The History of Locs

There is a biblical story of a man with locs his name was Samson. Samson was called upon the lord to free the Israelites from the Philistines. Samson was given great strength to fulfill the task. As long as Samson obeyed the lord and did not cut his hair he would continue to be blessed and strong. Samson told someone of where is strength came from. In the middle of the night Samsons locs were cut off. He was then turned over to his Philistine enemies. While captured Samsons hair begins to grow. Samson was taken into a temple where he ask God for his strength back. His wish was granted and Samson tore down the pillars bringing down the temple killing himself and the Philistines.

The is no real origin of locs. You can defiantly see locs being depicted with Egyptian carvings in tombs. There have been mummies found with locs still attached to their heads. In the Indian culture you can see Shiva represented with locs on their head. Its most likely safe to say locs have been around since the beginning of time. Locs were worn by warriors in Kenya and as a hairstyle in ancient Kemet and Nubia.

In 1930 a man named Tafari Makonne aka Ras Tafari later crowned Emperor Halie Selassie 1 of Ethiopia wore locs. From the teachings of Macus Garvey Emperor Halie Selassie was seen by many as the second coming of Jesus. Emperor Halie Selassie claimed to be a decendent of King David. Garvey's teachings of an African man being crowned king in Africa came true. This lead to the creation of the RasTafari movement as people began to follow Emperor Halie Selassie teachings. Leonard P Howell and others began to spread the word of the second coming and those people who followed theses teaching called themselves Rastafari's. The religious movement was started and its followers wore there hair like the Emperor. When Emperor Halie Selassie 1 was cast out, Rastafarians decided they would not cut their locs until he was free.

“Garvey stated, ‘Look to Africa where a black king shall be crowned, he shall be the Redeemer.’”

“In the Bible, Jesus will return as the Lion of Judah, so Rastafarians wore dreadlocks to symbolize a lion’s mane and the return of a powerful leader.”