Densinkran is the
hairstyle
A hairstyle, hairdo, haircut or coiffure refers to the styling of hair, usually on the human scalp. Sometimes, this could also mean an editing of facial or body hair. The fashioning of hair can be considered an aspect of personal groomin ...
worn by queen mothers and women of the
Ashanti people
The Asante, also known as Ashanti () are part of the Akan ethnic group and are native to the Ashanti Region of modern-day Ghana. Asantes are the last group to emerge out of the various Akan civilisations. Twi is spoken by over nine million Asante ...
in
Ghana
Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...
. It is a short cut and the edges of the head and hair are dyed with charcoal or black dye.
History
The Asantes were defeated by an alliance of the British with
Ga-Adangbe,
Fanti Fanti is an Italian surname. Notable people with this name include:
*Bartolomeo Fanti (1428–1495), beatified Italian Carmelite priest
*Fausto Fanti (1978–2014), Brazilian actor, comedian and musician
*Franco Fanti (1924–2007), Italian Olympic ...
,
Denkyira
Denkyira was a powerful nation of Akan people that existed before the 1620s, in what is now modern-day Ghana. Like all Akans, they originated from Bono state. Before 1620, Denkyira was called Agona. The ruler of the Denkyira was called Denkyirah ...
and Akyems at
Katamanso. The Densinkran was introduced to mourn the Asante dead in the
Katamanso.The name dubbed "Gyese Nkran" (except Akra) in local parlance vulgarized as Densinkran.
The only other women who wear this cut are elderly women and who are part of the royal family.The hair in African culture is very emotive and symbolic to identity.
Significance
It serves as hairstyle for royal identity
A funeral hairstyle
It communicates one status, rank and ethnic identity in a community
References
{{Reflist
Culture of the Ashanti Empire