Gabon: Meet Libreville's hairdressing family

In Libreville, Gabon’s capital, Mr. Time, an hairdresser has taught his children the craft. Aged 17, 15, 14 and 11 years for Chamfort, the last born of the children, hairdressing is now their passion, and they are now the nuts and bolts of their father’s hairdressing salon known as “the fingers of gold”.

To many this is being seen as a fine example that illustrates the saying: “To the souls nobly born, the value does not wait for the number of the years. The four children are committed to their inherited passion, which they acclaim to their father.

17-year-old Maeva Kanga Amouranga says: “We like the work we do. And since it was the job that our father was actually doing, we could saw that it was beautiful and we wanted to learn how to do it and to know what it means to do a job. To know how someone wins, how someone fights to have something. That’s why we learned it. We love the craft.”

And the example being set by the family is very appreciated by the clientele.

“It will be a pleasure for me to tell people, to even publicize some of our compatriots to come to this place, to come, see and appreciate the talents of these young Gabonese who are really very great,” says Sydoine Ndomba Baloa.

The four are all in school and besides the passion, hairdressing is their livelihood, which ensures that the continue with their schooling.

One of them a literature student in second year and the eldest says he is looking forward to the future in line with his career path, but without totally separating himself from his passion in hairdressing.

Chamfort Mingongue, 11, says: “I have been doing this job for 3 years. hairdressing helps me buy my school supplies but I would like to finish my studies because I would like to be work in customs later … because this job really impresses me and I have Uncles who are customs officers.”

At a time when the government of Gabon is encouraging its citizens to take a little more interest in small enterprises as almost all are taken up by expatriates, the Timé family is more than an example. These three sisters and their little brother still continue with their studies and to them, the sky is the only limit.