Some Nigerians have shared mixed opinions on the growing trend of young boys wearing earrings and braiding their hair, citing cultural and moral concerns.
They expressed their views on Thursday in Abuja, attributing the trend to global fashion, self-expression, and cultural shifts.
Some see the trend as a harmless display of youthful exuberance that may fade over time, while others believe it gives a negative perception of the individuals.
A civil servant, Mrs. Joy Ojo, said the trend was largely influenced by what young people watched and the fashion they saw online.
She stated: “Before now, boys didn’t braid their hair, wear dreadlocks, or earrings, but things have changed with foreign fashion trends influencing our youths.
“It’s the modern world, and fashion is everywhere.
“First impressions matter; if you dress in a certain way, people will judge you based on your appearance.
“Nowadays, even the police profile these young ones based on their looks, so there is a need for some adjustments.”
She added that many parents worry about societal perceptions of their children, noting that reputation mattered greatly in Nigeria.
According to her, any male with braids or earrings is easily tagged as irresponsible and quickly judged by appearance, although this may not always reflect reality.
Similarly, Mrs. Oluwafomilayo Ishola, a resident of Kuje, said the trend, which she said was common among Nigerian entertainers, sportsmen, and showbiz personalities, aligned with their professions.
“When you attend events, you see photographers, DJs, and cameramen with braided hair and earrings.
“For them, this fits their jobs. However, if someone outside these fields dresses this way, it immediately becomes questionable,” she said.
Ishola advised parents to remain watchful and guide their children away from associations that might attract criminality.
She also noted that it was safer to avoid appearances that could attract unnecessary attention from security operatives.
Isaac Aregbesola, a civil servant and resident of Gwagwalada, opined that the trend reflected what he described as “declining moral values.”
He said many young Nigerians copy Western fashion in the name of trends while abandoning African culture and its moral values.
“Wearing earrings, braids, or dreadlocks as a boy has not been part of Nigerian culture.
“We didn’t see this in the past until it started trending now and, unfortunately, it has become normalised. It is a decline in our moral values.”
Aregbesola also warned that young people who adopted such trends should be mindful that their appearance might expose them to security profiling, rejection, or misjudgment at important gatherings.
Another resident, Adamu Bawa, attributed the trend to peer pressure and online influences.
He said most young males who adopted the style tended to be associated with bad company or behaviours such as drug use.
“Believe it or not, most of these boys who dress like that in Karu move with people who smoke or sell drugs.
“Not all of them, but that is the picture many of us see. I think if you want to appear responsible to elders or potential employers, your appearance should first matter because people consider it heavily.”
However, Mrs. Angela Thandi, a resident of Kubwa, believed the trend was widely misunderstood.
She explained that many people, especially older residents, often assumed the worst about boys who followed those trends.
She said, “My mother, for example, believes anyone dressed like that is into ‘yahoo-yahoo’ and irresponsible, but it was one of these boys who once helped her carry her load from the market.
“I know many people, especially security operatives, perceive this trend negatively because when they see certain hairstyles or sagging trousers on young males, they assume the person is a criminal.
“They are young, and this is what’s in vogue for them at this time. People need to stop judging them from afar.”
Samuel Nnaji, a young adult with pierced ears and braided hair, said he loved the fashion trend because it attracted young girls who saw him as “a cute fellow.”
He said, “Girls like it, they like me like that, I love the attention.
“I don’t smoke or use illegal substances, but I drink alcohol at parties. It doesn’t mean I’m a bad person; I just love to look cute.”
Nnaji also said that although his parents had cautioned him about his appearance, he believed they had their own trendy days when they were young and free, and they should allow him to enjoy his time as well.
