Suki na ngai

Shabani looked in the mirror and touched his fluffy black hair. "Mama, why is my hair so big?" he asked with curious eyes. Mama smiled and ran her fingers through his soft curls. "Your hair grows up toward the sun because it's full of magic," she explained.

At preschool, a friend said Shabani's hair looked different. Shabani felt his tummy get tight and his smile disappear. On the way home, he was quiet, thinking about his big hair. "Papa, can we cut my hair short like yours?" he finally asked.

Papa sat Shabani on his lap and opened a photo album. "Look at these strong men with hair just like yours," Papa said proudly. Shabani saw musicians, athletes, and even Papa when he was younger with a big afro. "They look like superheroes!" Shabani whispered.

Mama sang softly as she washed Shabani's hair with special shampoo. She showed him how to use a wide-tooth comb to make his curls happy. "Taking care of your hair is a way to love yourself," Mama explained. Shabani liked how his hair felt soft and smelled like coconut.

Mamie visited and brought a beautiful cloth headwrap. "Our ancestors wore their hair proud and tall," she told Shabani while braiding his hair. "Your hair connects you to your history and your strength." Shabani sat very still, feeling important as Mamie's stories filled the room.

Shabani helped Mama gather coconut oil, shea butter, and colorful hair ties. The whole family gathered in the living room for hair care night. Papa oiled his short cut while Mama and Mamie styled their hair. "We take care of our crowns together," Papa said.

Shabani returned to preschool with his hair in neat puffs. "My hair grows up because it's magical," he told his friends with a big smile. His teacher asked him to share about his hairstyle with the class. Shabani stood tall and proud as he spoke.

"What does 'Suki na ngai' mean?" Shabani asked as Mamie taught him the words. "It means 'I like myself' in one of our family languages," she explained with a warm hug. Shabani touched his beautiful hair and repeated, "Suki na ngai." He truly meant it.