After President Lazarus Chakwera appointed lawyer Dr. Chikosa Silungwe as Malawi’s Attorney General, he has been the topic in most of African websites over his dread-rocked hairstyle.
Silungwe was lead lawyer for the state vice president Saulos Chilima in the fresh presidential elections in which Chilima and Chakwera were challenging Peter Mutharika’s presidency.
The courtroom mail of Nigeria wrote: “The new Attorney General of Malawi is trending on social media for challenging stereotypes.”
“The new Attorney General of Malawi, Dr Chikosa Silungwe PhD wears dreadlocks. That is the subject of the debate amongst African lawyers on social media at the moment. That is unusual for a lawyer but it is indeed a bold statement,” reads the article.
Kenya’s law-justice opera. com in a story titled: “Meet Dr Chikosa Silungwe the Dread locked New Malawi Attorney General” said with his trademark dreadlocks, Dr Chikosa has joined the league of African lawyers spoting fancy or unconventional hair and dressing styles to ascend to positions of the Attorney General or chief justice.
In Uganda The Guardian Wire admiring Silungwe’s hairstyle pointed out that dreadlocks were not part of the dress code for the legal professional in that country saying; “perhaps what is even more interesting, especially for our legal practice in Uganda, the new Attorney General has dreadlocks.
“A sight like his is rare in Uganda’s legal practice and is so deep rooted that even law students are not expected to have dreadlocks as part of their dress code.
“Even a long beard is prohibited at the centre. Now imagine dreadlocks,” the online paper quoted an anonymous student at Law Development Centre (LDC).
“As more and more distinguished lawyers like him continue to make statements in the world, maybe Uganda’s systems will start to appreciate that what matters is only the content of your brain,” wrote the student.
However, Silungwe has said he will maintain his hairdo despite accepting the offer.
