((PKG))  MALE HAIR BRAIDER   
((VOA French to Africa)) 
((Banner:  Not Just for Women)) 
((Reporter/Camera:  Arzouma Kompaoré)) 
((Additional Camera:  Mariam Traoré)) 
((Adapted by:  Martin Secrest)) 
((Map:  Detroit, Michigan))    
((Main characters:  1 male))  
((Sub characters:  4 females)) 
 ((NATS:  Street))  
((Popup Banner:  Salian Kouyaté grew up in Mali.  He braids hair 
for women in Detroit))  
((Salian Kouyaté, Hair Braider (in French) ))  
My first love is the braid.  When I see a woman with braided hair, a 
beautiful hairstyle, I fall in love.  Like now, I'm in love with these 
braids.  They're well twisted.  They're beautiful.  So, when my 
client goes home today, the love that I feel in my heart will be the 
same love in the heart of her husband.   
((NATS:  Salon))  
((Salian Kouyaté, Hair Braider (in French) ))  
Braiding is my job and my life revolves around braids.  As soon as 
I touch someone's hair, I start braiding automatically.  While 
braiding, I think about my problems, the solutions, my future 
projects. 
((Popup Banner:  Kouyaté braided hair as a child in Bamako, 
Mali))  
((Djaka Damba Diarra, Salian’s Cousin (in French) ))  
He learned a lot during his childhood.  When our hair was not 
made, he was the one who would braid us. 
((Mame Sissoko, Salian’s Cousin (in French) ))  
At the time, there was a popular hairstyle called Kara in Bamako 
and everyone wanted Salian to braid their hair with this style. 
((Salian Kouyaté, Hair Braider (in French) ))  
At first, I was told that it was a curse for a boy to braid hair, which 
made me have some doubts.  Does my religion accept this 
profession?  I kept questioning myself even when I was learning 
how to braid and starting my own business. 
((NATS:  Salon))  
((Client, Woman #1 (in French) ))  
When he braids your hair, you can feel the love.  He’s not just 
doing your hair.  He’s making you look more beautiful. 
((NATS)) 
((Client, Woman #2))  
This is the first time I’ve had a man braid my hair.  When he said 
he’s going to braid my hair, I said, ‘Oh my God, I’m about to have a 
power drill on my head.’  But he’s more softer than it is when 
working with the women.  Because I have seen some mean 
women with their mean vice grips on top of my head.  I can’t even 
tell that he’s in my hair compared to the women.  Every time he did 
a braid, I touched the braid that he does and it actually feels 
perfect. 
((Rachara, Client))  
I’d say, it’s about 700 (dollars) a month.  So, it’s 700 times 12.  I 
spend a lot of money (laughs). 
((MUSIC/NATS))  
((Salian Kouyaté, Hair Braider (in French) ))  
This job is not just about the money.  It's about putting joy in 
people's hearts.  It's a positive energy that you can give to 
someone who is depressed.  It helped me learn about other 
people and other cultures.  Every time I braid, I discover 
something new. 
((NATS))  
((Christine, Supply Store Manager))  
Salian has been coming here for more than like 15 years actually.  
He’s kind of like family.  I don’t feel any hesitation.  I’m very 
confident in being able to send my customers over there and 
they’re going to be treated well.  He helps me, I help him.  Like, he 
tells me, ‘Christine, you’ve got to put this product because you 
know this works really well because sometimes we don’t know 
either. 
((NATS))  
((Salian Kouyaté, Hair Braider (in French) ))  
To my friends who laughed at me when I was little, I would like to 
say to them today, ‘Your teasing encouraged me to be better.’   
The little boy has become a great hair braider.  My only advice to 
any parent or anyone, who sees someone doing something out of 
the ordinary, is to never make fun of them.  There are no foolish 
jobs.  There are only foolish people. 
((NATS))