“Wow, Ma,” Aunt Pat exclaimed, “I’ve never seen hair that just won’t cooperate with any oils or chemicals!” Aunt Pat was the best hairstylist in the little town of Zomba. Her salon signs proudly claimed, ‘We can transform the trickiest hair into Cinderella’s,’ but there was an exception this time.
Thandi sat quietly on the hard wooden stool listening secretly to their talk. As she looked into the mirror, her wide nose and full lips reflected back at her. When she touched her forehead, she realized that her hairline was missing, and it made her forehead seem even bigger. With a frown she whispered to herself, “Why can’t I have hair like everyone else?”
Thandi’s mother let out a sigh and gently ran her hand through Thandi’s clusters of hair. “I understand; it has been difficult. We have tried everything, but her hair just won’t grow.”
“Well, there’s only one solution…” the plump woman said, munching on some roasted maize non-stop.
Aunt Pat grabbed a loud shaver and began cutting. Thandi couldn’t help but scream when it was over. She walked out of the hair salon with a shiny, bald head that looked like a smooth egg. She really disliked her new look, feeling disheartened as Aunt Pat tried to comfort her, saying, “It will grow back soon!” But sadly, Thandi’s hair never grew back, not even a single strand.
Whenever she saw her older sisters’ beautiful long hair or her mother’s shiny black curls, she couldn’t help feeling jealous.”I wish I had hair like you, Mom.” She sobbed.
Her mother replied, “One day you’ll understand that real beauty comes from the inside.”
At school, Luntha would tease Thandi every day, mocking her by calling her “Miss Baldy.” With burning cheeks of embarrassment Thandi would hide under her desk during break time.
Thandi trudged home, enveloped in misery, when a paper flew and struck her face. Pink glittery words read, “The Hair Whisperer, for all your hair problems.” Hope flickered in her eyes. The back of the paper held a map to the Hair Whisperer’s location.
Thandi’s heart raced with anticipation as she followed the map to the hair whisperer’s dwelling deep within the woods. The trees whispered secrets, and the air was thick with the scent of nature. As she approached the tiny hut, she noticed the colourful strands of hair hanging from the branches, swaying in the breeze. Thandi’s eyes widened in awe.
She knocked on the door, and it creaked open, revealing a sight that made her gasp. The hut was bursting with hair of all colours and types. There were long golden locks cascading down the walls, vibrant red curls floating in mid-air, and even some wild purple strands coiling around the furniture. It was a mesmerizing sight.
And there, in the midst of this hair-filled haven, stood the hair whisperer herself—Gogo Kakawi. A short, old woman with a playful twinkle in her eyes. Her hands were adorned with intricate beaded bracelets, and upon her head, she wore a vibrant, multi-coloured chitenge, skillfully wrapped around her thick locks.
As Thandi entered, she couldn’t help but notice the creatures flitting around the room. They were the Gologolos, strange rainbow animals with hair of their own, singing harmoniously and creating a magical atmosphere.
Gogo Kakawi’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she looked at Thandi. “Ah, another soul seeking the secrets of hair,” she exclaimed, her voice melodious like a songbird. “I can sense your hair troubles, my dear. But fear not, for I have just the spell for you.”
Thandi’s eyes widened with curiosity as Gogo Kakawi handed her a small bottle filled with a shimmering liquid. “Apply this spell to your hair, and speak the magic words I’ll teach you before you go to bed. The enchantment will work its wonders while you sleep.”
Excitement and skepticism battled within Thandi’s mind as she thanked Gogo Kakawi and made her way home. That evening, after a hearty dinner, she followed the instructions diligently. She applied the spell to her hair, repeating the magic words: “Wavy-davy, hair so fly, grow long and high to touch the sky!”
As the sun rose the following morning, Thandi jerked awake. Her heart raced as she reached up to touch her hair, and to her amazement, her hand met with long, big, and bold kinky hair. It shimmered like a polished chestnut in the morning light, framing her face with newfound confidence.
Her classmates were amazed by her transformation. They marveled at her hair, reaching out their hands to touch it like they were petting a fluffy rabbit or a soft cloud. Thandi beamed with pride, feeling like a dazzling star.
However, as the days went by, Thandi realized that having long, huge hair wasn’t all fun and games. Her hair became an entangled maze with pins, twigs, and dirt stuck in it. Braiding and combing the stubborn knots made her skin pinch and her eyes twitch. She would spend hours scratching her scalp from the itchy hair oils and butter.
Thandi couldn’t bear it any longer. Frustrated, she made her way back to the hair whisperer’s hut, her shiny brown hair bouncing with each step. Gogo Kakawi greeted her with a knowing smile.
“I see you’ve had your taste of long, bold hair,” Gogo Kakawi said, her voice carrying a hint of laughter. “Sometimes, what we think we desire isn’t always what we truly need.”
Thandi sighed, her shoulders slumping. “I never thought it would be so difficult. I miss my old self. Can you make me bald again?”
Gogo Kakawi nodded sympathetically and began preparing a new spell. “Remember, my dear, it’s not about the length or appearance of your hair. True beauty lies in being comfortable and happy with who you are. Let this be a lesson for you.”
Thandi closed her eyes as Gogo Kakawi chanted the incantation, and when she opened them again, she found herself with a bare scalp. But this time, she felt a sense of relief and freedom, as if a weight had been lifted.
And so, with her newfound wisdom, Thandi returned to school with a huge smile on her face. Luntha and the other children’s eyes widened, their mouths dropped open as they looked at Thandi with surprise. But instead of mocking her, they admired her bravery and self-acceptance. Luntha even exclaimed, “Thandi, you’re as bold as a lioness! I wish I had your confidence.”
Thandi smiled, her eyes twinkling with gratitude. “Thank you, Luntha. True beauty comes from within, whether you have long hair or no hair at all.”
And as for Gogo Kakawi, she continued to work her hair-whispering magic, spreading smiles and lessons through her tiny hut in the woods, where the Gologolos sang their colourful tunes, and hair of all types found solace.
Glossary
Gogo: A word used to address an elderly person
Chitenge: A traditional cloth worn in Malawi and other parts of Africa
This Children’s Story emerged as the 2nd Place winner of the 2023 Wakini Kuria Prize for Children’s Literature
What a beautiful piece😍😍