The Salooni to debut at the Africa Utopia Festival

Images copyright: The Salooni. Photographer: Darlyne Komukama

Salooni, the Ugandan pop-up hair salon and art installation that explores the politics woven through and straightened out of black hair, will be bringing their special brand of black hairstyle politics to the Africa Utopia Festival at the Southbank Centre. 

‘Salooni’ is Ugandan for salon and was set up by four female Ugandan artists; Kampire Bahana, Darlyne Komukama, Aida Mbowa and Gloria Wavamunno to create a safe space for African women to love their hair.

Salooni events are usually interspersed with silent or spoken theatrical performances: short film, art, performances, theatre and photography, exploring the ways in which historical memory and modes of being are weaved into the nap of black people’s hair. They sometimes invite visitors to sit down for a free massage, hair play or in some cases, a big chop. 

Africa Utopia returns to Southbank Centre for its fifth year, from 15-16 July 2017, with a line-up of some of the most exciting musicians, artists, performers and thinkers from across Africa and its diaspora. This vibrant weekend explores Africa’s lead in shaping the way we think about culture, gender, race, sexuality, fashion, activism and society.

Instagram: @thesalooni
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