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BULAWAYO-based fashion designer Nkanyeziyethu Malunga is keen on redefining African women’s cultural identity by holding a uMakoti Royal Bride Exhibition.
Malunga, a Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders in 2017 alumni is the founder of Ganu Fashion Textile Company.
The exhibition which will be held on 19 October at 6.30pm at the National Gallery seeks to encourage women to embrace their cultural identity by having them model in contemporary African bridal collection designs.
“I am passionate about seeing African women embracing their culture through the way they dress. The problem is that we have been polarised and influenced by Western culture such that we have never come to that point of defining ourselves in terms of how we dress. We are the ones who have to change the African narrative,” said Malunga.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship was an eye opener.
“Being in the United States for about nine weeks, I realised that as much as we women admire the American fashion trends we have to improve on our own African cultural designs because foreigners actually draw their fashion inspiration from our African culture,” she said.
She added:
“In as much as I learnt a lot in America, I also had to share a lot about Africa and our fashion trends. One can only share much about where they come from if they are well versed in their culture,” said Malunga.
The exhibition is also meant to celebrate the African woman.
“The average African woman is forgotten, for example, models are classified according to certain stereotypes which are taken from the Western concept, but our models for the exhibition will incorporate every woman who is interested, for example, married women and women who have children,” said Malunga.
Online Reporter