More than a century ago, it is said that an Englishman, watching a young Ohemaa Yaa Asantewaa of Ejisu dance, referred to her as a “dancing crown.” Perhaps, in that moment, he was reminded of Queen Victoria’s regality and saw in Yaa Asantewaa’s rounded hairstyle a symbol of royal authority.
known as Dansinkran. credit: me y3 asanteni/facebook
While the visual and oral histories more vividly remember an older Yaa Asantewaa wearing a purposeful low haircut as she defended the Ashanti kingdom, the idea of her youthful image inspiring the name “Dansinkran” continues to echo through time.
Hair As History: How West African Societies Communicate Identity
In West Africa, hair has always spoken volumes. Tharps and Byrd (2001) point out that as early as the 15th century, hair conveyed everything from age and marital status to rank and ethnicity. Across Akan communities, that tradition has never faded. Hair still operates as a powerful visual statement, carrying messages about one’s role in the society.
Dansinkran fits squarely into this cultural narrative. Historically worn by queen mothers and senior women during significant events, the style’s distinctive rounded form and jet-black finish marked a woman’s authority and position in society. Though some European observers allegedly likened it to crowns of their own monarchs, its symbolic power was always ingrained in Akan traditions, denoting dignity, strength, and respected leadership.
A Look at the Dansinkran Hairstyle
The process behind the Dansinkran style is as symbolic as the finished look itself. The sides of the head are shaved clean, leaving a central patch of hair sculpted into an oval shape, a form said to echo sacred and ceremonial vessels in Akan life.
But it’s not only the shape that matters. The hair is carefully treated with a mixture of charcoal, soot collected from cooking pots or fire lamps, and shea butter. This blend gives the crown a gleaming black appearance and, according to tradition, enhances cognitive clarity and cleanses the scalp.
The hairstyle’s simplicity elevates the wearer’s facial features, allowing her natural beauty and wisdom to command attention. During important ceremonies like durbars, queen mothers wearing Dansinkran are traditionally discouraged from accessorizing with earrings, a practice that keeps all focus on their regal presentation.
Accompanying the hairstyle is a carefully wrapped ensemble of cloth, requiring between six and twelve yards, each fold and drape adding to the stature and solemnity of the appearance.
A Style for Every Stage: Dansinkran’s Many Roles
Dansinkran is worn across different occasions, always carrying heavy cultural significance. It is a visual symbol of political leadership, religious devotion, and social prestige. Queen mothers and other senior women wear it to underscore their authority, signaling their positions as pillars of the community.
The current Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, is often seen wearing the Dansinkran, her image reinforcing the style’s continuing association with regal dignity and matriarchal power in modern Akan leadership.
It also holds a special place in ceremonies honoring the dead. When a king or queen passes, it is tradition that only women adorned with the Dansinkran hairstyle may walk past the deceased. Those without it must remain respectfully at a distance. The practice reflects the hairstyle’s sacred role in funeral rites, linking the living to their ancestors and affirming the cyclical nature of leadership and legacy.
For instance, during the burial rites of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, in November 2017, Dansinkran stood out vividly. The weeklong ceremonies became a rich display of Asante and Ghanaian culture, with the hairstyle taking a prominent and symbolic role among mourners.
At weddings, durbars, festivals, and other significant gatherings, Dansinkran continues to play a key role, a reminder that tradition lives in each carefully prepared style.
Dansinkran in Modern Times
Even as Akan society evolves, Dansinkran holds its place. Traditional brides often wear a modern interpretation of the hairstyle when meeting their husbands and in-laws, sometimes choosing head coverings styled to mimic the classic form instead of shaving their hair completely.
Among younger generations, a popular twist known as “Sweat” has emerged. This unisex style keeps the recognizable Dansinkran shape but skips the charcoal and soot treatment. Sweat has found a comfortable spot in everyday fashion, proving that even in modernization, echoes of tradition remain strong.
The Healing Power of Dansinkran
Dansinkran is valued for more than its visual impact. The charcoal used in the hairstyle is believed to detoxify the scalp and sharpen mental focus. This traditional practice inculcates aesthetic beauty with health-conscious care, offering both a polished look and cognitive benefits.
This blend of wellness and style underscores the Akan understanding that true beauty and vitality begin from within.
A Mark of Class and Wisdom
Perhaps most significantly, Dansinkran serves as a visual cue of maturity and elevated social class. In Akan communities, wearing the hairstyle signifies that one has attained a respected status, either through age or achievement.
The Dansinkran hairstyle itself is often enough to signify a woman’s royal status and dignity, even without the need for additional adornments like rings or jewelry.
In periods of mourning, queen mothers shave their heads and don the Dansinkran style, reinforcing community respect for those who have departed and renewing their commitment to leadership traditions.
Decades may pass, but Dansinkran remains a vital thread connecting Akan people to their history. Queen mothers, traditional brides, and even modern fashion enthusiasts continue to celebrate its meaning.
The style’s endurance serves as a daily reminder of resilience, pride, and an unbroken cultural lineage that refuses to be forgotten.
