What are Bantu knots? Central Cee sparks online debate over hairstyle in new Lil Durk video

Oakley Neil Caesar-Su, who goes by the stage name Central Cee, sparked controversy online after a video of him wearing Bantu Knots went viral. In a video shared by X user @LilDurkCrave on Sunday, August 11, 2024, Durkio showed off his new chains, but internet users zeroed in on Central's hairdo in the short clip.

Bantu knots are a traditional hairstyle worn by the Zulu people from southern Africa. To don the hairstyle, one has to divide the hair into sections, then twist and wrap the hair to form spiraled knots.

The video sparked a discourse online, with internet users debating whether the hairstyle is okay. Many claimed that Central Cee was appropriating African culture. Here are some comments seen under @LilDurkCrave's post on X:

"Why does Central Cee have in Bantu knot?!?!?!?!?!" One user wrote.

"Man did a feature with Asake now he thinks he's… nevermind," another user added.

"THIS is why the black community needs to stop being so welcoming to outsiders infiltrating our sh*t. The fact that this Caucasian felt comfortable to 1. wear Bantu knots with his weird *ss & 2. Wear them in the presence of black ppl. Way too comfortable is an understatement," another questioned.

Others stated that no one can gatekeep a hairstyle, adding that if Southern Africans don't see a problem with the hairdo, then people should not complain.

"Why y'all wanna gatekeep hair smh weird af," a fan wrote.

"Bantu knots can be traced back Southern Africa (hence the name Bantu) and i don't see a single Southern African complaining.. It's always these Descendants of East African slaves with something to say," a user claimed.

"So people have a problem with central cee with bantu in his head and thats cosplaying. But when a black woman had Asian or Brazilian wigs in der hair its not cosplaying and its okay? I swear black people are the most toxic," another user commented.

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Central Cee is of mixed heritage, born to a Guyanese-Chinese father and an English mother

Bantu Knots found its origins in southern Africa 100s years ago. Per a January 2022 essay on Byrdie, the curls and coils in black hair are said to resemble shapes in the cosmos. When the region was colonized, the word bantu, which translates to "people," was used as a derogatory term. The Zulu word was later reclaimed.

Per the essay, hair plays a significant role in many African cultures, which believe it has spiritual energy due to its proximity to the heavens. Thus, Bantu knots are considered sacred. Several celebrities, including Rihanna and Lupita N'yongo, have sported the hairdo.

When @LilDurkCrave's clip featuring Central Cee in the Zulu hairstyle went viral, critics mainly took offense, believing the English rapper was white. However, Cee is actually of mixed heritage. In a 2023 interview with Vogue, he revealed:

"My dad's Guyanese and Chinese, and my mum's English."

This is not the first time Cee has faced criticism online. Last month, his former girlfriend, Madeline Argy, accused the rapper of cheating on her with Ice Spice in a five-part TikTok rant.

Central Cee and Ice Spice collaborated on the latter's song Did It First, which addresses themes of infidelity and toxic relationships. Around the time, videos of the pair shopping together in London began circulating online, sparking rumors that Central was rapping about cheating on Argy.

This prompted Madeline to share her side and explain that she was unaware of the collaboration. However, she added that Central sang his verse on Did It First to her. When questioned about the lyrics, he stated it was just marketing.

She even detailed a similar marketing stunt that involved spreading dating rumors, leading Argy to believe he was using her (Argy) to spark cheating rumors ahead of the song's release. Madeline tried to break up with Central Cee but couldn't, as he was busy. A day before the London photos went viral, he reportedly called her to say,

"You need to remember that I'm a human being when you see what you're gonna see tomorrow."

She added:

"I didn't even actually get to break up with him, and he's already with the next girl!"

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Central Cee has not publicly reacted to the Bantu Knots backlash.