Business
She was the first African to set up a hairdressing salon in Congo,” he said. “All the hairdressers were white, but they were doing the hair of black girls
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Dr. Andrew Asamoah’s wife, Cecilia Asamoah made history in the beauty industry before helping build the business behind A&C Mall.
According to her husband, Dr. Andrew Asamoah, she became the first African to establish a hairdressing salon in Congo at a time when the profession was dominated by Europeans.
Speaking to Kafui Dey, the businessman said his wife was originally a secretary at the Institute of Languages before discovering a new passion while they were living abroad.
“When we went to Congo, she realized she couldn’t work there, so she told me she wanted to learn hairdressing,” he recalled.
At the time, he said, every hairdresser serving black women in the country was white.
“She was the first African to set up a hairdressing salon in Congo,” he said. “All the hairdressers were white, but they were doing the hair of black girls.”
Her success followed the family when they later moved to Nigeria.
Living in the exclusive Ikoyi area, Cecilia established another salon that quickly became popular with influential clients.
“All the ministers and everybody were coming there,” Dr. Asamoah said.
He added that she regularly visited the residence of then Nigerian President Shehu Shagari to style the hair of the president’s wives and other prominent women.
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