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Transcription: [00:25:10]
{SPEAKER name="Phyllis May"}
Oh, We can start? Okay.
[00:25:15]
My name is Phyllis May, I'm a folklorist,
[00:25:20]
and we're talking about the continuity of traditions between African and Afro-American braiding traditions
[00:25:28]
in both the Old World and the New World.
[00:25:33]
With me on stage are some expert braiders.
[00:25:37]
On my right is Ms. Ernesteen Corvin.
[00:25:41]
She's a traditional braider who braids in the Afro-American conservative style.
[00:25:49]
The traditional conservative style- and that's large to medium-sized braids.
[00:25:53]
And she is also a professional cosmetologist
[00:26:00]
But she didn't learn her trade in cosmetology school.
[00:26:03]
She learned it from friends, and has brought her expertise into her professional salon.
[00:26:12]
She has a salon in Hyattsville, Maryland.
[00:26:16]
On my immediate left is Ms. Joyce Mombela,
[00:26:21]
and she is originally from Tanzania.
[00:26:24]
She braids in a traditional Tanzanian style,
[00:26:29]
and learned from her grandparents- her grandmother,
[00:26:36]
and braids in a traditional environment, which is the home
[00:26:42]
for family and friends.
[00:26:47]
Next to me is Ms. Fonna Smith
[00:26:49]
She also is a professional cosmetologist
[00:26:53]
and she has her salon here in Washington D.C
[00:26:57]
And she braids in the West Coast, that is California style.
[00:27:05]
Which is intricate braidings miniature braids
[00:27:09]
With intricate parting of the hair
[00:27:12]
And then the use of beads.
[00:27:15]
And what we're gonna talk about is the tradition, and how they learned
[00:27:20]
And different aspects of the tradition.
[00:27:24]
How braiding is used in Afro-American culture.