and family speaks about her strikingly unique waist-lenght long dreadlocks.
Is this a weavon on your Hair?
No, its my God-given Natural hair
You mean a black hair can be this long?
Well as you can see, it is 100% natural and I am a full blooded Nigerian. My parents are Idoma from Benue State here in Nigeria.
So How long have you kept the hair?
I started keeping it in 2006, that’s about 10 years now. I mean that’s when I started twisting it into dreadlocks. I have never been into “frying” my hair or using chemicals on my hair because I have always been allegic to all that. The best I did before then was have my hair cut.
Does that mean you still don’t use chemicals on it?
The only thing artificial that gets to my hair is shampoo. I don’t even use the dryer. I simply wash with shampoo and allow it dry naturally, which saves cost and help prevent breakage.
So how does the natural drying work?
Yea, for me it’s very simple to achieve. I wash mostly at night so it doesn’t disturb my day-time activities. Whenever I’m done washing it, I simply wrap a towel around it and by dawn it would have almost dried. So I just open it up for natural air to get to the scalp.
How often do you have to wash?
Not too frequently, it depends really on my schedule but say weekly or bi-weekly.
Does it have any adverse effect on you?
Except for the psychological implication, I think it has rather saved my life. I say so because if I were to be using the chemicals, I know the effect would have been devastating on me.
What do you mean by phychological implication?
Actually there’s a lot that happens when you carry your natural hair around here. Especially when I became an adviser to a minister. First is the superstitious belief about such persons having supernatural powers. But beyond that, most people just think you are either a rascal or at best a frustrated person who can’t afford the trendy styles. So they tend to discriminate against you on that basis.
So how did you deal with that for 10 years.?
The truth is that I already decided on it in the UK where it is very common among the black community.So when I returned and people kept harrassing me about it, I saw myself as a unique and proud African. I always asked them one question that they never answered.
Which is?
The question is how can my natural hair be termed satanic and yours which is contaminated with all sorts will now become Godly?
And that was where I drew my strenght.
But do you plan to cut it any time soon?
You may be surprised to hear that people have been coming to get it for a price.In fact, a hair dresser came to me with N250, 000 just to have half the lenght. But each time they come, I told them I can only cut it for a young cancer patient that may need it for wig but not for percunary reasons. I don’t want to sell my hair.
So finally, what is your advice for the younger generation on hair care?
My natural hair is my trademark, my pride and a proof that the black hair can be as long as you can imagine if only you can be patient enough to bear all the dscrimination that comes with keeping natural black hair. Some young people have approached me and I’ve been able to show them how to twist. Some beauty salons are also begining to specialize in twisting black natural hair. Its easy, cheap , healthy and the lenght you can achieve in a short time will amaze you.
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