Dreadlocks are perceived as a connection to wisdom, and many believe that the head and hair are spiritual energy conductors. In Nigeria, children born with dreadlocks are believed and referred as gods with great strength and overall good health and wealth.
Yoruba people refer to children born with dreadlocks as “Dada“, while the Igbo refer to them as “Ezenwa” or “Elena”. For the Yorubas and Igbos, children with dada are spiritual beings because of their hair. They are known as children who bring wealth.
According to the Rasta views, the dreadlocks are believed to be a part of the Nazarite vows of Leviticus, which cautioned against shaving the head’s four corners. They are well celebrated and their hair can only be touched by their mothers.
In Nigeria, especially in the Southern and Eastern part of Nigeria, seeing a person walking down the street with dreadlocks isn’t a surprising thing. While it is worn as a fashion trend, there are those who are born with it or have groomed it from birth.
The symbol of these are cowries for both cultures. Therefore, for Prof Augustine Agwuele, to be dada is to be special. Their time here is also considered special and not evil. It is believed that their dreadlocks is spiritual and must not be tampered with.
Dada
It is for these people that the spiritual meaning of dreadlocks mostly applies. Children who are born this way are called “Dada.” And because of the spiritual significance, they sometimes have to live to a certain age before their hair can be cut. The right age can range from three to fifteen years. Sometimes, it is the child who either asks for the hair to be cut or left alone.
Dada
And why they are called gods with great strength and overall good health and wealth.
In Nigeria, whenever anything is linked with the spiritual, most times people view that thing a certain way. So it hasn’t been exactly easy for children and adults who were born with dreadlocks. They are seen as different, and not in a good way.
But what has helped the situation is that those who wear dreadlocks by choice have made it harder to know those who were born with it. To an extent, this has helped reduce the fear with which people who were born dada are viewed.
This article will focus on the spiritual meaning of dreadlocks, both religiously and traditionally.
There is a story in the bible about Samson and Delilah. Many Christians know this story. In this story, Samson’s strength is directly linked with the “seven locks on his head.” Samson lost his strength when his dreadlocks was cut.
dreadlocks (Dada)
And why they are called gods with great strength and overall good health and wealth. To
Additionally, there’s another part in Leviticus 21:5 that asks priests to not shave their heads. It reads: “They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in the flesh. This verse of the bible is why Rastafarians wear dreadlocks.
