Online Reporter
Faith Ndlovu
GROWING up in rural Kezi, enjoying amajodo (bush melon) in a serving of umxhanxa, Ms Langelihle Sibanda never imagined that the wild fruits and plants she once enjoyed as a child would one day form the foundation of her makeup and food line.
Now an entrepreneur, Ms Sibanda has revolutionised the beauty industry with locally inspired innovations and natural elegance, creating sustainable mineral makeup products that empower communities through creative entrepreneurship.
She is the founder of House of Langa, a proudly Zimbabwean brand that formulates, manufactures and retails natural mineral makeup using extracts from wild fruits and other African ingredients.
Drawing inspiration from indigenous oils and butters, Ms Sibanda crafts skincare products that cater to all skin types. Speaking in an interview at the recently concluded Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), she shared her journey, which began in 2012 and led to the launch of her first product, a makeup line, in 2013.
“I introduced a mineral makeup line that celebrates dark skin,” she explained. “The idea came when I was modelling in 1996, representing Zimbabwe at Miss Universe. I remember struggling to find makeup that matched my skin tone. That experience drove me to create a line that embraces and honours dark skin tones.”
Ms Sibanda also observed that many local ingredients often go to waste after people consume fruits or vegetables. This led her to start manufacturing beauty and food products using those often-discarded parts, while simultaneously creating employment opportunities for local communities.
“House of Langa believes in community building, and I love supporting where I come from. I source some ingredients such as our hibiscus from my birthplace in Kezi District and others from Binga.
I never imagined that one day I would use a Marula tree or umkhuna to create beautiful products,” she said. “We are slowly replacing foreign products with our indigenous ones because we now understand the qualities they offer.”
Ms Sibanda added that many of the ingredients she uses are things she grew up around, without fully appreciating their value for wellness and health.
When she launched her brand, she recalled encountering scepticism.
“People had doubts. They wondered who would support a local beauty brand,” she said. “But I realised my products were just as good as international brands. So, I invested in premium packaging and striking branding to ensure they would stand out globally. The quality inside gives women the confidence they deserve.”
Ms Sibanda has since extended her skincare ingredients into a food line, producing items such as Kalahari Melon Delight — a chutney made from wild melon rind — Marula nuts, rosella tea blended with oriental spices, honey, jams and umkhuna butter.
She said expanding the food line is part of her strategy to reduce food waste, cut down on carbon emissions and maximise the use of each fruit.
“Our principle is: ‘If it’s good enough to put on your skin, it should be good enough to eat.’ We also encourage our communities to commercialise and add value to what they grow,” said Ms Sibanda.
She said her objective is to lay the foundation of a legacy for future generations.
“I don’t know how much I will personally benefit from this business but I hope my grandchildren will enjoy a better life, take over and continue the legacy. We are always striving for excellence,” she said.
