When two Nigerians, Yinka Ogunbiyi and David Afolabi, walked into the Harvard Innovation Labs with a bold idea, they were not just thinking about technology. They were thinking about culture, the familiar rhythm of hands weaving hair into intricate braids, the sound of small talk in salons, and the endless hours spent getting one’s hair done.

That inspiration would later lead to Halo Braid, an AI-powered braiding robot now making global headlines and earning it the top prize at the 2025 President’s Innovation Challenge.

For many African women, especially in Nigeria, braiding is a cherished tradition; our nippy hair welcomes it, but a single hairstyle can take between six to eight hours to complete, depending on the style and length. For the African diaspora, balancing work, school, and family, that time commitment can be overwhelming and costly. Yinka and David understood this reality and decided to do something about it.

Their answer was Halo Braid, a robotic system that uses artificial intelligence and precision engineering to replicate the complex and long hour hand movements of traditional hair braiding. The robot can complete neat and intricate braids in a fraction of the usual time, offering not just convenience but also a glimpse into how African creativity can merge with global technology.

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Speaking about the invention, Ogunbiyi explained that Halo Braid was not designed to replace braiders but to assist them. “Our goal is to reduce the time it takes and make the experience less stressful for both stylists and clients,” she said. “We want to celebrate the art of braiding while introducing efficiency through technology.”

The duo’s win at the Innovation Challenge underscores how African-led innovation is beginning to influence industries once considered far removed from technology. From fintech to fashion, Nigerians are reimagining traditional crafts and turning them into global business models.

Hair braiding, long regarded as a cultural practice deeply rooted in African identity, is now entering a new era where heritage meets hardware. For an industry worth billions of dollars across Africa and the diaspora, the potential impact is massive. Faster and smarter braiding systems could redefine how salons operate, create new training opportunities, and even open pathways for AI-powered beauty enterprises in Nigeria.

Industry observers believe that inventions like Halo Braid represent more than just innovation. They reflect the growing confidence of young Nigerians to solve global problems with local insight. As Yinka and David continue refining their prototype, their story stands as another reminder that the next big global tech disruption could very well come from a cultural practice rooted in Africa.

For now, the world is watching, and Nigeria is once again showing that it has both the talent and the vision to lead.

Cynthia Nwanonyiri