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Outlook: Why I twist my hair into sculptures

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Laetitia Ky with hair in the style of Medusa

13/02/2024 GMT

Why I twist my hair into sculptures

BBC World Service - Outlook, Why I twist my hair into sculptures

How Ivorian artist Laetitia Ky found power in her hair styles

Laetitia Ky is known for her hair sculptures. But as a teenager she was bullied and had an eating disorder. On her road to recovery, she discovered her hair could be powerful.

Extraordinary sculptures made out of hair are the unusual medium of Ivorian artist Laetitia Ky. Her creations sit on top of her head and communicate stories, jokes and messages that tackle taboo topics. She has paid homage to Medusa, with hair coiled into zig-zag snakes and even made a hand from hair, holding a phone primed to take a selfie. But Laetitia did not always have the best relationship with her hair, or herself. As a teenager she struggled with an eating disorder and she was bullied at school. But on her road to recovery she discovered stories about ancestral African hair, which helped her to love her roots and herself.   

Kakuma Sound is a musical collective made up of refugees, which was founded in one of Africa's oldest and largest refugee settlements in Kenya. Many of the camp's residents have lost not only their homes, but also cultural traditions from their respective countries of origin. The group was created to bring people together and help them reconnect with their heritage through music - Felicien, Taylor, Treynor and Mark share how their ambition took the collective to the international stage.

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
 
(Photo: Laetitia Ky with hair in the style of Medusa; Credit: Laetitia Ky)

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