Libraries NI has a full programme of events taking place this week as part of the Turning Heads Project exploring the theme of hair as an important part of our identity, culture and expression.
On Tuesday 21 September, join Ulster University Lecturer Dr Leanne McCormick, from 12:30pm – 2:00pm via Zoom for a Women and hair: shame and punishment in Irish history talk. Dr Leanne McCormick will deliver a lecture on how cutting hair has been used to shame and punish women in the past with a focus on Magdalene Laundries in Ireland. This event may not be suitable for young children.
A very special panel event led by Beyond Skin in partnership with House of 4c Salon and Lush UK Belfast, Roots: An Afro-Caribbean Hair Conversation Q & A Panel Event will take place in Ormeau Road Library on Wednesday 22 September at 7:00pm.
Stephanie Laird-Arnold, a Community worker, artist and founder of ethnic minorities families club Jam ‘n’ Irè, Magne Raissa Makougang a Hair stylist at House of 4C Salon and musician Rwanda Shaw will make up the panel for the evening. During the discussion they will focus on the cultural significance, heritage, sensitivities, and social pressures around hair for people from Afro-Caribbean communities.
On Thursday 23 September from 12:30pm – 2:00pm, Dr Andrew Sneddon, lecturer at Ulster University will deliver a free Zoom event about The Supernatural History and Folklore of Hair, Magic, Charms, and “Superstition”. Dr Sneddon is a social and cultural historian, whose latest research explores Irish witchcraft, magic and the supernatural from the medieval to the modern period. He is the author of ‘Possessed by the Devil: the Real History of the Islandmagee Witches’ (2013) and ‘Witchcraft and Magic in Ireland’ (2015).
Also on Thursday 23 September, the whole family is invited to grab the hairbrush and sing along with singer Siobhan Brown and musician Rwanda Shaw for a Hair Brush! Singing Workshop from 7:00pm – 8:00pm via Zoom. As part of Good Relations Week 2021, Hair Brush! The Singing Workshop will focus on the cultural significance, heritage, sensitivities and social pressures of hair for people from African and Caribbean communities or of African descent.
In this fun but powerful virtual workshop Siobhan Brown (Singer, radio presenter, founder of Manukahunney & Cairde Community Choir) and Rwanda Shaw (Musician & Songwriter) will talk about how to overcome fears, peer pressure and cultural differences while learning how to show the world your authentic self. Those attending under 18 must be accompanied online by parent/guardian/youth leader
Finishing the week is a fascinating talk by Dr Declan McKenna, Ulster University on Ginger Genetics: a celebration of red hair taking place via Zoom on Friday
24 September from 12:30pm – 2:00pm. Dr McKenna will discuss the ‘ginger gene’, explaining how it affects hair colour and why it is so common in Northern Ireland. He will explore the cultural significance of red hair throughout human history, discuss ‘gingerism’ and explain why red hair is now an object of desire.
All Turning Heads events are free to attend, simply visit www.librariesni.org.uk to secure your place.