Beyond conventional ideals, this piece unveils how traditional African beauty practices affirm the Black woman’s inherent divinity and profound sacred femininity.
What comes to mind when you think of God? Do you automatically envision an omnipotent, omnipresent white-bearded man, haloed and robed in white? Or perhaps Jesus, with the silky, honey-blonde locks and heart-piercing fingers so frequently depicted in Catholic imagery?
For many, these deeply ingrained, patriarchal, and often Caucasian representations of the divine are the default. This is precisely why the concept of God as a Black woman may strike some as radical, even heretical. Yet, for countless African cultures and diasporic communities, the divine feminine has always worn the complexion of the earth, embodying strength, creativity, and profound spiritual wisdom.
This article argues that the essence of God is deeply connected to the Black woman, a truth expressed through traditional African beauty practices despite marginalisation. These are not mere superficial adornments, but sacred rituals and living prayers, through which African women have consistently reconnected with and affirmed their identity, lineage, and a profound connection to the divine.
From the intricate artistry of braided hair to the symbolic language of body adornment, these practices are vital expressions of a theology where the Black woman is not just a worshipper, but a manifest deity, embodying divine femininity despite historical attempts to diminish her sacredness.
Historical and spiritual foundations: The Divine feminine in African cosmology
Long before the imposition of Abrahamic religions, African spiritual cosmologies were vibrant with powerful female deities, creators, and nurturers. Across the continent, they revered the divine feminine as the wellspring of life, wisdom, and cosmic balance.
In ancient Kemet (Egypt), Isis stood as the ultimate divine mother, a goddess of magic, healing, and resurrection whose influence extended far beyond the Nile Valley. The Yoruba pantheon reveres Orishas like Yemoja, the primordial mother of the waters, associated with fertility, compassion, and nurturing life, and Oshun, the goddess of love, beauty, wealth, and sweet waters, whose vibrant energy inspires creativity and sensuality. Further west, the Fon people of Dahomey worshipped Nana Buluku, the supreme creatrix and grandmother of all deities, embodying ancient wisdom and the very origin of existence.
And in my own Ijaw culture, our supreme creator is a goddess named Woyengi — or Woyingi. Revered as “The Great Mother,” we regard her as the ultimate source of humanity, having moulded the first humans from earth and breathed life into them. Uniquely, Woyengi is said to have granted humans the profound ability to choose their own destinies — their gender, their life paths, and even their manner of death — choices that once made, are immutable. These figures were not abstract concepts; they were living forces, their attributes reflected in the everyday lives and customs of the people.
Indeed, many pre-colonial African societies exhibited strong matriarchal or matrilineal structures, where women held significant political, economic, and spiritual authority. The respect afforded to queens, queen mothers, and female leaders underscored a societal reverence for the feminine principle, seeing women as conduits for ancestral wisdom and community prosperity. However, colonialism and subsequent evangelisation systematically eroded these indigenous beliefs. Traditional spiritual practices, including the beauty rituals linked to them, were often demonised, deemed “pagan” or “unsophisticated,” leading to a profound suppression and devaluation of Black femininity in favour of Eurocentric ideals.
This systemic erosion of indigenous beliefs, however, did more than just suppress practices; it represented a profound sacrifice of the divine feminine principle itself. The vibrant, holistic expressions of feminine power, once revered as central to creation and balance, were systematically fragmented and demonised. What remains are echoes of divine femininity—scattered truths, half-remembered stories, and intuitive yearnings that we, as descendants of rich traditions, must piece together. It is a sacred endeavour, a journey of reclamation to restore balance not only within our spiritual understanding but also within our societies and ourselves.
Read also: The sacred adornment: A spiritual history of jewellery in African culture
Embodied divinity: African beauty practices as spiritual rituals
Despite centuries of suppression, the spiritual essence of African beauty practices endured, passed down through generations. These practices are not about conforming to external standards, but about embodying inner divinity and affirming cultural heritage.
Hair: Crowns of connection and power
In many African traditions, hair transcends its biological function, serving as a profound spiritual conduit. It’s a potent symbol of wisdom, identity, and status, establishing a direct connection to ancestors and the divine. This profound connection made hair not just an aesthetic choice but a living scripture of cultural narratives and spiritual power.
