African women have different traditional hairstyles to celebrate different occasions.

Sadly, beauty and hairstyles will be the last thing on the minds of anybody fleeing their home countries due to crisis.

These Nigerian women were photographed in a variety of African hairstyles by award-winning Sicilian photographer, Salvatore Di Gregorio.

The women who reside in a female only refugee camp at Mirabella Imbaccari with 5000 other women fled their home countries for various reasons and are currently being processed by the Italian government.

The photoshoot themed “Tales of Beauty” was done with the aim of showcasing the wealth of African culture through beauty and different hairstyles.

More so, the photographer felt the need to portray the strength and beauty of these women who risked their lives for a chance at happiness and freedom.

Meet Ghanaian-born Nigerian, Rosewood Addo wearing the Sewakoto hair and makeup from Ghana.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BAKMvZ8mV3e/?taken-by=salvatoredigregori0
Rosewood is one of the 15 Nigerian refugees that got photographed and  still misses her family.

They chose their individual hairstyles for different reasons.

One of them named Sweet Chiogie,  chose the Regina hairstyle simply because she wanted to feel like a queen.

Benin-born Blessing Decalov called hers “Low cut” because she wore her hair low.

She shaved her head after arriving in Sicily to mark a new beginning in her life.

The strength of these women cannot go past without admiration.

They are only among the few whose stories have been told.

There are thousands of unaccounted Nigerians living in various countries as refugees.

Check out more pictures from the Project Mirabella shoot below:

See more of Salvatore Di Gregorio’s works on his website www.salvatoredigregorio.com

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