
Rastafarian Community’s Legal Victory Ends School Ban on Dreadlocks
The Rastafarian community has long faced discrimination in government schools due to their religious practice of keeping dreadlocks.
Alli Nansolo, a father from the community, grappled with the decision of whether to cut his son’s hair or fight against the unjust policy.
Unable to afford private education, he chose to take legal action against the Ministry of Education in Malawi, ultimately leading to a significant milestone for the Rastafarian community.
The decision, delivered by the Malawi High Court, marks a significant victory for the estimated 15,000-strong Rastafarian community in the country.
For years, the Rastafarian community in Malawi has been subjected to discrimination within the education system.
Although not legally required, an unwritten policy enforced across government schools denied admission to students with dreadlocks.
This policy led to Alli Nansolo’s son, Ishmael, being refused enrollment because of his hair which was an important symbol of their Rastafari religion. “I felt oppressed.” Nansolo said.
Nansolo, a dressmaker, was unable to afford private education, Nansolo decided to take legal action against the Ministry of Education, seeking justice for his son and other affected children.
“I went to the Women Lawyers Association of Malawi to ask for help. The association accepted and we went to court in November 2017,” he said.
Nansolo’s modest income as a dressmaker and the cultural significance of dreadlocks made cutting his son’s hair unthinkable.
Feeling oppressed by the state-run secondary school’s refusal to register Ishmael, Nansolo sought help from the Women Lawyers Association of Malawi.
In November 2017, legal action was initiated against the Ministry of Education by a group of parents, including Nansolo.
The court case dragged on for three years, leaving Ishmael without access to education.
In 2020, the Malawi High Court issued an interim order compelling public schools to enroll Rastafari children until a final ruling was reached.
This legal victory was a significant achievement for the estimated 15,000 Rastafarians in Malawi.
Parents were still required to present the court injunction to schools, forcing them to admit their children.
Chikondi Chijozi, the community’s lawyer, highlighted that the broader issue of discrimination remained unresolved for approximately 1,200 affected students.
“We saw a number of Rastafari children being admitted into government schools but there were still reported cases of children of Rastafari community being denied admission into government schools, and their parents were forced to take the court injunction to the school to compel them to admit them,” Chijozi said.
The ruling has been met with jubilation by the Rastafarian community in Malawi.
After a six-year legal battle, the Malawian High Court delivered a landmark ruling on May 8.
The court declared it unlawful to demand learners, including Rastafarian children, to cut their hair before enrolling in public schools.
The ruling took immediate effect, but the government had until June 30 to issue a nationwide statement mandating the acceptance of all dreadlocked children into school.
Alli Nansolo expressed his happiness that their children can now continue their education without being denied their right to education.
The judgment brings a sense of freedom, as private schools were financially inaccessible for many Rastafarian families.
Despite this legal victory, the Rastafarian community in Malawi still faces numerous challenges, including unemployment, poverty, and corporate discrimination.
Data on the community is limited, but it is estimated that Rastafarians, along with other religious groups, make up around 5.6 percent of Malawi’s population.
Many Rastafarians rely on self-employment and entrepreneurship due to the reluctance of corporate entities to hire them based on misconceptions associating Rastafarianism with criminality.
Rastafarian Community’s Legal Victory Ends School Ban on Dreadlocks