VIDEO: Meet The Nigerian Entrepreneur Turning Banana Stems In Quality Hair Extensions That Improve The More It's Used

In a world overflowing with synthetic products and foreign imports, a revolutionary voice is rising from Nigeria—one rooted in Afrocentric pride, environmental consciousness, and sheer innovation. Meet Tare Robinson, a Nigerian entrepreneur redefining beauty and sustainability by turning what many consider waste into stunning, eco-friendly fashion pieces.

Through the stems of banana and plantain trees—materials often discarded without thought—Tare is crafting wigs, bags, shoes, and more. Yes, wigs. Not from someone else’s hair. Not from chemically-treated plastics. But from the strong, beautiful fibers of African soil. Her creations are not just eco-conscious; they’re a celebration of African ingenuity and a step toward economic independence.

This isn’t just about products—it’s about a movement.

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For decades, Black women across the globe have been pouring billions into industries that profit off the hair of others, often with little cultural respect or economic return. It’s time to ask: why are we wearing the hair of other women, when we could be empowering ourselves through our own?

Tare’s journey is proof that luxury doesn’t have to come from abroad. That African resources, when given value, can compete on a global scale. Her story reminds us that greatness can emerge from the smallest things, and that sustainability and Black pride can walk hand in hand. She is not the only enterprenuer working on this phenomenon. A Ugandan inventor and genius by the name of Kimani Muturi have managed to serve an alternative to the world. Kimani created a company in Kampala, Uganda, named TexFad, which turns these stems into fibers that can be used for rugs, mats, hair extensions, and more.

VIDEO: Ugandan CEO Kimani Muturi Uses Banana Trees To Create Green Alternative For Hair Weaves, Fabrics & More

Also another lady in Kenya by the name Assumpta Khasabuli, was once the mastermind behind a unique and eco-friendly alternative to synthetic hair extensions but will soon mysteriously disappear off the internet. She would use Sisal, a natural fiber traditionally used for ropes and mats, is now being transformed into stunning hair extensions, braids, and weaves.

VIDEO: Creative Kenyan Innovator Provides An Alternative To Buying Asian Hair By Turning Sisal Into Stylish Extensions

And then we also have Ciara Imani May, the visionary driving Rebundle, is on a mission to revolutionize the hair extension industry while putting the well-being of Black women and the environment at the forefront. Rebundle.co introduces plant-based hair extensions that offer a refreshing departure from synthetic and kanekalon hair alternatives.

Meet Ciara May, The Young Black Intellect Who Started Her Plant-Based Hair To Stop The Use Of Toxic Synthetic Extensions

With all these alternatives, it can only be mental illness that drives African women to buy hair from the head of women they’ve never met. Tare Robinson is calling on Nigerians—both at home and in the diaspora—to rise with her. To stop importing their identity and start building with what is already in their hands.

So the next time you think about buying a wig or a handbag, pause. Ask yourself—is this empowering your people, your planet, or your pocket?

Support eco-friendly Afrocentric innovation. Support women like Tare Robinson. Because the future of African beauty doesn’t come in a box—it grows from the land, and it’s shaped by us.