"It’s Done Here": SA Debates After Thando Dlomo Tells Oprah Winfrey She's Never Seen Hair Rollers

• Oprah Winfrey revealed that her South African mentee, Thando Dlomo, had no idea what a roller set was
• TikToker @morfboss sparked a heated debate about whether roller sets are a Black American hair tradition or a universal practice
• South Africans flooded the comments to share their own experiences with rollers, dividing along generational and cultural lines

A moment between Oprah Winfrey and her beloved friend Thando Dlomo went viral. The South African set off a lively debate online about hair culture, generational gaps, and who can truly claim the roller set.

TikToker @morfboss posted a reaction video on 16 October 2026, responding to a clip of Oprah with Thando, who appeared genuinely baffled by Oprah's roller-set hair. According to @morfboss, Thando said she had "only seen them in the movies," a reaction that left the creator both amused and curious.

Rather than dismissing it as a simple misunderstanding, @morfboss turned the moment into a question worth asking: is the roller set a distinctly Black American hair tradition, or has it simply faded from memory among younger South Africans?

Read also

Camps Bay proposal draws crowd as South Africans celebrate couple’s romantic moment

The creator @morfboss leaned toward a cultural explanation, arguing that styles like the roller set and hair relaxers have roots in Black American hair history. He referenced two previous videos with what he described as primary sources and data to support the claim, and invited viewers to weigh in. Watch the video that sparked the debate:

Roller sets debate ensues in SA

South Africans were quick to push back, with many pointing out that rollers were common in their communities, particularly in older generations:

@Life Reset With Boni said:

"Coloureds in SA normally use rollers till this day."

@GG wrote:

"It's not a Black American thing. It's done in South Africa too by older women. The Gen Z kids are more into braids and wigs now."

@Quintoncpt👑 added:

"USA think they are the world."

@Taalvonk noted:

"Coloured aunties have been rocking rollers in South Africa since forever."

@Sandile snr shared:

"Rollers were popular in the 80s and 90s for black South Africans. Women don't use them anymore."

@dkdhrvsisys observed:

"The use of rollers has died down in South Africa. It used to be a thing in the past, so a lot of young South Africans probably have never seen them in person."

Read also

DJ Karri gets an unexpected welcome from Shoprite worker

@Magdeline Mojela wrote:

"Americans really think Africa is a jungle."

@Sophia Blacker🇧🇧 offered a Caribbean perspective:

"Ummm brother, women all over the Caribbean wore rollers. I think it's her age."

Other Briefly News stories about South African culture

• A video of students at Royal Mira All Saints International School in Nigeria dressed in traditional Zulu gear for an "International Intercontinental Cultural Fiesta" generated mixed reactions online
• An American expat living in Johannesburg, creator of the Blueprints & Bloodlines page, shared an emotional video reflecting on his first traditional Sunday braai with his South African neighbours.
• A viral TikTok clip posted by @everybody_loves_riri presented a comprehensive visual showcase of traditional attire from various South African cultural groups, including Xhosa, Zulu, Sotho, Pedi, Venda, Swati, Shangaan, Ndebele, and Tsonga.

Source: Briefly News