Each coil and strand holds ancestral memory, embodying the wisdom and strength passed down through generations. This reverence was intrinsically tied to the very nature of African hair—its unique coily and kinky textures, which lend themselves to the intricate styles that served as spiritual maps and cultural markers. The resilience and versatility of these textures were themselves seen as divine gifts, both beautiful and deeply meaningful.
The very act of caring for hair was, and remains, a sacred ritual. Intricate braiding patterns, cornrows, twists, and locs—each style meticulously crafted—often conveyed specific meanings, signifying age, marital status, tribal affiliation, or a particular spiritual state. For instance, people believed some patterns offer protection from malevolent spirits, while others adorned individuals during rites of passage to signify profound transformation. Beyond adornment, hair could also serve as a literal repository for spiritual power or protective elements. Women sometimes wove charms, herbs, or sacred objects into the hair, turning the head into a mobile altar or a shield against negative forces, underscoring its role in personal and communal well-being.
While often a communal ritual among women, specific styles and grooming practices also dictated roles for other genders, or signified particular life stages — from the shaved heads marking mourning or initiation, to elaborate coiffures indicating leadership or eldership, each strand woven with the narrative of a lived life. The communal act of braiding hair, typically performed by women within families or communities, fostered deep bonding, serving as an intergenerational classroom where oral histories and spiritual insights are woven into every plait. It’s an act of profound adoration, literally crowning the individual with a visible, living connection to their lineage and the cosmos, embodying the very essence of the divine feminine.
Today, the vibrant global natural hair movement stands as a powerful testament to this enduring legacy of the Black woman — a conscious act of resistance and reclamation, as descendants lovingly piece together these fractals, re-embracing their crowns as symbols of strength, heritage, and restored spiritual connection.
Skin and adornment: Canvas of cosmic expression
The skin, Africa’s living canvas, transcends mere biological function, serving as a profound conduit for inner beauty, spiritual purity, and an intrinsic communion with the earth and its elements. Traditional African dermatological practices, far from being simply hygienic, embody a sacred ethos of nourishment and protection. The ritualistic application of shea butter, black soap, and diverse natural oils transforms the body into a cherished vessel, imbued with reverence and care.
Historically, body scarification, body paint, and tattooing, though less ubiquitous today, were potent semiotic systems etched onto the skin. These intricate markings were not merely aesthetic; they functioned as indelible markers of identity, sacred talismans of spiritual initiation, and eloquent declarations of social standing. They imbued each line and curve with protective symbols, chronicling a person’s life journey or signifying an intimate bond with specific deities, thus transforming the individual into a walking narrative of cosmic connection. Similarly, body painting, utilising the earth’s own palette of natural pigments derived from plants and minerals, was a ritualistic art form. Applied during ceremonies, rites of passage, and to invoke spiritual blessings, these ephemeral masterpieces temporarily elevated the body to a state of heightened spiritual receptivity.
Adornment, too, holds profound spiritual resonance, extending beyond mere ornamentation. Waist beads, a ubiquitous and deeply cherished tradition across many West African cultures, are more than adornments of aesthetic appeal. They are potent symbols of femininity, fertility, sensuality, and spiritual protection, often bestowed at birth or during critical rites of passage, each bead carrying the silent prayers and intentions of generations. Necklaces, armlets, and anklets, meticulously crafted from beads, shells, and precious metals, similarly communicate a complex interplay of status, spiritual devotion, and an unbroken connection to ancestral energies. Through these adornments, our bodies transmute into a living, breathing testament of one’s heritage and a tangible manifestation of one’s deepest spiritual convictions, allowing the skin to speak volumes without uttering a single word.
Movement and expression: The divine dance
Traditional African worldviews often perceive the universe as a dynamic, interconnected system governed by rhythm. The polyrhythms inherent in African music and dance aren’t random; they mirror the complex rhythms of nature, the human heart, and the cosmos itself. The confident sway, the syncopated steps, the call-and-response between body and drum—these are more than just steps; they’re a conscious attunement to this universal rhythm, a physical manifestation of aligning with divine order. The dancer becomes a living conduit for these cosmic frequencies, expressing harmony and balance.
