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These Special Nigerian Children are Born with Natural Dreadlocks that Must Never be Shaved off
Children born in Nigeria with natural dreadlocks or are thought to have special spiritual and abilities. It is also believed that these children known as Dada in the Yoruba tribe are born with extraordinary intelligence and physical agility.
Some people believe that their special capabilities are inextricably linked to their hair therefore, the hair should never be cut or tampered with.
The people of the Igbo tribe call them “Elena” which means Child King. Dada children are often incredibly sensitive and they believe that cutting or combing a Dada child’s hair could cause serious illness.
There are also traditional rules that must be observed. Only the mother of a Dada child is permitted to touch his/her hair. If someone else other than the mother of the child touches the hair, they must compensate the child with money or attach a cowry ornament to the child’s hair.
Dada children are believed to be young gods, they are often offered at spiritual alters for chief priests to decide their fate. Some children end up become spiritual healers and serve at the shrine for the rest of their lives. However, most have their hair shaved before they reach puberty.
Shaving a Dada’s hair must take place before a special ritual performed by a chief priest. The hair is kept in a pot of water that contains potent herbs, the pot is retained by the parents of the child.
The liquid is utilized as a medicine when the child gets sick. Modern Dadas often have hair shaved by a Catholic priest instead of a chief priest. It is believed that if this ritual does not take place after shaving the child’s hair, he/she will die three days after having their hair is shaved.
These belief systems are often thought of as archaic in contemporary Nigeria. Some still harbour these beliefs about children born with dreadlocks however, some embrace it or cut it off.
