Bald Black Girls Reign in Sutoyé’s Barbershop
A note on timing: I started writing this piece in April, 2019, as an assignment for Uni. Then my mum got sick and passed away, and everything was set aside. Earlier this year, I came back to this, and decided, despite the time that had passed, to finish it anyway. Then of course, to quote a friend 'a literal plague' happened. I did finish it, though, and finally, here it is. Bald Black Girls Reign in Sutoyé’s Barbershop words and images by Wasi Daniju 13 April 2020 “I think I was seeking a community, I didn’t know I would create one’. Ruth Sutoyé, artist and co-curator of Bald Black Girl(s). Installation view of Bald Black Girl(s) , 13 April 2019, Unit 5 Gallery, London. © Wasi Daniju The first time I shaved off all my hair 8 years ago, a male friend told me women only do this as a sign of mourning. My mother told me that in Islam, a shaved head was reserved for men. As for my own intentions - it was simply a liberation from the time and energy required to