Many African traditional dances are deeply ritualistic, designed to induce a state of spiritual connection, sometimes even a trance. The repetitive movements, the hypnotic drumming, and the collective energy create an environment where the veil between the physical and spiritual realms thins. For the Black woman, this is a space where she can transcend the mundane, communicate with ancestors, receive guidance, and experience direct communion with deities. Her body becomes the vessel through which spirits manifest, blessings flow, and healing occurs. This isn’t performance; it’s invocation.
The emphasis on the hips in many West African dances isn’t coincidental. In many African cosmologies, the womb and hips are seen as centres of life, creation, fertility, and spiritual power. The rhythmic movement of the hips is a celebration of this creative force, an affirmation of life-giving energy, and a connection to the generative power of the divine feminine. It’s a reclamation of sensuality as sacred, not profane. This “embodied divinity” transcends ceremonial spaces and seeps into everyday life. The way a Black woman walks to the market, the way she carries her burdens with grace, the way she gestures in conversation—these seemingly mundane acts carry a subtle yet profound spiritual confidence. It’s an affirmation of her inherent worth and connection to something larger than herself, cultivated over centuries. It’s the understanding that the divine isn’t separate from her; it is her, animating every fibre of her being.
At the heart of this embodied expression is the concept of Àṣẹ, the life force, spiritual power, and inherent energy that enables things to exist and to come to pass. When a Black woman moves with grace, confidence, and rhythm, she isn’t just performing; she is actively expressing and channelling Àṣẹ. Her body becomes a dynamic conduit for this divine enabling power. The sway of her hips isn’t just self-love; it’s the creative energy of Àṣẹ flowing through her, manifesting her will and influencing her environment. Her dance is a powerful invocation, a living prayer that activates and directs Àṣẹ.
Furthermore, in Yoruba thought, Orí (the “inner head” or consciousness) is considered one’s spiritual intuition and destiny, chosen before birth. It’s the site of a person’s Àṣẹ and their essential nature. The way a Black woman carries herself—her posture, her confident gait—is a physical manifestation of her well-chosen Orí, aligning her with her predetermined destiny and purpose. It signifies a person who is in harmony with their inner self, who has cultivated ìwà pẹ̀lẹ́ (balanced character), and is actively working to actualise the blessings of their Orí. This embodied confidence isn’t arrogance; instead, it shows a spirit grounded in its divine blueprint. It demonstrates a profound understanding and acceptance of one’s spiritual path. When she moves, she carries and expresses not just her physical body, but her spiritual head and her destiny, all with reverence.
The Black woman’s embodied divinity, then, is a beautiful interplay of Àṣẹ and Orí. Her chosen Orí provides the blueprint and the potential for her life, while her conscious movements, infused with Àṣẹ, are how she actualises that potential. Her dances are not merely spiritual narratives; they are living testaments to her destiny being unfolded through the power of Àṣẹ. The rhythmic movements become a ritual of self-affirmation, a declaration to the universe that she is fully present in her power, fully aligned with her spiritual path, and actively co-creating her reality. This profound connection transforms her body into a sacred instrument, resonating with the cosmic rhythm and expressing a divinity that is both inherent and actively cultivated. She doesn’t just have divinity; she is divinity in motion, a force of nature empowered by ancestral wisdom and universal life force.
Reclaiming beauty: Decolonisation and spiritual activism
In the modern era, the embrace of traditional African beauty practices has become a powerful act of decolonisation and spiritual activism for Black women globally. This movement signifies a conscious rejection of centuries of Eurocentric beauty standards that often demonised their natural features and inherent aesthetics. Black women are actively reclaiming their heritage, transforming what were once symbols of perceived difference into emblems of profound self-acceptance and cultural pride.
The most visible manifestation of this reclamation is arguably the natural hair movement. Beyond a mere style choice, it’s a profound statement of liberation from oppressive beauty norms, celebrating the natural texture and versatility of Black hair. Similarly, the resurgence of traditional African prints in fashion isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about wearing one’s heritage with pride, connecting to ancestral artistry, and asserting a distinct cultural identity in global spaces.
