The story of Rachel Kwarteng’s documentary
Passionate filmmaker Rachel Kwarteng presents her first documentary entitled “Cheveux Afro” in 2024. Through this work, she explores the hair history of 19 black and mixed-race women, highlighting the social and political dimensions of their journeys. This documentary series, broadcast on TV5 Monde+, represents the culmination of five years’ hard work.
It all began in 2017, when Rachel discovered her passion for documentary filmmaking. After an internship that revealed the world of documentaries to her, she decided to go into this field. Although she didn’t initially have the idea for “Cheveux Afro”, she already had the desire to tell stories.
The subject of Afro hair
Her subject was inspired by personal experience. She’d had enough of straightening after a bad experience that burned her scalp. She began to wonder: why do so many women straighten their hair? Why do they then decide to stop? As she explored these questions, she realized that straightening goes beyond a simple hair routine. It’s part of a wider social, political and economic context.
Convinced that there was a story to be told, Rachel turned to several production companies. However, despite her determination, she faced rejection and abandonment. But her determination remained intact. After months of searching, she finally met Guisse, the producer who believed in her project. Together, they created a pilot which they submitted to several channels. TV5 Monde was the first to approve the project, and the documentary finally saw the light of day.
A 100% black cast
Between 2019 and 2024, Rachel devotes her time to making *Cheveux Afro*. The process is long, largely due to the difficulties of finding partners willing to support a project focused on black women. Yet she insists on maintaining control over the vision of her documentary. She insists that the testimonies come directly from these women, and that black experts shed light on the subjects covered.
The project’s originality also lies in the choice of a 100% black cast, a decision that initially worried her. Rachel feared it would limit the support of TV networks, but she persisted. Today, she’s proud to have stood her ground. The documentary reflects exactly what she had in mind from the start.
In short, Rachel Kwarteng uses her documentary as a platform to give a voice to black and mixed-race women. She shows how the issue of Afro hair is much more than a matter of style. It’s a question of society, politics and identity. *Afro Hair* is an initiative that will undoubtedly pave the way for others of its kind.
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