Description:
Unfortunately, not much is known about the photographer Diby Yao Christophe, but his photo book, Du twist à cocody, ou l'art de la natte, is an amazing document of hairstyles from the Ivory Coast of the 1970s.This very scarce book was made between April 1970 and June 1972, in collaboration with the Institut d'Ethno-Sociologie
in Abidjan, which was at the time of publication the capital of the Ivory Coast. Interestingly, the book was published in French and English, by the French publisher Éditions Dalfoz, in 1972, translated by Timothy and Kathryn Weiskel.
Christophe ends his book with this very powerful statement:
"Why do some of our stylish women prefere [sic] bleached hair or wigs to genuine African creations? One's real hair, in my opinion, is worth more than faked hair, and an art evolved over time is always better than imported styles of others. I meet many of you who pretend to be European, trying to dress and act like white women.
Oh, my Black Sisters, why are you trying to forget… Read More