The embrace of indigenous skincare remedies such as shea butter, black soap, and various natural oils moves beyond simple hygiene, representing a return to holistic, ancestral practices that nourish the body as a sacred vessel. These aren’t fleeting trends; they are profound statements of self-acceptance, cultural pride, and spiritual defiance against systems that sought to diminish their worth and disconnect them from their roots.
Furthermore, the integration of traditional African jewellery into everyday and high-fashion looks has gained significant traction. From elaborate beadwork necklaces and stacked bangles to intricate cowrie shell adornments, these pieces are more than just accessories. They embody spiritual significance, tell stories of lineage, status, and protection, and connect the wearer to ancestral energies. This complements a growing embrace of maximalism within Black women’s fashion and aesthetics. Moving away from minimalist trends, maximalism, when expressed through African-inspired aesthetics, celebrates boldness, vibrancy, and abundance. It allows for the layering of textures, colours, and patterns, mirroring the rich complexity and multi-faceted nature of African cultures and serving as another visual declaration of unapologetic self-expression and cultural pride.
This reclamation is an act of deep spiritual healing and resistance against anti-Black racism and misogynoir. By honouring their ancestral beauty practices, Black women are affirming their inherent divinity, challenging oppressive narratives, and rewriting the story of their own beauty. This movement acknowledges that beauty is not merely superficial but intrinsically linked to identity, spirituality, and well-being. It is a powerful form of self-love that directly counteracts historical attempts to devalue Black bodies and aesthetics.
The impact of this movement extends far beyond the Black community, inspiring a broader global conversation about beauty, identity, and cultural authenticity. It has sparked conversations about representation, diversity, and the ethical implications of the beauty industry.. This influence has opened doors for greater appreciation of diverse beauty forms and has encouraged individuals from various backgrounds to question and redefine conventional beauty standards.
Despite its empowering strides, this movement isn’t without its challenges. A significant concern is the unfortunate trend of cultural appropriation. This occurs when those outside the culture commodify elements of these sacred practices — often rich in spiritual and cultural significance — stripping them from their original context.This can lead to the trivialization of practices that are central to Black women’s identity and spiritual journey, transforming powerful symbols of resistance into mere fashion accessories without acknowledging their origins or meaning. This includes the appropriation of traditional hairstyles, prints, and even the aesthetic of maximalist adornment without understanding or respecting its cultural roots. It underscores the ongoing need for respectful engagement, cultural understanding, and the recognition of the profound heritage from which these practices emerge.
The embodied divinity of Black women: A spiritual reclamation
The journey through traditional African beauty practices reveals a profound truth: these are not merely external aesthetics, but deeply spiritual expressions. They embody a cosmology where the divine feminine is vibrant, powerful, and undeniably Black. From the sacred artistry of hair — each coil and braid a testament to heritage and resilience—to the symbolic language of adornment, where jewellery and maximalist expressions tell stories of lineage and protection, each practice is a testament to a spiritual heritage that recognises and celebrates the Black woman as a living manifestation of God.
The concept of “God as a Black Woman” is far more than a provocative statement; it is a powerful spiritual and cultural truth, rooted in ancient wisdom and resilient in the face of historical oppression. This affirmation counters centuries of erasure and devaluation, asserting a profound connection between the divine and the Black feminine form. As Black women continue to reclaim and celebrate their ancestral beauty, they are not only redefining global beauty standards but also reaffirming a profound spiritual legacy.
Their beauty, in its myriad forms — from the natural textures of their hair to the confident sway of their gait, infused with Àṣẹ (divine life force) and guided by Orí (destiny) — is a sacred prayer. It’s an act of powerful resistance against systems that sought to diminish their worth. It stands as an enduring testament to the divine, creative, and nurturing power inherent in the Black feminine spirit. It is a vital reminder that true divinity shines in all of creation, and in the enduring strength and beauty of the Black woman, we find a profound and inspiring reflection of the divine itself.
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