Safari Martins, known online as Chief Safro, gives haircuts using unconventional tools—including a razor-sharp shovel—at his roadside shack in Kiambu, on Nairobi’s outskirts. His unusual approach has made him one of Kenya’s most recognized barbers, with nearly one million followers each on Instagram and TikTok.
Born in Rwanda, Martins began barbering in 2018 while in high school, offering trims outside classrooms with borrowed clippers. Five years later, he embraced social media, dropping traditional tools in favor of dramatic implements and creating videos that combine haircuts with African folk tales and cultural voiceovers.
Customers, like Ian Njenga, pay a premium for both the haircut and a chance at social media exposure. Martins charges up to 1,500 Kenyan shillings (around $12), far above typical Nairobi rates.
While social media in Kenya has grown rapidly—reaching 15.1 million users by 2025—Martins says barbers often struggle to monetize content compared to creators in gaming or lifestyle niches. “Barbers get viral but are not respected,” he says.
Source: AP