Halimatou's braids

On many places alongside the beach in The Gambia you find blue little stalls where you can buy fresh juices and fruit platters.

When you are taking a walk on the beach, all of a sudden you can be approached by an enthusiastic Gambian who hands you a laminated sheet with the menu of fruit and juices she offers. Also Halimatou and her colleagues have their place ate the beach, close to the hotel where we are staying. It doesn't take long before we order our daily fruit platter with her.

While waiting for the freshly prepared fruit I was chatting with her and her co-workers about girls stuff, my short haircut and at one point I made a compliment about the beautiful braids in their hair.

A co-worker came to me: “It is fake ya know!”

One after the other removed their braids and scarves from their heads. They all turned out to be wigs...I was shocked.

“No pictures please!” they said smiling and of course I respected that.

What I wasn't aware of is that there isn't a lot of hair on the skulls of many Gambian women. And many of them wear wigs the create themselves with hair and braids they buy at the Serrakunda Market down the street. Then they glue their wigs onto their heads.

I am convinced that when I did not make a compliment about their beautiful braids - something they find important as it is a part of their identity- they never would have shared with me the real story and even showed it to me. For me a lesson that making genuine compliments really can lead to connection.