I first came across the Duafe while building this collection.
It wasn't something I grew up knowing about. I found it through hours of research that eventually led me to museum collections around the world, where objects like these now live, far from the people who created them.
At first glance, the Duafe is simply a beautifully carved wooden comb. But in Akan culture, it was much more than that.
It was used to care for the hair, yes, but it was also a treasured gift. Loved ones gave these combs to one another, and many were kept long after they were used. They became keepsakes that carried memory, affection, and care. The more intricate the carving, the more meaningful and valuable the gift.
From this comb comes the Duafe adinkra symbol, representing beauty, self-love, self-worth, and care.
When I discovered that, everything clicked.
from me, to you has always been about care. Care we give to ourselves. Care we offer to the people we love. Care passed from one pair of hands to another.
The Duafe already carried that story.
That is why it became our logo.
Every time you see it on one of our jars, I hope it serves as a reminder that caring for yourself is never selfish. It is something to be cherished, something to be passed on, and something that deserves intention.
In learning about the Duafe, I was reminded that much of Ghanaian history has been preserved through oral tradition, Anansesem. Yet so much of what I found was written about us rather than by us.
The Golden Hour Archive is my small response to that. A place to gather the stories behind the symbols that shape this brand, and, in doing so, stay connected to the culture they come from.
There is an Akan word I return to often: Sankofa. To go back and retrieve what has been forgotten.
Perhaps that is what this archive is really about.
Holding onto our stories with the same care the Duafe once held someone's hair so that one day, we can pass them on.
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