New Children’s Book Celebrates the Beauty of Afro-textured Hair

Businesswoman and Trichologist Dr Kuda Leticia Mupawose has released her first book, There’s a Pencil In My Hair.

There’s A Pencil In My Hair is a beautifully illustrated children’s book, a response to an apartheid South African method of assessing whether a person has Afro-textured hair to define perceived racial lines, splitting existing communities.

Similar practices were commonplace in numerous parts of colonised Africa, making its relevance to all people of colour important.

In this book, Dr Kuda, follows the story of the young Princess Nia, who experiences this discriminatory practice, shedding some light on its far-reaching consequences.

The story explores her pain from exclusion until she meets Ama, a guardian of ancient African wisdom.

With the sparkle back in her eye, Princess Nia’s hope with pride and love for her hair is restored.

There’s A Pencil In My Hair is dramatically punctuated by bright, dramatic and emotionally contoured illustrations, the work of her son, Curtley.

“This book is dedicated to the resilient ones who have endured the injustice of the pencil test. I hope to provoke meaningful discussions on racial discrimination and identity struggles, ultimately fostering greater understanding and unity,” said Dr Kuda.

Dr Kuda is an accomplished entrepreneur and cosmetologist who owns a manufacturing company and manages hair loss clinics in South Africa and Zimbabwe. The business is spread into over 10 African countries, with the main operations based in Johannesburg and Harare African countries, with the main operations based in Johannesburg and Harare. She is responsible for the product formulation of Feso, a revolutionary African hair growth product that, whose paper on the product was published in 2022. The products were initially packaged for the broader commercial market and have been in use since January 2014.