DID YOU KNOW?

Cornrows were used to help enslaved folks  escape slàvery?

Enslaved people used còrnrows to transfer infòrmation and create maps to the north.

Since enslaved people were not allowed to read or write they had to pass information through còrnrows.

It is believed to have originated in Còlombia, South America where Benkos Bioho, in the late 1500’s came up with the idea to have wòmen create maps & deliver messages through their cornrows. They were also called “canerows” to represent the sugarcane fields that slavès worked in.

One style had curved braids, tightly braided on their heads. The curved braids would represent the ròads they would use to èscape.

Also in their braids they kept gold and hid seeds which helped them survive after they escaped. They would use the seeds to plant crops once they were liberated.

Cornrows was the best way to not give back any suśpicion to the owner. He would never figure out such a hairstyle would mean they would ešcape or the route they would take.

Credit: HistoricalAfrica