Zanzibar Advocate Faults Ban on Youth Hair Braids

Zanzibar this week passed a special law that prohibits men from braiding their hair. The executive secretary of the Council of Arts, Film, and Culture was quoted as saying that any man caught with braided hair would face a fine of 1 million Shillings (about $400) and six months imprisonment. However, a day after, the island’s minister of information clarified that the ban only applies to Zanzibari youth. Natasha Issa,Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) fellow focusing on inclusion and advocacy, tells VOA’s James Butty, the directive is an example of Zanzibar not wanting to deal with its problem of youth unemployment.