A Rastaman who has not cut his hair for 15 years, says his dreadlocks are the only source of his inspiration. Humbulani Kutama (42) of Ha-Tshikundamalema in Mutale says he would rather die than put a razor blade on his hair, a treasure that fills him with inspiration for his daily life.

"I believe this hair gives me power to approach life in a positive way. My courage, inspiration and energy all come from my dreadlocks and that is why I never think of cutting them," says the highly religious Rastaman who transports furniture in Chiawelo, Gauteng.

He says the only thing that makes his dreads last longer is the good care he takes of them. "I regularly wash them with soap or shampoo and allow them to get dry through sunlight, not by a hair dryer. I love my dreads so much that I don’t even allow them to grow without being monitored."

Although he is comfortable with his hair, Humbulani says there are people who still think that wearing dreadlocks simply means that one lives by smoking cannabis. "That is a wrong impression. Those who smoke dagga do it out of their own free will. Having dreadlocks does not automatically mean that one smokes dagga. Smoking dagga is a personal choice and does not have anything to do with dreadlocks."

Humbulani added that he converted into a Rastafarian when he attended a Rasta gathering 20 years ago. "It was a dub session and the guys were playing good music that moved with my bones. They were reading the Bible and sharing religious information that impressed me. I decided to join them and I read my Bible three times each day."