SE | Shai from Ghana

From Ghana, the Shai use braiding as an important part in their rituals. This girl is about to presented as women, and is wearing an elaborate headdress called cheia. Made from hoops of cane wrapped in blackened cord, the headdress takes about 6 hours to complete and will remain in place for a week.

SE Shai State

Their original name is “Se” but due to pronunciation difficulties hundreds of years ago, the (occupying) Europeans changed the name from “Se” to “Shai.” As the Se are advancing into an era of peace, progress, and prosperity, they are returning to their roots and retiring the usage of the term Shai for the historically correct term, Se.