You can take Zimbabwe out of the empire, but you can’t take the empire out of Zimbabwe

 In many African courts today, judges and lawyers still appear in white colonial-style wigs—symbols that feel absurd in the blazing African heat and on the heads of Black judges. More than fifty years after Britain formally withdrew from its African colonies, these powdered wigs remain one of the strangest and most visible remnants of colonialism.

Britain’s legacy on the continent is everywhere: English as the official language, traffic moving on the left-hand side of the road, streets and schools bearing the names of colonial administrators, and an elite class that continues to enjoy privileges inherited from empire. Yet perhaps nothing is more bizarre than the wigs African judges are still obliged to wear in court.

Where Did the White Wig Come From?

The tradition dates back to 17th-century England, when powdered wigs were a symbol of aristocracy and social standing. While they gradually disappeared from everyday fashion, they survived in the courtroom, where they came to represent dignity and authority.

Made mostly of horsehair, these wigs have always been costly. Even today, though some are produced with synthetic fibers, the prices are steep. A judge’s long wig can cost up to $3,000, while the shorter version worn by lawyers is typically around $600.

Ironically, even Britain itself has abandoned most of the practice. Since 2007, wigs are no longer mandatory in family and civil courts. Only criminal court judges are still expected to wear them.

A Colonial Relic of Injustice

The wigs are not just harmless tradition. During colonial rule, white-wigged judges presided over trials that condemned countless Africans to imprisonment and execution. In the 1950s, during Kenya’s Mau Mau uprising, colonial courts sentenced over a thousand people to death, often in trials designed to crush resistance rather than deliver justice.

That history makes it especially striking that, in countries like Zimbabwe, these same wigs continue to dominate courtrooms decades after independence.

Imported Exclusively from Britain

Adding to the irony is the fact that the wigs can only be purchased from Britain. In recent years, Zimbabwe’s government spent $155,000 on importing wigs for judges—a staggering amount in a country where hospitals often lack even basic medical supplies.

Zimbabwean journalist and filmmaker Hopewell Chin’ono criticized the spending sharply:

“This country suffers from an incredibly bad use of resources. How can a government allocate $155,000 for wigs imported from Britain, but fail to supply bandages and medicine to pediatric wards? These are leaders who speak endlessly about independence and anti-colonial struggle, while still putting those ridiculous wigs on their heads. The colonial powers must be laughing, thinking: ‘You can take Zimbabwe out of the empire, but you cannot take the empire out of Zimbabwe.’”

Arnold Tsunga, Africa director at the International Commission of Jurists, offered a similar critique:

“The colonial system used law as an instrument of repression, and we continue to follow those traditions without questioning them. It is a shame for Africa’s modern courts. Wig-wearing adds nothing to the delivery of justice—only cost and controversy.”

Resistance and Defense

Not everyone agrees, however. Some senior judges insist the wigs are symbols of tradition and continuity. In Ghana, Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah defended them as uniforms that uphold judicial authority and argued that, like priests, imams, or monks, lawyers and judges need distinctive attire to signify their role.

But this raises a deeper question: why not create a distinctly African alternative? Why not draw inspiration from Africa’s own heritage, artistry, and traditions to design courtroom attire? Such a step would remove the colonial residue and redirect wasted resources toward urgent needs.

Beyond the Wig

The wigs are, of course, only the most visible reminder of colonial influence. Much of Africa’s legal framework remains rooted in outdated colonial laws that often clash with the continent’s cultural and social realities. True independence requires more than sovereignty—it demands a deliberate rethinking of institutions, practices, and symbols left behind by empire.

As Ghanaian economist George Ayittey once said: “Africa’s problems need African solutions.” That principle should apply not only to economics and politics but also to the courtroom.

The struggle for independence may have removed colonial rule, but the fight to dismantle its lingering symbols and systems is far from over. Until then, the white wig will remain an uncomfortable reminder that the empire still lingers, perched absurdly atop African heads.

📌 This article was originally published in Independent Türkçe on December 28, 2022.