The man who says he styles the hair of former Mayor of Monrovia and current head of the General Services Agency Mary Broh goes by the single name, Lebongo. He identifies as a Rastafarian and is an avid cultural dancer who styles dreadlocks. The Bush Chicken interviewed Lebongo while he was styling the hair of another customer. The interview has been edited for clarity.  

How did you manage to get in touch with Mary Broh and do you talk politics when you’re styling her hair?

I got in touch with her because her husband knew one of my customers, who referred me. I’m currently her main hair stylist. Whenever her hair is due for styling, I do it.

When I’m styling her hair, I don’t talk politics because those people are all “Babylon” people. Yes, she’s a Rastafarian but there are many types. This hair that we have, Babylon people can put it on their hair too. Anyone can put it on their hair.

Do you consider yourself a Rastafarian? What are some unique things that you do as part of the Rasta lifestyle?

I am a Rasta. To be Rasta is a way of living. As long as you’re black, you can be a Rasta. It’s not a religion but rather it’s a way of life. Rasta stands for “Righteous African Stand Tall Alone.” Simply growing dreads does not make one a Rasta. In fact, you can be bald and be a Rasta.

Being a Rasta also means being firm in the African culture. As for me, I’m a cultural artist and I do a lot of cultural dancing. In fact, I used to dance for Friday the Cell Phone Man. A lot of my friends are also into the arts and do Afro dance.

There is a strong Rasta community in Liberia. We have many spots on Miami Beach and Success Beach where we go to hang out and be amongst each other. We also have some artists who perform on reggae nights.

A mural on a shack at Miami Beach, one of the local hangout spots for Monrovia’s Rastafarians. Photo: Jefferson Krua

Is Marijuana a part of Rasta culture? And do you smoke?

For me, if I don’t get high, I won’t be fine. I can’t be free. However, when I come to work for someone as I have today, I don’t get high because the work takes a lot of concentration. I smoke two times a day because I’m a busy man with a lot on my schedule during the day. In the morning after I wake up and take my shower, I get high. When I come from the hustle around 5 to 7 p.m., I smoke again. This is when I can enjoy the smoking.

I’ve encountered two types of weed in Liberia. You have the one that’s been processed and you have the country weed. For me, it’s all good. As long as it’s weed, it’s good to me. The “Sassmo,” which is processed and often from the Gambia and Jamaica, is stronger and comes at a higher price.

Do your customers suspect that you smoke?

Only a few do. Some of them know I’m a rasta and arrive at that conclusion. For me, I’m not ashamed of it. It’s not something I hide. If you ask me if I smoke, I will say yes but marijuana is still consumed very much in secret in Liberia because we haven’t legalized weed yet.

Lebongo styles the hair of a customer. Photo: Jefferson Krua

How many customers do you have?

In Liberia, there are not too many people who have dreads. Because of this, I only get about three customers in a month. I also usually tell my customers to let their hair grow for four months before restyling it so that affects the number I get monthly. It’s important to do that because it helps the hair so that it doesn’t become easily loose at the roots. I am very careful with my customers’ hair and I don’t use any chemicals except for people who are just starting out. Even then, I only use styling gel and black peppermint candy. There are a few others who style dreads but a lot of them don’t know how to do it properly. If you go to the Red Light Market in Paynesville, you will can see a lot of them doing the hair on the side.

For me, I don’t do much outreach but new customers find out about me by word of mouth. You see how I’m fixing this woman’s hair? She’ll go on the street and someone will tell her, “Oh fine girl, your hair fine oh. Who fixed your hair?” And she’ll give them my number.

Lebongo styling his customer’s hair. Photo: Jefferson Krua

How long have you been growing your own hair?

This is my third time growing my dreads after cutting it, but I was around three years old when I started growing dreads. The current one dread I have on my hair has been there for over one year. Over time, I’ve cut my hair for various reasons. The first time, my mother had passed away and it was part of my grieving process. The second time, I was involved in an accident and they cut it at the hospital. Nowadays, when I cut my hair, I get sick.

Who’s your favorite music artist?

I love Lucky Dube but my favorite Liberian reggae artist is Ras Tito. He doesn’t do ragga anymore but direct conscious reggae.