Hair Decoration by Nicky Iginia

Hello. I’m Nicky Iginla. I was born in Nigeria but now live in Rochdale. The object you can see here is a traditional West African ceremonial hair tie. It is worn by the Yoruba people of South Nigeria at special occasions like weddings and other celebrations. It was made from cotton.

Wearing it is an important honour and generates respect from members of the community. I wore this hair tie at a Black History Month celebration at Rochdale Town Hall. Members of the local community were invited to attend the cultural event and wear clothing that showcased their different cultures.