THE REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY OF DREADLOCKS

On this day, the British colonial state executed one of Kenya's greatest freedom fighters, but his revolutionary spirit lived on - even in his hair. Dedan Kimathi's dreadlocks were more than a hairstyle, they were a statement of defiance, a rejection of colonial domination and a symbol of African identity.

Today, dreadlocks are a common sight - in our homes, schools and places of work and worship.

It wasn't always this way, and it took persistence and patience to mainstream an authentic African hairstyle. Stigma around dreadlocks was informed by colonialism, and its effects were felt decades after independence. It took commitment to African identity to reclaim what was once demonised.